A SPECTACULAR tribute in stitch has been produced by 205 branches of the Embroiderers' Guild in order to welcome Olympic athletes.

More than 3,000 embroidered postcard-sized works have been created, depicting the life and times of over 200 sporting nations.

Embroiderers' Guild branches taking part in the project included Tavistock and District, Plymouth, Cornwall and Exeter and South Devon.

Fran Baigent, chairman of the Tavistock branch said: 'This has been a fun project. Firstly, we had to do our research about our allotted country and then we had to create a series of stitched pictures that described the culture, environment and features of the country.

'Some branches also had help from the country's embassy. Even to lifelong embroiderers these are incredible pieces of work.

'Each country is represented by a series of images postcard-sized. From the national flag at the top there is a cascade of embroidered images of national costume, customs, currency, fauna, flora, food, and landmarks.

'The skills and creativity of the Embroiderers' Guild members shine through with the wide variety of materials and techniques used to develop their designs ideas.'

The exhibition, 'Stitching a Welcome to Athletes of the World' will be on view and open to the public for two weeks at the new Plympton Library, Plymouth from July 16 to 28. Opening times are Monday and Thursday 9am to 7pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday closed. The exhibition of textile postcards will tour the UK during 2012.

For more information contact Fran Baigent on 01822 870433 or email [email protected]">[email protected]