I had initially turned blue-grey wool blend burlap-like curtain into a rough cloak to withstand the outdoor conditions. The cloak did its job admirably, but I quickly felt it needed a little ornamentation. Identifying with the Celtic love of colour and design as I do, I thought the neutral tones could use a little brightening up. My needleworking fingers quickly began to itch at the thought of all this empty 10-hole/inch evenweave material. Just like the Celts, who couldn't leave a space undecorated, I set out to embellish it. Soon, a touch of colour here, a zoomorph there, and I quickly had visions of filling the entire space with glorious Celtic colour. It has since grown into a 10-year undertaking.

 

It has never been proven the Celts decorated their clothing with the designs for which they are famous. You'll see their work in stone carvings, jewelry and their amazing illuminated pages. This project is a "manuscript cloak", with the design elements inspired by images found in some of the better known Irish documents and bibles. Many of the elements are based on images seen in the Book of Kells, a 1,200-year-old illuminated Bible.

 

 

In the first year of sewing, I embroidered a pale blue band of knotwork halfway down the front edges. Soon, this was not enough. Wanting it to stand out more clearly, I filled in the background with a darker blue.

 

Next came the dragon's heads at the end of the knotwork, and the small knotwork blocks around the neckline. The two large eagles in the centre back followed, after which came the two small birds on the left in the middle portions. St. John's eagle was next on the list, with the lions at the bottom of the front opening hot on its heels. Shadow dogs now course along the bottom hem of this seven-foot long cloak, and will weave in and out of the base of the Tree of Life when it's complete. The only human in the mix to date is the hunter on horseback. While important to the overall scene, he must be sought among the rich menagerie of creatures that surround him, symbolic of his being only part of the great Circle of Life.

 

 

2008 marks the tenth year of sewing on this project. My plan is to saturate the cloak with zoomorphic designs. The rest will be vining to create an all-over Tree of Life scene with all sorts of pleasant surprises hidden among its branches. The tree was begun in the first days of January, 2006. It will extend up the back as it grows.

 

A knotwork bird pattern is the latest element to join the crowd in Feb 2008, this time at knee level on the left front edge. A pair of interwoven hippocampi will be added to match on the right edge.

 

I estimate there to be room for 500,000 total stitches on this cloak. Approximately 86,000 stitches have been done so far. It will be lined and have a fur collar when I'm finished.