Medieval Embroidery — One Week Unit (Age 14)
Imagine unrolling a scroll and finding not just stories but stitch: warm, layered, deliciously detailed. Over five lessons students taste the Middle Ages through sources and fibres, and produce a stitched sampler inspired by medieval motifs.
- Day 1 — Sourcing the flavour: Introduce medieval context using The Mabinogion, Asnapium inventory and Musée de Cluny images. Short research tasks: identify motifs, materials and social meaning.
- Day 2 — Design feast: Sketch motifs drawn from textiles, Gladstone and Morris; plan a 10 x 10 cm sampler. Discuss colour, symbolism and audience (who wore embroidered cloth?).
- Day 3 — Technique simmer: Demonstrate running stitch, couching, laid work and simple goldwork inspired by medieval practice. Safety with needles, scissors and frames emphasised.
- Day 4 — Cook and craft: Students stitch their sampler, applying chosen motifs and annotated process notes. Teacher circulates with just the right encouragement.
- Day 5 — Plate up and reflect: Peer gallery, short written reflection linking design choices to historical sources and function.
Assessment: Research notes (context), design plan (intent), finished sampler (technique) and reflection (historical understanding).
ACARA v9 alignment: Year 9 History — using sources to explore medieval societies; The Arts (Visual Arts) — experimenting with materials and techniques; Design & Technologies — planning, safe tool use and evaluating solutions.
Resources & differentiation: Core texts and images provided (Day, Guest, Asnapium, Musée de Cluny, Morris, Southern); extension: complex motifs/metallic threads; support: larger needles, pre-printed outlines.
Safety: Needle handling, scissor rules, ergonomic posture.
Stitch slowly, savour the past.