Celebrate the Overlord Embroidery in fantastic D-Day community cloth project

The Overlord Embroidery, designed by British artist Sandra Lawrence and commissioned by Lord Dulverton, depicts D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in 34 hand-stitched panels. It is one of the main highlights at The D-Day Story museum in Portsmouth.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the completion of the 83 metre embroidery, members of the public are invited to help decorate a large embroidered cloth inspired by the iconic work of art.

This new project, titled Couching Liberty, encourages people to reflect on the significance of war and its impact on men, women, and children, drawing parallels with current global conflicts. 

The initiative is a collaboration between the University of Portsmouth, The D-Day Story, and Stitch School, and is open to the wider community, including schools and local groups.

Melanie Bowles from Stitch School explained, “The D-Day community cloth invites visitors to experience stitching together on the linen cloth inspired by the Overlord Embroidery. Learn and explore the vast range of embroidery stitches and share stories to build new narratives in the surroundings of the museum.” 

Melanie will be available to teach basic embroidery skills during the free drop-in sessions, although standard museum admission fees apply for entry to the exhibits, including the Landing Craft Tank 7074.

Councillor Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council, added: “This is another great opportunity for residents to get involved in learning more about the history of D-Day, whilst creating something exciting. Activities like this are important in sharing the true scale of the events that took place in June 1944 with all age groups. I look forward to seeing what is created.”

The event is free and will take place from Thursday, October 24, to Sunday, October 27, between 10am and 5pm. Walk-ins are welcome on Thursday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday, while larger groups are advised to book in advance.