Jacobite Uprising panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland (more detail)

The Cutting (& Stitching) Edge – The Great Tapestry of Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is a contemporary national treasure currently on exhibition in Paisley. It is the longest tapestry in the world at 143 metres.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland

Created over a two year period, the tapestry features 160 panels that explain the history of Scotland, each of which has been hand stitched in crewel by groups of makers from across the country.

James Clark Maxwell panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

The overarching designs for the panel came from Andrew Crummy, who designed the Prestonpans Tapestry, and with the stitching supervision of Dorie Wilkie, over 1000 people made their mark on this magnificent piece of work.

The Black Death panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

The panel designs are classic, making fantastic use of space and colour, with each piece being surrounded by a border that allowed the stitchers to personalise their panels in the bottom corners.

Stitched personalisation at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

The panels tell a well-curated story of Scotland that highlights the achievements of this country, as well as paying homage to some of Scotland’s quirkier elements. The panels are filled with love, reflected in the quality of the stitching and the diversity of the groups involved.

Pop Music in Scotland panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

I loved that many of the geographically-specific panels were stitched by people from those areas, and it was wonderful to realise that groups from all parts of Scotland had taken part.

James Watt panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

Old, young, male, female, individuals and groups – the breadth and quality of work cannot fail to make you fall in love with the Tapestry.

Dolly the Sheep panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland

You could spend a lot of time looking at the Tapestry, getting deeper into the work and understanding the form of the stitching. This panel of geologist James Hutton is a great example of the variety and quality of stitching that appears throughout the Tapestry.

James Hutton panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland
James Hutton panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland (detail)
James Hutton panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland (detail)

The Tapestry will be displayed at various points around Scotland in the next year, and a permanent space is being sought. If you’re able to visit it, it’s a must-see.

Hillman Imp panel at the Great Tapestry of Scotland
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