Molly's Sketchbook: Afikoman Cloth

Finding the afikoman is most children's favorite part of the Passover Seder. The afikoman (which means dessert in Greek) is a broken piece of matzah. Most of the time it is hidden by an adult at the beginning of the Seder for the children to find. Towards the end of the meal the children set out to find it, and when they do they receive a prize. Once the afikoman is found it is divided and eaten and the Seder can be concluded. Primarily it's a playful way to keep the kids awake throughout the long seder!

Usually the afikoman is just placed in a dinner napkin before being hidden but I wanted to make something special for this particular piece of matzah. I love the idea of creating something pretty and handmade that will get used year after year for such a specific purpose. Plus I love any excuse to make something so purely decorative and impractical yet so special.

My afikoman cloth is two sided and totally reversible. This makes it really fun to fold around the afikoman, I like doing it so that the printed side is peeking through, like this:

I used the simple Essex linen cotton blend for one side and the lovely, old fashioned Tan-Brown Lace print by Windham Fabrics for the other. I embroidered through both layers with some pretty embroidery thread using the outline of the Windham print as a guide for my embroidery. I find hand sewing projects like this to be very relaxing and I love the heirloom quality of the finished product, so much so that I even sewed the binding on by hand! If you'd like to make your own please visit my Afikoman Cloth Project Journal.

Happy Passover! --Molly

Comments

[Meg]

I love it!! I might make one of these for some messianic friends.

I totally know what you mean about making something by hand that's going to be cherished forever, it's so worth it!

[Debi G]

my family uses one that i made as a kid, but it has been falling apart and i don't have kids yet for them to make one (which is why at 30 i still get to look for the afikomen... sad right). i am going to try doing this for my parent's seder this year. thanks for the idea!

[SDG]

That is so beautiful. Definitely a treasure.

[vivi]

Lovely afikoman bag !
I am just not ready to start thinking about all the cleaning, yet.

Vivi
Israel

[Stephanie]

That is so beautiful. What a lovely tradition.

[Isadora]

Wow, this is beautiful Molly.

[Kara]

Love your cloth! I have several, we put them all out and hide a bunch of matza, but only have one "official" one, thats the one that made with vintage japanese silks with metalic threads...I made it in the form of an envelope...we also use all the ones my son made over the years...there was a period when he was embarrassed by them, but he's embracing them again now that he's a bit older...I love the see home made, adult sacred objects...there is just so much more soul in them!

[Cameron]

Oh, I love this project! And it is much more do-able than the hand-illustrated Hagaddah I've been promising to do for our family (I'm still on page one after a year). Thanks for this.

[Molly]

Your Afikoman Cloth turned out really pretty. I am not Jewish, but have learned alot about the faith and customs through friends. My husband went to Isreal and I would love to go someday myself. What a lovely gift this would make. Thanks :)

[nancy minsky]

I love your beautiful afikoman. Lately, ours is from a shop in Brussels that makes them out of Belgium handkerchief linen with enchanting handmade lace and embroidery embellishments. Containers for the matzoh for the seder and all week long offer a wonderful opportunity for self expression and I enjoy reading everyone's thoughts and comments!
I have just discovered your site, and hope you don't mind if I post a link on my blog?!

[MasadaSpindle]

Your works are such an inspiration and you have given me
an idea to work on a handmade Afikoman bag. With Purim
around the corner that doesn't leave much time for turning
the house upside down for Pesach cleaning, but the bag
will be made. Thanks, Noa

[April]

You are incredible! That's gorgeous!

Have a great week,

April

[Vicki]

Discovered your wonderful project a bit too late to do it this year (I'm too much like the Kara and her handmade haggadah). But, it will definitely be a part of next year's celebration.

Isn't it wonderful to know that you'll be a part of so many seders without having to do all that cleaning?

[dinsquared]

SO pretty! I wish I sewed so I could make this. :(

[lopi]

Are you sure "afikoman" is Greek and not Aramaic? I am Greek and I have never heard of it or something similar.