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The Great Tapestry of Scotland
The Great Tapestry of Scotland is an outstanding celebration of thousands of years of Scottish history and achievement, from the end of the last Ice Age to Dolly the Sheep and Andy Murry’s Wimbledon victory of 2013. The 1000+ stitches spent a total of 55, 000 sewing hours on the 160 panels that make up this extraordinary work of art.
This book shows in full colour all the finished panels of the tapestry – one of the biggest community arts projects ever to take place in Scotland – together with descriptive and explanatory material on each panel and lists of all the stitchers involved.
This book shows in full colour all the finished panels of the tapestry – one of the biggest community arts projects ever to take place in Scotland – together with descriptive and explanatory material on each panel and lists of all the stitchers involved.
- GenresScotland
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 1, 2014
27 people want to read
About the author
Alistair Moffat
59 books216 followersAlistair Moffat is an award winning writer, historian and former Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Director of Programmes at Scottish Television.
Moffat was educated at the University of St Andrews, graduating in 1972 with a degree in Medieval History. He is the founder of the Borders Book Festival and Co-Chairman of The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
Moffat was educated at the University of St Andrews, graduating in 1972 with a degree in Medieval History. He is the founder of the Borders Book Festival and Co-Chairman of The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 25, 2017
Many of us will know Alexander McCall Smith for his delightful invention of Precious Ramostwe, but what you may not know is that this erudite and passionate Scot was the brainchild behind the Great Tapestry of Scotland. His ambitious plan was to bring together history and needlework, following in the tradition of The Bayeux Tapestry, in order to create a history of Scotland rendered in thread.
The book is more a history than a book about embroidery, but don’t let that put you off. The description of each panel is fascinating. Did you know where the term ‘dunce’ came from? Have you heard of the battle at The Field of Shirts, where kilts were discarded and…well, who knows what was on show? Do you know what waulking is, and what somewhat unsavoury substance is used in the process? All of these interesting facts are in the text and more, as you are taken on a journey through the history of Scotland from the formation of the land through to the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament, with 150 stops in between.
Although no book can ever quite equal viewing such a work in person, the colour plates in this book give enough detail to appreciate the work that went into the creation of each of these panels. Harmony was achieved by commissioning Andrew Crummy to do the drawings, but then each panel was interpreted and embellished personally by various stitching groups across the country. It is worth taking your time over them. See if you can find the cat and mouse, the cricket bat, the fluffy lion and the pants on the washing line. The details are a joy and, as stitchers, we can but marvel at the achievement of the men and women who created this record of their country’s history. I am sure it will be as lasting as its Bayeux companion. It certainly deserves to be.
The book is more a history than a book about embroidery, but don’t let that put you off. The description of each panel is fascinating. Did you know where the term ‘dunce’ came from? Have you heard of the battle at The Field of Shirts, where kilts were discarded and…well, who knows what was on show? Do you know what waulking is, and what somewhat unsavoury substance is used in the process? All of these interesting facts are in the text and more, as you are taken on a journey through the history of Scotland from the formation of the land through to the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament, with 150 stops in between.
Although no book can ever quite equal viewing such a work in person, the colour plates in this book give enough detail to appreciate the work that went into the creation of each of these panels. Harmony was achieved by commissioning Andrew Crummy to do the drawings, but then each panel was interpreted and embellished personally by various stitching groups across the country. It is worth taking your time over them. See if you can find the cat and mouse, the cricket bat, the fluffy lion and the pants on the washing line. The details are a joy and, as stitchers, we can but marvel at the achievement of the men and women who created this record of their country’s history. I am sure it will be as lasting as its Bayeux companion. It certainly deserves to be.
Displaying 1 of 1 review