In September 2025 when I needed to start thinking about the new project, I kept seeing the Bayeux Tapestry was in the news and that it was coming to the UK for a period of around 18 months and I thought, that is it! What you say? That was the new project that I was inspired to create, my version at least and obviously we couldn’t replicate the who 90 meters, but I created a smaller version of two wall hangings A5 each to create an A4 wall hanging in the form of a diptych.

I remembered I had learned the Bayeux stitch back in the day at Blackheath Embroiderer’s Guild, when it was a Guild branch, we are now an independent group that meet in person and online to connect many new stitchers across the UK.

I really enjoyed creating the project and expanding my learners at the same time. The turtle you see is created by one of my beginner embroiderer’s, she pushed the boat out to create the piece and I am so proud of her and what she had accomplished.

The turtle is about, I love this piece and she loved it too, plus I enjoyed looking at her sketchbook that she created around learning the Bayeux stitch and the development of her design.

When I looked at the Bayeux Tapestry online at the Bayeux Museum it was so intricate, as this was the current project at the time they were discussing where to go to look at it and it did have a temporary home in Reading. One of my learners who went, she created the boat and the horses, she travelled to Reading with her grandchildren. I do remember having a discussion with the learning manager at ACL where I work to see if I could put a bid in for money’s for my learners to attending the exhibition in Reading, but there were complications in securing the funding and so it became a no. Now that the Bayeux Tapestry has gone to London there is no way I will be able to see it as the tickets sold out on the first round to members. The British Museum have had to extend the dates and put extended evening times to lessen the ques and give the opportunity for people to see the Tapestry.