The Norwegian "Ten Wise & Foolish Virgins" Sampler

by Lucy Lyons Willis

Copyright 2002 La Chatelaine Designs

Throughout the years tapestries maintained a place of honor in the Norwegian homes. These tapestries not only adorned the home but also gave warmth from the bitter cold as well as becoming an outlet for passing history and story-telling to future generations. One of the favorite "themes" of these woven masterpieces was from St. Matthew Chapter 25 ~ the parable of the ten wise & foolish virigins.

During a trip to Norway I viewed an incredible 15th century tapestry in the National Museum in Oslo, Norway. I was so taken with its beauty and design that upon returning home took needle and thread to fabric and made an adaptation of it. The verse is translated from the original Norwegian in the tapestry.  I love the "five foolish virgins" crying into their handerchiefs for their oil is gone!

Sampler incorporates cross stitch, long-legged cross stitch, darning stitch and satin stitch. (The model was stitched on a linen fabric which had a beautiful woven edging and is unfortunately no longer made ~ so design pattern will incorporate a rosette darning design as a border.) Since I design by "stitching" first it was interesting that I began stitching this piece with the upper left "virgin's" elbow which was seven threads from the decorative border. When ending the top border ~ it miraculously ended seven threads from the right side!