09/08/2026
On Tuesday 25th Aug we’ve got a fantastic two-part lineup!
🎟️ bit.ly/SWC25Aug26
🧵 Part 1: The Great Tapestry in Poetry & Pictures with former FWS Makar Ann MacKinnon
🎤 Part 2: SWC Speakeasy! Your 5 minutes in the spotlight!
❤️ We are delighted to welcome Ann MacKinnon to showcase her fantastic "The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Poetry and Pictures' talk. Ann will talk you through the making of the tapestry and touch on the significance of some of the panels to her.
Ann became fascinated by the story of its production. She liked the fact that there were so many women involved in the making of the Tapestry and the forgotten women of history were represented in the panels themselves so her poems tell the women’s stories. Each week Ann took a different panel and wrote a poem about it, using her own slant on the stories depicted in the tapestry.
She intersperses her talk with poems from her book Warp and Weft, which is published by Red Squirrel Press.
⭐ Want to read as part of our second half speakeasy?
If you'd like to read, please let us know in advance to secure your spot by filling out this form: bit.ly/SWCJuly26
Please note that each slot is 5 minutes per reader!
We welcome all entries as normal; bonus points if you have a reading that fits into the general theme of Ann's talk.
What is The Great Tapestry?
"The Great Tapestry of Scotland began with a vision by author Alexander McCall Smith, inspired by the Prestonpans Tapestry. To bring it to life, he first enlisted artist Andrew Crummy, whose experience in large-scale community art allowed him to design a unified yet flexible work, giving individual stitchers freedom to contribute their own expression.
Next, historian Alistair Moffat selected episodes to depict. Alongside iconic moments such as the Battle of Bannockburn and the life of Sir Walter Scott, he ensured everyday stories of millworkers, farmers, and herring girls were represented. Women and Scotland’s landscapes also featured prominently, reflecting their vital role in shaping the nation’s history. Finally, master stitcher Dorie Wilkie organised hundreds of volunteers from “The Hub” in Eskbank, preparing stitching packs, offering guidance, and coordinating contributions from across the country. Together, thousands of hands created a vast collaborative masterpiece, weaving Scotland’s heritage, people, and landscapes into one extraordinary story of cultural heritage."
- www.greattapestryofscotland.com/
Image Description:
This image has a light blue background. The main white text reads: "The Great Tapestry", which repeats 5 times.
Ann MacKinnon: The Great Tapestry | SWC Events | The Griffin
