A GALASHIELS woman who worked on the tapestry's 'Welcome Panel' during lockdown, has visited the centre for the first time.

Barbara Whitelaw, 82, and her friend Kirsty Robb, 53, from Kelso, were both invited along on Monday in recognition of their efforts which took 18 months.

The pair took time to study each panel using the magnifying glasses provided and Barbara told the Border Telegraph that there were some “very talented ladies in Scotland who have put their heart and soul into this”.

“I think the tapestry looks fantastic.” she added. “Even if you are not a stitcher, everyone who views it will get something out of it.

“We worked on the monk whom we nicknamed Bob, on the welcome panel and it was quite an honour to take part in sewing it. I did a lot of the work during lockdown and unless you are a sewer then you don’t appreciate how many hours go into it.

“I started with a blank canvas and wondered how I would fill it but it was really quite exciting to see it develop. My14-year-old granddaughter Samantha even put a few stitches into it.”

Barbara currently runs a monthly sewing bee at Langlee Community Centre.

She added: “I have been a sewer all my life starting as an apprentice when I was 15 at Laidlaw and Park in Albert Place Galashiels. I remember Mr Park once examining my work after I stitched a lining into a coat.

"He told me that customers spend good money on these coats and told me to unstitch everything and start again as my stitches were too far apart. It’s something I never forgot.

"I later worked for Bernat Klein and did all the sample garments for his catalogue before teaching students at the Scottish College of Textiles, which has now been Heriot Watt for 20 years, so I appreciate the work that has gone into the tapestry.”