Archives for October 2018

“The Making of the Bayeux Tapestry” is an extensive article on History Extra, the website for BBC History Magazine and BBC World Histories Magazine.

The article, which is written in a question & answer format interviewing Alexandra Lester-Makin, PhD Medieval Embroidery and professional embroiderer, answers all kinds of questions about the tapestry, from how it was made and who made it to what the future holds for the tapestry

It’s a thoroughly insightful article, more so than the brief glimpses that have surfaced in the news over the proposed visit of the tapestry to the UK.

Mary Corbet of Needle N’ Thread posted information on this  article a few days ago.  I thought that you would be interested in hearing the latest research.  There are answers to questions in the article that have never crossed my mind.

It is easier for you to connect with the original article than for me to reprint it here.  It is fascinating reading being full of information about and explanations on what really happened in Europe and England in the centuries after the Romans left and William invaded in 1066.  There was definitely lots of action.

Of interest to those who make large, and even larger embroideries, creating it in sections and joining them is as old as the Bayeux Tapestry. (Maybe even older!)  Section joins are specifically located so that they are concealed by action which detracts the eye from a fabric seam. It requires planning and organization for this to happen.  This article postulates that the Bayeux Tapestry was designed and planned by professionals and stitched in a workshop environment for this to happen.

The Stamford Bridge Embroidery is using this method.  It was used in the making of the Toronto Historical Embroidery.  This large embroidery is at least 40 years old and is in impeccable condition.

The Magna Carta Quilts are a series of eight quilts made to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215 A.D.  They celebrate the establishment of Human Rights and celebrate the birthplace of Democracy, worldwide.

They were made in 2014/15 by the Magna Carta Quilters. There are four Medieval Quilts and four Legacy Quilts, which stand together in a display that measures 30 feet long x 5 feet wide x 7 feet high.

Medieval Quilts

The four Medieval Quilts tell the story of the Magna Carta in a graphic novel style based on 13th century illuminated manuscripts. The panels are done with a combination of appliqué and embroidery using rich coloured fabrics and threads.

Legacy Quilts

The four Legacy Quilts show four oak trees appliquéd onto a background of hexagons. The hexagons represent traditional English patchwork as well as paying homage to the fact that the meadow of Runnymede has been cultivated for bee keeping since Neolithic times, around 3000 BC.  Note the bees on this panel.

Each oak leaf features a person in history or current times who has been active in the establishment of democracy.

Thames Mosaic

The reverse side of the quilts is the Thames Mosaic, which shows a pixilated outline of the the stretch of the River Thames between Windsor and Staines, which is where the meadow of Runnymede is located. (indicated by the orange/red rectangle).

You will find and enjoy a more meaningful visit and see the details of these quilts by going to;

The Magna Carta Quilts at Guildford Cathedral

The Magna Carta Quilt Association Group

This Blog  Stitching Idyllic blog;

The Magna Carta Panels

MAGNA CARTA (AN EMBROIDERY) with thanks to information on Wikipedia

There are three embroideries/tapestries that record the events in England  in 1066.  The first was the Battle of Fulford Gate which was won by the invading Vikings.  The second was the Battle of Stamford Bridge which the Saxons won and which ended the Viking’s career of invading and marauding communities in the northern hemisphere.  These two battles affected the outcome of the Battle of Hastings and changed the course of medieval history.

The Stamford Bridge Tapestry Project is progressing well as you can see..  Sarah Hart took these photos at their display in early September.

To see more photos, go to Facebook Stamford Bridge Tapestry 1066 page.

Sarah’s photos are copyrighted but I do not know how to communicate with her to ask if I may post these two for you.

You can read more about lO66 and this Embroidery/Tapestry in the August 2018 postings on this site.  It was a pivotal year in history.  When I  learned history many years ago nothing was mentioned about these other battles. It always puzzled me why an invading army who had to bring all their men, horses and supplies was able to defeat a determined and hostile Saxon army on their own land. The significance of these other two battles has only been recognized in recent years.  Yes, I am totally aware of the D Day landings but the defenders of France were not French citizens.

History is an intriguing subject.  Events that happened hundreds of years ago affect our lives now.  That is today’s truism!

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  Our first thanksgiving was in 1578 when Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew arrived back in Newfoundland after surviving a perilous voyage looking for a North West Passage.  In the following centuries, the thanks have been for surviving hardship and wars. It is now a thanksgiving for the harvest and for becoming Canadian.

Best wishes to all readers and thank you for following and reading this blog.