The exquisite embroidery by Helen Stevens, an internationally renowned embroidery designer, was the centrepiece of the exhibition “Dunstan’s Needle” in the Abbey this spring.

  She based it on a picture of Christ that was probably drawn by St Dunstan himself when he was Abbot of Glastonbury, 945–962. It is found in St Dunstan’s Classbook, which dates from around 950 (Bodleian Library, Oxford). The Latin writing identifies the little monk kneeling at the feet of Christ with Dunstan.

Helen is sure the 10th-century drawing was intended to be used for an embroidery design: “To the embroiderer’s eye this sketch is the very essence of an embroidery pattern — every line the embroiderer needs, every nuance of fluidity, even a suggestion (if you know where to look) of technique and stitch. I took the design and stitched it.”

Her website has a virtual tour of the Abbey exhibition and downloadable tutorials and details of her books and artwork.

  Helen’s interest in medieval embroidery has previously been inspired by archaeological material, for example when working with the Mary Rose Trust and later in a project on Anglo-Saxon textiles with the British Museum. She teaches at the Royal School of Needlework.