The Tanya Bentham, Opus Anglicanum workshop

Tanya Bentham of Opus Anglicanum, absolutely filled our tables with examples of her work – despite having a major exhibition on in Ilkley! She gave us a most engaging introduction to the medieval techniques of Opus Anglicanum (silk and metal threads) and the laid and couched wool work of the same period, as used on the Bayeaux Tapestry. Most of her designs are based on illustrations and marginalia from medieval manuscripts, as well as surviving embroideries. (Some of the pictures, beautifully drawn in the margins of religious books, were a bit of an eye opener. Her third book which has just gone off for publication will be on the ruder bits of medieval embroidery.) Most articles and talks about medieval textiles are by people who are historians rather than embroiderers.

Tanya is a practical embroiderer as well as a historian, so can put the stitches and techniques in perspective and demonstrate methods from experience as well as study. The next day, her one day workshop in laid and couched work was as entertaining and enjoyable as her talk.

STACS runs three or four workshops per year on the first Wednesday of the appropriate month from 10 to 4pm at the Bayston Hill Methodist Centre. Check out our events calendar for upcoming workshops.