June 2026

June sees our final talk before the summer break and this year we ended with a cracker! Tanya Bentham is not only an exceptional embroiderer, opus anglicanum and bayeux specialist, stitch history buff, raconteur par excellence and very funny lady. She had us all fascinated by her subject and also in stitches with laughter. Her talk was peppered with historical facts, art and stitch history, practical explanations and whimsical stories. My personal favourites of her were about the duck of peace and the unknown history of dragon wanging (think wellies with teeth). She explained how she really can be called a medieval embroiderer as she not only uses medieval imagery as her design basis but uses medieval techniques and medieval materials, going as far as dying her own wools with natural dyes. The replica of the Icelandic alter piece only uses 7 colours but she explained how light and stitch direction can change colour tones. She likes to take historical imagery, sometimes from very bawdy manuscripts and give them a modern twist, often using humour and satire. A prime example being her Luttrell Psalter inspired panels. She also brought a selection of her books and kits to purchase which include detailed instructions and images. She produces replica pieces for museums around the world and a number of her designs appear in magazines and she has recently done a bird series for Stitch magazine.