The Quaker Tapestry is a modern embroidery made by 4,000 men, women and children from 15 countries. This international community project explores three centuries of social history from the 1650s to the present day. The 77 Quaker Tapestry panels are displayed at the Friends Meeting House in Kendal, Cumbria, UK. For more information visit their website
The Quaker Tapestry is a celebration of Quaker insights and experiences embroidered in narrative crewel work on panels of specially woven wool cloth. Each panel measures 25" (635mm) wide by 21" (533mm) deep.
It all started as a result of a
chance remark by an eleven-year-old boy attending the children's class of a small Quaker Meeting in the South of England in 1981.
chance remark by an eleven-
His teacher, to whom the remark was made, was Anne Wynn-Wilson, who was an accomplished embroiderer. She had the vision of a number of large tapestry panels telling something of the Quaker story and beliefs.
At a Quaker Yearly Meeting in 1982 she mounted an exhibition of work in progress and her ideas and determination aroused an enthusiastic response from many Friends. Designers came forward, embroidery groups were formed and training workshops were arranged.
The Quaker Tapestry is quite unlike any other contemporary embroidery in its style, scope, content, method of execution and consequent effect on many of those who took part. The vision and enthusiasm sprang from the grass roots; it was not directed as for a commissioned work.
The Quaker Tapestry uses a new embroidery style and technique which enables both skilled and unskilled workers to cooperate.
Our grateful thanks to
the Quaker Tapestry
for permission to display
these panels.
the Quaker Tapestry
for permission to display
these panels.
