I've been to see The Great Tapestry of Scotland again as it's on display at Cockenzie House and open for viewing until the 8th. of December. My pictures this time are mostly of details from the panels* rather than the broader subjects themselves, and I plan to post them in three or four batches so that there is not too much to take in all at once. I hope they will show something of the range of stitches used in the piece and the very creative ways in which the designer Andrew Crummy and the many embroiderers who worked on the panels have interpreted Scotland's history from its landscape and buildings to its people, ideas and institutions. You'll find some pictures with a literary theme on Cornflower Books, and there will be more to look at here very soon.
*Every panel is shown in colour - with notes - in the new hardback book on the Tapestry.
For those of us (probably only me!) who in stitching cannot distinguish a hawk from a handsaw it would be very interesting if you could say (for e.g.) "the second picture shows a beautiful example of the XYZ stitch." P x
Posted by: Dark Puss | 17 November 2013 at 02:09 PM
I'm no expert, either!
There are useful guides to quite a few stitches here: http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/reference/picture-dictionary/ and here: http://sublimestitching.com/pages/tutorials , and the pictures in this post include stitches such as stem, satin, seeding, split, chain and heavy chain, long and short, leaf, french knots, turkey rug (I think that's what you see used on the gauntlet of the explorer on Scott's ship 'Discovery' in the fourth picture).
Also on display beside the Tapestry are samplers done by groups (or individuals) experimenting with stitches for specific elements of the piece.
Posted by: Cornflower | 17 November 2013 at 02:57 PM
Thank you!
Posted by: Dark Puss | 17 November 2013 at 03:01 PM
I'm really looking forward to seeing it but I know I now won't make it to Cockenzie House. Do you know where it's going after that?
Posted by: Claire | 17 November 2013 at 06:01 PM
I don't know anything about the immediate plans for the tour, Claire - though I gather they are close to being finalised, and I'll let you know when I get details - but it will be on show at the Scottish Parliament next summer from June to September.
Posted by: Cornflower | 17 November 2013 at 06:20 PM
The pictures look even more amazing close up - I had no idea there so many different types of stitches to work with. Fab.
Posted by: elaine | 17 November 2013 at 07:01 PM
Yes, there's some tremendous work from very skilled embroiderers there, but even those of us who claim no proficiency learned a lot as we worked on our panel.
Posted by: Cornflower | 17 November 2013 at 07:16 PM
These are fabulous. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to seeing the others. What a treat!
Posted by: Readerlane | 17 November 2013 at 11:23 PM
wish I could see this in real life - it looks amazing!
Posted by: catdownunder | 18 November 2013 at 03:35 AM
Oh good, I'll see it in Edinburgh if not before. Since the arrival of grandchildren I've been using knitting needles but your pictures and story have me itching to find the tapestry wool. What to do though apart from cushions? It must have been lovely to have contributed to The Great Tapestry of Scotland. The book is on my Christmas list.
Posted by: Claire | 18 November 2013 at 07:58 AM
Neither my pictures nor the facts and statistics of the piece do it justice - it is amazing.
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 November 2013 at 10:13 PM
I hope you'll get the chance to see it sometime as I know there are plans for it to travel far afield.
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 November 2013 at 10:13 PM
The more I see of it, the more I marvel at it, and I am very glad to have been involved.
As to what to make, Claire - crewelwork bed hangings?!
Posted by: Cornflower | 18 November 2013 at 10:15 PM