Join this bespoke Appliqué hand embroidery class inspired by the Hastings Embroidery, an historic piece which perfectly demonstrates the Appliqué technique.  The bespoke class will run on Saturday 14 September at the new creative arts centre at Bridgepoint Rye, Rock Channel, Rye, East Sussex and students will also have the opportunity to see the unique Hastings Embroidery as part of their course.

The Hastings Embroidery was commissioned by Group Captain Ralph Ward in 1965 and was completed by the RSN Embroidery Studio in 1966, to celebrate the 900^th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.  The embroidery is made up of 27 panels, each one measuring 9ft x 3ft, and depicts 81 significant events in British history during the 900 years from 1066 to 1966.  It took 22 RSN embroiderers 10 months to complete.

For more information and to book click here.

Please note that if this class sells out then we may add an extra date on 5 October.  Please add your name to the waiting list to be informed.

For the first time, we are offering multi class packages.  These special packages are designed to take you on an embroidery journey and guide you through the art of hand embroidery.  Plus when you book one you will enjoy an exclusive 15% discount!* (no further discounts can be applied).

You can choose three different packages:  Stitching through the Seasons ; First Steps in Hand Embroidery and The Technique Trio: ‘Goldwork’.

Whether you take your first steps in different techniques or become a master in one, the classes are staggered throughout the year and aim to take you on a hand embroidery journey.

Full terms and conditions

As a charity the RSN is overseen by a group of volunteer trustees. Trustees serve a term of three years and may serve two terms. The trustees meet six times a year at Hampton Court Palace. In addition, some trustees serve on the Finance and Investment Committee which meets four times a year in central London.

We are now looking to replace a number of retiring trustees and are looking for candidates with at least one of the following skill sets.

• A background in finance at a senior level to serve on the Council and on the Finance and Investment Committee.
• Experience of fundraising at a senior level/trustee
• A background in higher education from either an academic or administrative role.

If you are interested in an RSN Trustee role, please email enquiries at [email protected] with a copy of your CV and a covering letter explaining what you would bring to the

The wonderful ecclesiastical pieces in our Collection are soon to be on show at Exeter Cathedral.  The exhibition is open from 1 – 26 August and features pieces from our unique Collection and the vestments the RSN Embroidery Studio made for the millennium celebrations of Buckfast Abbey.  The display will also include vestments and altar frontals from Exeter Cathedral.

The exhibition will be open during the Cathedral’s regular opening hours (9am – 5pm) and admission is included in the standard entry charge.  For more information, visit Exeter Cathedral.

 

Don’t miss viewing the stunning work by our Degree Students which will be on show throughout August in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.  The exhibition, called ‘Out of the Frame’, runs from 3 – 30 August at R Space Gallery.  It showcases a variety of projects by recent graduates and embodies the art of hand embroidery applied to individual creative practice.

The R Space Gallery is at 32 Castle Street, Lisburn BT27 4XE.  Opening hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 5pm.

Find out more about the exhibition

If you would like to know more about our Degree Course, please book onto one of our forthcoming Open Days .

We have a few spaces remaining on two of our classes at the Fashion Museum Bath, on Saturday 17 August and Saturday 7 September.  Each class features a different technique and design based on clothing pieces in the Museum’s exhibition ‘A History of Fashion in 100 Objects’ and led by RSN Tutors, Kate Barlow and Deborah Wilding respectively.  The class inspirations include 1700 and 1850 waistcoats.

Each class costs £84, plus £30 for the kit cost which is payable on the day of your class.  The class cost includes a ticket to the Museum which is valid for one month from the date of the class.

View all classes running in Bath

The RSN’s Embroidery Studio recently worked on the restoration and conservation of a very special robe worn by Lady Carnarvon to King George V’s Coronation in 1911.  The Carnarvon family live at Highclere Castle which you may recognise as the set of Downtown Abbey!

This historic garment will be on display at a special event at Highclere Castle on the 7 and 8 September called Castle Tours, Costumes and Cocktails. 

 

Our Degree Students recently helped bring the new Spring/Summer 2020 E. Tautz Collection to fruition by hand stitching a bespoke design on two of the garments.  The new Collection featured the theme ‘juicy and fruity and floral’ and a rich palette of colours.  Our Degree Students Appliquéd cotton tape to two of the sweatshirt designs, creating a bespoke E. Tautz pattern using the form of the letters E, T and Z.  Creative Director and BBC Sewing Bee host Patrick Grant launched the new Collection in London during Men’s Fashion Week.

If you are looking forward to a summer spent stitching, take a look at some of our July classes – there are just a few spaces left!

 

Hampton Court Palace

Sunday 7 July– Introduction to Creative Gold: ‘Flower Brooch’

Tuesday 9 – Wednesday 10 July – Broderie Anglaise Using Colour: ‘Thimble’ 

Wednesday 10 July – Seasonal Introduction to Embroidery with Ribbonwork Elements 

Saturday 13 July – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Marilyn Monroe’ 

Wednesday 17 July – Introduction to Whitework: ‘A Pair of Birds’

Bristol

Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 July – Art Nouveau Tiles

Bath

Saturday 20 July – Bespoke Embroidery: ‘Inspired by Crewelwork Petticoat’

Dublin

Monday 8 July – Introduction to Blackwork: ‘Springtime’

 

View all forthcoming Day Classes

This is the time of year that many retailers are considering what to stock for Christmas, so we thought we would join them and highlight some of our forthcoming Christmas themed Day Classes which are already booking up!  Choose from a Raised Embroidery Festive mistletoe brooch, Canvas Stitches Festive Fawn, Blackwork Christmas Robin, Whitework Bauble and more!

And if you are feeling Chrismassy already, then why not book onto RSN Tutor Becky Quine’s ‘Another 5 Techniques in 5 More Days’ and create this adorable Snowman scene.  The class takes place from Monday 22 – Friday 26 July and features Appliqué, Stumpwork and Goldwork.

View all of our Day Classes here.

RSN Degree Graduates, Dev Patel and Carys Atkinson, are thrilled to be invited to discuss taking the world of hand embroidery from the traditional to streetwear and sustainability during the annual Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall, on Friday 26 July.  They will be part of a panel discussion in the ‘Fashion Foundation’ area, the festival’s home for fashion and art – setting fashion agendas and stimulating creative thinking about the future, especially around sustainability.

Dev and Carys will be in discussion with fashion ambassador Tamara Cincik, and will talk about their expertise and ambitions for moving hand embroidery in to new areas of practice.  It is absolutely wonderful for our 2019 Graduates to be part of the Festival, and to be speaking alongside renowned designers such as Zandra Rhodes and Alice Temperley.

Dev and Carys will then lead an inspiring ‘Funky Button’ workshop to brighten up festival gear.  Festival goers will embellish and embroider an over-sized ‘button’ as a fashion accessory, using upcycled materials, vintage beads and threads, to let their creativity go wild!

You can learn more here