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The Bayeux Tapestry in London: why it's embroidery and what it can teach you

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Since 10 September 2026 the British Museum in London has been showing the Bayeux Tapestry, one of the best-known pieces of embroidery in the world. The exhibition runs until 11 July 2027. Tickets are released in batches: the museum says the next releases come in October (for January–March 2027) and in January (for April–July) (British Museum press release, NPR report on the opening, 9 September 2026). According to the same sources, it's the first time in more than nine centuries that it has been in Britain.

A tapestry that is really embroidery

A tapestry is woven: the picture forms as the threads are woven on the loom. The Bayeux piece is embroidery: the design is stitched in wool onto finished linen cloth. The name "tapestry" simply stuck. It's about 70 metres long and about half a metre high. It tells the story of the events leading to the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and it was made in the 11th century.

The stitches

  • Stem stitch outlines the figures and the lettering.
  • Laid and couched work fills large areas of colour with long parallel stitches held down by stitches across them. The technique is known as Bayeux stitch.

There's no cross stitch here, but the ideas carry over.

What to take into your own work

  • Outlines do a lot. In Bayeux the figures read from a distance thanks to clear outlines. In cross stitch, backstitch plays that role: a few lines along the edges make the picture sharper.
  • Few colours can be enough. The piece uses a limited palette of wool and is still striking. A chart with few colours stitches faster and often looks more unified.
  • A story in a strip. A long, narrow piece with a repeating border above and below is a good idea for your own stitching: a family chronicle, a journey, a year month by month.
  • Linen as a base. If you'd like to try stitching beyond cross stitch, start with linen evenweave — see "Fabric and count".

If you like stitching historical pieces, see also "Museum paintings you can stitch for free".

About the author

This article was written by the Crossette team. We're building Crossette, a cross stitch tracker for iPhone and iPad: you mark stitches on the chart — from full crosses to backstitch, beads and French knots. It's in development; to join the beta, email [email protected].