Hmong Paj Ntaub Embroidery Workshop with Mandora Young

Learn how to make a basic Hmong paj ntaub needle work pattern. Paj ntaub (“pan dow”— flower cloth) is an integral part of the Hmong culture. This traditional needlework or cloth embroidery dates back several centuries and is an art form of creating patterns and designs with thousands of needle strokes on a piece of cloth. The compositions usually incorporate motifs symbolizing family clan, nature, or folklore.  The workshop fee is $55 with a capacity of 15 students.

About the Artist:

Mandora Young (b. 1972, Vientiane, Laos) is a Hmong artist and educator specializing in traditional Paj Ntaub (“flower cloth”) textiles. Young first learned this traditional needlework technique from her grandmother and practiced it as a child. In 1979, following the Laotian Civil War, Young and her family immigrated to the United States, and she became a U.S. citizen in 1999. After taking time away from her creative pursuits to raise her children, she returned to Paj Ntaub as an adult and discovered a lack of classes and interest among her community. In 2018, in an effort to revive and maintain this essential part of Hmong cultural identity, Young began teaching her own class. She now teaches many classes and workshops for all ages at libraries and schools, welcoming both Hmong and non-Hmong community members into her classes. Young is committed to passing down the Paj Ntaub cloth embroidery techniques as well as conveying the significance and history of the art form.

We require everyone to wear a face mask when inside the museum.