Happy Friday, my friends! Today, I’ve got an extensive and detailed book review for you, for a book that I’ve had on my table since February and should have reviewed a whole lot sooner!
It is one of my “top books” this year – it’s a banner book that celebrates a banner accomplishment! And it teaches you, very simply and directly, how to stitch your own bits of the Bayeux Tapestry.
The book is Embroider the Bayeux Tapestry by Mia Hansson, who, in fact, has pretty much embroidered the whole Bayeux Tapestry single handedly.
Let’s take a look at it!
I learned about Mia Hansson and her incredible embroidery feat – embroidering her own reproduction of the entire Bayeux Tapestry – when she somehow magically showed up in my Facebook feed. I was immediately hooked, and frankly, bowled over. I couldn’t believe the extent of work she has put into this incredible accomplishment!
I wasn’t surprised to learn that Search Press was publishing a book by Mia that shows readers how to embroider the Bayeux Tapestry for themselves – or at least, pieces of it, which is much more manageable than embroidering the Whole Thing!
The book pulls from Mia’s experiences over years (ten of them so far, I think) of stitching her phenomenal repro tapestry.
The book itself is worthy of the endeavor – it is a beautiful hardbound book, just as suitable for the coffee table as it is for the work table.
The outer cover has a delightfully tactile linen-like texture!
The end papers deserve a nice pause and perusal!
The book is both an instructional book and a project book – and there are loads of projects! Big and small vignettes from the tapestry feature characters, animals, events – so there’s something for every interest, as long as your interest includes the whole style of the tapestry!
Seriously, there are loads to choose from. Most books don’t feature this many projects, but because the instruction is all the same, there’s a lot of space for many projects.
The book begins, of course, with information about the original Tapestry…
…and an explanation of materials and tools (which are rather minimal!)…
…followed by instruction on the embroidery stitches used for all the projects (also minimal – there are not very many types of stitches employed in the tapestry, after all)…
…followed by an overview on how to approach and stitch the projects.
There’s also a nice section on tips and techniques for stitching the designs.
Then there’s the Meat of the Matter – the whole point of the book, and the vast majority of the book: The Projects.
There are, in fact, twenty five projects!
All the projects are worked with the same stitches and same techniques covered in the general information earlier in the book. Each project is presented with a materials list…
… a close up image of the finished vignette, sometimes with a blurb on how the design or interpretation differs from the original and why (very interesting stuff!)…
…a line drawing of the scene with the stitch & color layout…
…and close-up photos of different elements of the scene, so that you can know where you going and what you’re trying to achieve as you stitch that particular scene.
There are projects that are small and very manageable…
…and for those of the “Go Big or Go Home” Mindset, there are large, more complex scenes to stitch as well.
Finally, in the very back of the book, attached to the inside back cover, you will find an envelope contains iron-on transfers for all the projects.
These full-size, ready to use iron-ons will help you hasten the project preparation so you can get right to the embroidery!
And that, my friends, is a detailed look at Embroider the Bayeux Tapestry by Mia Hansson!
If you’ve ever had a hankering to stitch a Bayeux Tapestry scene, Mia makes it easy! This book is a delight on every level, from the background information, to the instructional content, to the pattern collection, to the overall presentation of the book! It’s definitely worth adding to your embroidery library!
Where to Find It
If you’re looking for your own copy of Embroider the Bayeux Tapestry, you’ll find it listed here on my Amazon Book Recommendations page. Get it while you can! I think it’s proving to be a very popular book!
The link to my Amazon Needlework Books Recommendation Page is an affiliate link, which means that Needle ‘n Thread may receive a small commission for purchases made through that link, at no extra expense to you. Thanks!
I too have been following Mia with interest, and love this book. I”m unlikely to do any of the projects, but nonetheless its a great book for my library.
I believe I first saw this on your list. I pre-ordered it and it came way ahead of schedule. As you said, the book is BEAUTIFUL. The cover itself FEELS like what it is. What you didn’t mention is that the pages open up and lay flat. I don’t know what that binding is called, but I love that, too. I immediately ordered hanks of the Appleton’s yarn needed. All 7 colors!
I have finished a project in the book. The Fox and the Crow Aesop fable. It was completely unintimidating. Mia so brilliantly sets a relaxed tone for the book and covers everything so well that I was ready to dive in without reservation. My first one wasn’t terribly perfect, but neither is the tapestry (ah hem, embroidery). It is not at all difficult and oh so satisfying.
I’m ready to do my second. I ordered appropriate linen. I couldn’t decide on which one to do next, so I asked my husband to pick. He really loves it, too. So, I guess I’m doing the Coronation scene next.
The Bayeux tapestry, for me, is timeless. It has such style!
Coincidentally the tapestry was returned in secret to England on loan from France today.
https://apnews.com/article/bayeux-tapestry-british-museum-london-b62ee313ab3d4a2e00635587b84a4fbe
Dear Mary,
I’m Mia, the author of Embroider the Bayeux Tapestry. My contacts at Search Press told me that you may write a review, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect you to be so incredibly kind about it. To tell you the truth, I was also bowled over when I received my first advance copy, probably at the same time you did. I still haven’t stopped stroking it!
You are are huge name in the embroidery world and I couldn’t be more grateful for you choosing my book and for the raving reviews. I’m just a regular textile artist, who happens to enjoy a big challenge and who has been very lucky when it comes to being accepted by a great publisher.
You are correct, my 10-year anniversary is on the 13th July this year and right now, I have almost 10 metres more to embroidery. Another year and a bit, then I should be done, hopefully in time for the Bayeux Museum to reopen after the refurbishment.
Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Mia
Congratulations on the book, Mia! I’m so impressed that you manage to write it, to prepare the designs and so forth, all while still keeping up with your Magnum Opus. Such a great accomplishment!!
And right on cue, Mary, the Bayeux Tapestry was today delivered to London for an exhibition in the British Museum. It’s there until July 2027.
So your article couldn’t have been more timely!
Thanks for the wonderful website
Laura
Dear Mary
Hi I hope you are well and Thank you so much for reviewing Mia Hansson Book. I have a copy of the book and agree with you it’s a very good instructional and interesting book. I’ve been following Mia for a few months now and I like to hear about her journey with the Bayaux Tapestry. I’ve actually obtained a ticket to go and view the Tapestry on September 30 so I am very excited to have a ticket. I had to wait all day and there were almost 3000 in front of me, but managed to get a ticket at 11.30 at night. I was so pleased that I preserved.
Regards Anita Simmance
Oh, I’m glad you persevered! So happy you got tickets. That will be wonderful to see – I’d love to see it in England, but alas, I won’t be going overseas on time to catch it there!
Love the book! Thank you the review. However, I do have one question. The author does not specify how much wool is needed for each of the projects. Should I buy one skein of each color for each project I want to embroider, or how much is needed if I were ambitious enough to tackle the entire tapestry? Or should I contact the author directly?
That, I think, depends on the size of the project you pick. I’d guess for smaller projects, a skein may suffice, but for slightly larger ones, I’d guess you’d need more than one skein can provide. Mia has a very active social media presence, so you might reach out to her on any of her social pages, or through her website, for further help.
Hi Virginia,
I’m Mia and I want to start by apologising for not giving the reading any advice about the amount of yarn needed. The reason is that I don’t know. I bulk buy hanks, ball them up and stitch for hours on end, without a single thought on how much I use. If I had knows, I would definitely have added that information. What I should have done instead is to explain what I just told you. Sadly, I didn’t.
Several times, I’ve been asked to create embroidery kits, but because I’m working against a deadline to complete my large project, I simply don’t have time to test stitch the designs to figure out how much wool is needed. Perhaps one day, but that’s not helping you now. Again, I’m so sorry.
And finally, thank you for liking the book. Search Press did an amazing job with it. I’m a very lucky woman.
Kind regards
Mia