The Company bases its structure on those of the European embroiderers’ guilds of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, with officers and a formal set of ranks.
We have three Officers, assisted by one or more Wardens.
Officers
Guildmaster: The Honourable Baroness Magnifica Ceara Shionnach
The Guildmaster (who may be male or female, in keeping with period practice) guides the company in practical matters and is the ceremonial head of the guild. The Guildmaster is elected by the Masters of the Guild from within their ranks.
Patron: Currently Vacant
The Patron sponsors the activities of the Company, providing prizes for the quarterly competitions and the championship. The Patron must have an interest in fostering needlework in Lochac and a willingness to support this in a practical manner, and is selected from within the ranks of Lochac’s royal peerage.
Champion: Katerina Cuylter of Lancastre (2024)
The Champion is the premier of the Company, selected by the Guildmaster on the quality of their work during the previous year, especially work submitted as entries in the Company’s series of annual competitions.
Wardens
Wardens coordinate embroidery in their local groups, or take on specific tasks for the company.
Mistress Muirghein ni Ghrainne is the current warden for Presentations, coordinating the Royal Gifts made for each reign.
Ranks
The Company is structured with three ranks, to which any member of the Company may aspire: Apprentice (apprendre – “to learn”); Journeyman (journe – “day” – originally men hired to work by the day) and Master.
- Masters have presented 5 works in different techniques at master level, or been recognised by the Order of the Laurel for embroidery.
- Journeyman have presented 3 works in different techniques at journeyman level.
- Apprentices have presented a single work at apprentice level.
For details, see the Company Ordinances.
Ranks may be updated throughout the year, but are formally recognised at the Guilds Event each year, where new apprentices, journeymen and masters are officially declared.
The Company includes many other non-ranked embroiders of all levels of skill and experience. Although they have not submitted their work to the Masters and are not listed here, many of these gentles are nevertheless very active members of the Company. You will see some of their names appearing in pages on competitions, presentations, projects, and other works.
| SCA Name | Canon lore link | Guild ranking | Graded pieces | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acacia de Navarra | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=819 | Master | Masterworks: Split stitch favour, Bayeux work hanging Journey: German counted thread pouch, Longarm crossstitch handtowel | Royal presentations: Cross stitch towel (Boris and Constance 2001) |
| Ceara Shionnach | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?show=index&id=3211 | Master | Masterworks: Lute pouch, Sweete bag, goldwork cushions, blackwork collars, Perugian towel | Current Guildmaster, former champion |
| Contarina la Bianca | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?show=index&id=1507 | Master | Masterworks: Intarsia LOG pouch, Heraldic surcoat & banners, Blackwork cap Journey: Blackwork handkerchief, Beaded Byzantine dress, Stumpwork casket | Royal presentations: Blackwork cap |
| Keridwen the Mouse | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=553 | Master | Masterworks: Couched silverwork, Split stitch napkins, Beadwork dress coif & doublet, Blackwork favour pincushion & shirts | Former Guildmaster, former Patron Royal presentations: Split stitch napkins (Vladimir and Huriwa 1999), Beaded henin (Cornelius and Morwynna 2003), Elizabethan cushion (Berengar I), Merovingian pouches (Theuderic and Engelin I), Purse (Kinggiyadai I) |
| Leonie de Grey | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=184 | Master | Royal presentations: Aedward Blackwork cuff | |
| Rowan Perigrynne | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=249 | Master | Masterworks: Blackwork cap, Viking woolwork cuffs, Kingdom kneeling carpet, LOG pouch designs, Pattern darned girdle Journey: Cross stitch coif | Former Guildmaster, former Patron, former Champion Royal presentations: Viking woolwork cuffs (Alfar and Liadan), Applique hanging (Cornelius and Morwenna), Hennin (Elizabeth de Foxle) |
| Vittoria del Fiore | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?show=index&id=288 | Master | Royal presentations: Applique cushions (Gawayne and Yve 2002) | |
| Adrienne Fildyng de Faux | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=610 | Journey | Journey: German counted work pouch Master: Holbein stitch handkerchief, Blackwork sampler | Royal Presentations: Hugh & Theresa balckwork cuffs Laurel cloak: Lyre |
| Alarice Beatrix von Thal | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=14 | Journey | Journey: Couched cloak, Cross-stitch pillow case, German counted pouch and box Master: Blackwork cap, Cross-stitch and needlewoven towel | Royal Presentations: German counted box (Gui and Aelfled 2001), Beaded breastband (Alfar and Liadan 2002) Royal Carpet |
| Bartolomeo Giancristoforo Agazzari | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1391 | Journey | Apprentice: Blackwork Journey: Laid and couched doublet Master: Elizabethan slips, Kingdom cloaks | Royal Presentations: Elizabethan slips cushion (Aedward and Yolande I) LOG pouch |
| Catalina de Gata | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1756 | Journey | Journey: Lefkara lace, Couch dress, Beaded German breastband | Laurel Cloak: Fencing |
| Hunydd verch Madyn Duy | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1984 | Journey | Apprentice: German counted pouch Master: Elizabethan sweet bag, Blackwork coif, Counted apron, German brickstitch cushion | Royal Presentation: Berengar cushion Laurel cloak: Sundial, Fecit 1 |
| Jane Stockton | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=2600 | Journey | Journey: German counted pouch, Splitstitch badge, Scandinavian couched cushion Master: Voided altar cloth, Blackwork shirt, Anglo-Saxon tunic | Royal Presentations: Splitstitch badge (Cornelius and Morwynna 2003), Viking woolwork cuffs 4 x LOG pouches |
| Katerina da Brescia | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1234 | Journey | Journey: Split stitch doublet, Blackwork coif, Goldwork A&S pouch Master: Split stitch stockings | |
| Marienna Jensdattir | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=2252 | Journey | Journey: Blackwork shirt, Couched wool tunic, Goldwork capuchon Master: Maaseik dress, Intarsia cover | Royal Presentations: Viking woolwork cloaks and cuffs (design) Laurel Cloak: Barrel LOG Pouches: 1 x posament, 1 x brickstitch |
| Miriam Galbraith | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=211 | Journey | Journey: Blackwork cuffs, Pattern darned towel Master: Applique couched dress, Goldwork Byzantine dress | Royal Presentations: Pattern darned towel (Cornelius and Morwynna 2000), Applique hanging Royal Carpet |
| Muirghein ni Ghrainne | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=222 | Journey | Masterworks: 16th century English cushion (2024), Silk garters for Rowland (2024), Metalwork hawk badge Journey: Split stitch favour, Couched cloak | |
| Muirghein ni Ghrainne | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=222 | Journey | Apprentice: Split stitch favour, Couched cloak Master: Metalwork hawk badge, Blackwork cushions | Royal Presentations: Elizabethan partlet, Garters for Rowland Bridgeford Laurel cloak: Tailor |
| Oonagh O’Neill of the Blue Myst | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1252 | Journey | Journey: Blackwork partlet & handkerchief, Beadwork partlet Master: Shisha shawl | |
| Selivia de l’Estoile | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=258 | Journey | Journey: Bayeux tapestry hanging, Drawn thread pouch Master: Splitstitch Fulda fragment | Royal Presentations: Pattern-darned towel (Alaric and Nerissa 2004) Royal Carpet |
| Aliena de Savigny | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=2296 | Apprentice | Masterwork: Elizabethan blackwork shirt (2024) Journey: Frisian headwear with plaited braid stitches (2024) | |
| Ástríðr in valsgerska | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=4087 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Embroidered dragon collar (2024) | |
| Caitríona Ruadh inghean Bhriain | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=4246 | Apprentice | Journey: Pair of applique and couched heraldic banners (2024) | |
| Iglesia Delamere | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?show=index&id=3002 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Ceara’s tent stitch pelican patch | |
| Katherine Stewart | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?show=index&id=3069 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Laid and couch work badge (2024) | |
| Magnus Bjarki | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=4248 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Gold and silver favour (2024) | |
| Mathilda de Villiers | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=2366 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Laid and couch work on headwear (2024) | |
| Mildryth Thomaswyf | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=1988 | Apprentice | Apprentice: Split stitch badge (2024) | |
| Mishto (formerly Urraquoa) | Apprentice | Journey: Norse apron embroidered with image from picture stone in Poland (2024), Smokkr with herringbone seam treatments (2024) | ||
| Quintilia Tullia | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=4739 | Apprentice | Apprentice: West et Lochac banner edges (2025) | Royal Presentation: West et Lochac banner edges (2025) |
| Raegan of Lunihawk | https://canon.lochac.sca.org/person.php?id=3242 | Apprentice | Journey: Kievan Rus 11-13th century gold couching headwear (2024) |