One stitch at a time: Artist's mission to recreate the Bayeux Tapestry

For the past decade, artist Mia Hansson has dedicated herself to an ambitious and intricate project: recreating the famed Bayeux Tapestry.

Based in Wisbech, England, the Swedish-born textile artist is painstakingly embroidering a 70-meter (230-foot) replica of the 11th-century masterpiece. The original tapestry famously depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

Hansson began her elaborate undertaking on July 13, 2016. She recalled the initial feeling of not being daunted by the sheer scale, knowing she could stop at any time. However, as she progressed, the commitment deepened. "Then when you get, you know, that far, but you can't stop because I would be stupid," she explained.

Working from the floor of a community hall, Hansson first draws the recognizable scenes from the historical artwork. She then meticulously stitches over these drawings, striving to match the colors of the original as closely as possible. The cloth she uses is made of 100 percent linen, mirroring the material of the ancient artifact.

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Then when you get, you know, that far, but you can't stop because I would be stupid. And then when you get even further, I thought actually now I really can't stop.