‘Hand Embroidery: Skills and Studies’ is an e-certificated sampler-based course exploring, learning and developing stitch and embroidery techniques, whilst studying and researching traditional, historical and contemporary embroideries and textiles.

The course combines several techniques and subjects in module form, including knots, grids, couching, shading, canvas and purls, with the course expanding in future to include more modules. The course is now being offered onsite at RSN Durham, Hampton Court Palace and RSN Bristol, as well as Online throughout the year.

RSN Hand Embroidery: Skills & Studies Taster Days

Following the success of the ‘Hand Embroidery: Skills and Studies’ course at RSN Durham and Online, we are pleased to offer taster days for the course at Hampton Court Palace and at RSN Bristol. During the day, students will have the opportunity to stitch four sampler squares each exploring a key embroidery technique which will give them a taste of what is offered on the full course. Students will explore bullion and French knots using different colours and fibres to create texture and impact, build trellis patterns in surface embroidery and learn traditional couching including curves and turns.

Taster session dates:

Hampton Court Palace – 27 February & 27 March

RSN Bristol – 28 February & 28 March

Upcoming module dates:

RSN Durham – with RSN Tutor Tracy Franklin: 10am – 4pm

Grids Module – 27 February, 20 March, 8 May, 29 May, 19 June and 3 July 2026.  (3 spaces remaining)

Knots (intensive course) – April 2026: Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22, Friday 24, Saturday 25, Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29. (4 spaces remaining)

Online – with RSN Tutor Tracy Franklin: 2pm – 8pm

Grids Module– 25 February, 18 March, 6 May, 27 May, 17 June and 1 July 2026.  (1 space remaining)

Hampton Court Palace – with RSN Tutor Zina Kazban: 10am to 4pm

Knots Module – 24 April, 15 May, 12 June, 10 July, 21 July, 21 August 2026 (10 spaces remaining)

Grids Module – 18 September, 16 October 2026 (more dates coming soon).

RSN Bristol – with RSN Tutors Sonia Lee (knots), Amanda Rymel (grids): 10am to 4pm

Grids – 19 April, 17 May, 31 May, 14 June, 28 June, 26 June 2026 (7 spaces remaining)

Knots – (New dates coming soon)

Find out more about the RSN Skills and Studies course, and book a taster session here