Stitching Panel 10 for Durham Cathedral

Open Treasures Cope at Durham Cathedral, design by Tracy A. Franklin, Head Broderer at Durham Cathedral.

As part of the new renovations for exhibition space that is now the Open Treasures Exhibition at Durham Cathedral, Tracy A. Franklin designed a cope that depicts the life of St. Cuthbert. Her design was then stitched by a group of volunteer stitchers including the Durham Cathedral Broderers and some of her students from her embroidery studio based in Durham. I was so excited to be a part of this talented group of stitchers organized by Tracy.

Tracy asked me to I stitch Panel 10, which shows St. Cuthbert in his role as the Bishop of Lindisfarne. The techniques on my panel include satin stitch, appliqué, tapestry shading, couched gilt Pearl Purl, couched, gilt Passing, and a lot of stem stitch.

If you find yourself in Durham, UK, please take the time to visit the Open Treasures exhibition on view and enjoy viewing the Open Treasures Cope in progress. There are currently full scale sketches of the final design as well as technique samples and practice panels. Each embroiderer that worked a Panel also stitched a full practice panel prior to stitching the final one.