If you are looking for more ideas and inspiration to get ready for the Platinum Anniversary celebrations, you will love our special kits, scarves and classes.

• Jubilee Cupcake Class

Saturday 18 June, 10am – 4pm at Hampton Court Palace

Learn the Silk Shading technique to create your own cupcake topped with a cherry and a proudly positioned flag for the perfect memory of this iconic year.

Book your place

• Jubilee Scarves

We have selected three Jubilee themed scarves that beautifully reflect the lasting legacy of Her Majesty The Queen. Whether you choose the design featuring a central cameo portrait of The Queen or Corgis and Crowns, we are sure these scarves will make you feel like royalty and stand out from the crowd!

Shop here.

• Jubilee Inspired Kits

Coronation Goldwork – Peace and Plenty: A beautiful Goldwork kit, inspired by The Queen’s Coronation Robe design of ‘Wheat and Olive.’

Shop here.

Jubilee Crown – This needlepoint kit features a Jubilee Crown designed by the Flanders Tapestry Collection and created with pure British wools by Appletons.

Shop here.

View all RSN Online Shop Products Here.

Our International Summer School takes place during July and August and comprises a variety of wonderful classes and events, including a series of exclusive Online Talks. If you are not able to attend the Talks live, they will also be available on demand for International Summer School students.

3pm, Wednesday 13 July – Cultural History with Professor Dakers
Meet Professor Emerita Caroline Dakers, specialist in Cultural History, and find out more about England and the arts during the 1870s, when the RSN was founded. Learn about the start of Albertopolis in London, with the Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Music, South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) all being built in the area. But these were not the only developments, it was also the opening of Alexandra Palace in north London with its park and theatre. Caroline will look at all these fascinating cultural and artistic developments.

5pm, Wednesday 13 July – Virtual Tour of our Anniversary Exhibition
Enjoy an exclusive virtual tour of our exhibition ‘150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk’. Dr Susan Kay-Williams will take you on a walking tour around the exhibition to look at key pieces and themes, including our links with the military, church, high end lingerie and runway partners as well as royalty and the Arts & Crafts movement.

6pm, Wednesday 20 July – A Girl’s Education in Stitch
Our first exhibition Onsite at Hampton Court Palace since Covid will have just opened! Dr Susan Kay-Williams will introduce you to the new exhibition, ‘Girls Education in Stitch’, highlighting many of the pieces and the wonderful stories behind them.

Book your place on our International Summer School. Choose from a wide range of designs, taught in different time zones to suit you. If you have any questions about the classes, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected]

For more information on the RSN International Summer School 2022 click here.

Join us this June for fascinating Online Talks and a range of Online and Onsite classes covering a variety of techniques from Silk Shading to Appliqué. We are also opening the doors to our Degree Programme with an Onsite Open Day as well as an Online Open Day for our Certificate & Diploma Programme.

Onsite Class at The Fashion and Textile Museum, London

Introduction to Coronation Gold: Shamrock and Acorn inspired by the Queen Mother’s Coronation Robe The Fashion & Textile Museum, London: Fri 3 June, 10:45am – 4:45pm

Online Embroidery Classes

Advanced Appliqué, Silk Shading & Goldwork: ‘Matryoshka’: Mon 6 June – Mon 7 July, 3pm – 6pm

NEW Bargello Heart: Sat 11 June, 10am – 4pm

Drawing Basics for Beginners: Wed 15 June – Wed 22 June, 3pm – 5:30pm Only 4 Spaces Left

Introduction to Goldwork: ‘William Morris Inspired’: Wed 15 June – Wed 22 June, 6pm – 9pm Only 4 Spaces Left

Onsite Classes at Hampton Court Palace

Exclusive Silk Shaded Platinum Jubilee Cupcake: Sat 18 June, 10am – 4pm

Introduction to Canvas Stitches: ‘Mini Wool Rack Pincushion’: Sun 19 June, 10am – 4pm

Historical Stitch: ‘Exploring 17th Century Raised Embroidery’: Sat 25 June – Sun 26 June, 10am – 4pm

Online Talks

Wedding Embroidery with Amy Hare: Wed 8 June, 7pm – 8:30pm

Sewing the Self: The Threads of Being Human with Susan Aldworth: Wed 29 June, 7pm – 8:30pm

Open Days

Degree Open Day at Hampton Court Palace: Thurs 16 June, 1pm

C&D Online Open Day: Wed 22 June, 1pm

 

View all Day & Evening Classes

View all RSN Talks – Live and On Demand

Our Third Year Degree Students will be showcasing their exciting Final Major Projects in an exhibition at Hampton Court Palace.

The exhibition runs from Monday 13 June – Friday 17 June, with visiting times at 11am and 2pm.

The graduates will be on hand to discuss their projects and to inspire the next generation of hand embroiderers. The exhibition is free of charge to visit, but you must pre-book your place. Please click the link below to register:

Please note that you will not have access to visit the Palace itself without a Hampton Court Palace Visitor ticket.

RSN Degree Graduate Show 2022

RSN Degree Students will also be exhibiting on stand T32 at New Designers at the Business Design Centre in London from 29 June – 2 July.

Find out more about our BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery programme here.

We were delighted to welcome The Queen of Malaysia last week to our Anniversary Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum. 

Her Majesty is an enthusiastic embroiderer and follower of the RSN. The Queen visited us in December 2019 at Hampton Court Palace, meeting students and viewing the Lost Dress of Elizabeth I that was also on display. 

Book your ticket to ‘150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk’, you never know who you might meet there!

A gift in your Will means so much to the RSN. Throughout our history gifts in Wills have helped RSN students and our courses. 

Just this week we heard that one of our Life Friends had died and generously left us £5,000. This is very much appreciated and really gives us something to remember her by so that her RSN connection can live on. This money will go to support our Future Tutor Students, but a gift could support any of our future projects.

It is now much simpler to make an amendment to your Will, although it should always be undertaken by a professional to ensure it is legally binding and truly represents your wishes. 

There are three main ways you can support the RSN through your Will.

1. You can give a residuary gift. This is all or a share of the residue of your estate after any specific gifts have been dispersed. This can help you offset any tax that would otherwise be due on the estate and give it to a good cause.

2. A pecuniary gift. This is a specific named amount. However, the value of this will diminish over time.

3. A specific item. While the RSN might accept threads/materials and embroidered works, the money they raise for the RSN is usually very small.  Only high quality or unusual items can be added to the RSN Collection.

For more information on the benefits of gifts in Wills to the RSN, please see our website which also provides the information your adviser would need to make a gift in favour to the RSN. Click here.

To discuss how we might use your gift, please contact our Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams here.

A gift in your Will is a great way to witness your life and interests and make a significant contribution to the future of RSN Students.

We are delighted to launch a brand new event, ‘RSN Sip & Stitch’, which we are running to celebrate World Embroidery Day on Saturday 30 July.

We are encouraging stitch lovers around the world to get together with friends to share their passion, have fun with stitch and raise funds for the RSN. We will provide a wide range of ideas and themes to host your perfect event, from RSN Stitch Bank challenges and different theme ideas to quizzes and stitch templates.

The resources will be available on our website from the beginning of June. So please save the date, or even the weekend, and host your own ‘RSN Sip & Stitch’ event. It is a great way to have stitch fun with friends and at the same time help us by raising money to support our work.

As a registered charity, with no government funding, every donation we receive means a great deal to us. We are passionate about keeping the art of hand embroidery alive. We have been thrilled with the response to RSN Stitch Bank so everything raised this year from ‘RSN Sip & Stitch’ will go towards supporting RSN Stitch Bank.   And we have just added another 25 stitches to RSN Stitch Bank, so there are now 225 stitches featured!

Take out your wine glasses or mugs, thread your needles and get ready for RSN Sip & Stitch on Saturday 30 July!

Watch this space for more information that will be available in the next eNews issue. If you’re not signed up yet, please click here.

Join us this May for a variety of creative classes both Online and In-Person including our popular ‘Designing for Embroidery: Jacobean Crewelwork’ class and an exclusive Canvaswork class at The Courtauld Gallery in London. We are also holding two Online Talks this month with our Chief Executive, Susan Kay-Williams, and RSN Ambassador, Clare Hunter.

RSN Partnership Class

Canvaswork Bloomsbury Bookmark The Courtauld Gallery, London: Fri 5 May, 10am – 4pm

Online Embroidery Classes

Observational Drawing Day: ‘Drawing Flowers’ with Caroline Homfray: Wed 18 May, 10am – 4pm

New Designing for Embroidery: ‘Canvas Work’ with Chrissie Juno Mann: Mon 23 May, 3pm – 9pm

Designing for Embroidery: ‘Jacobean Crewelwork’ with Chrissie Juno Mann: Mon 30 May, 3pm – 9pm

Online Talks

RSN Benefactors with Susan Kay-Williams: Wed 11 May, 7pm – 8:30pm

The Salve of Sewing with Clare Hunter: Wed 25 May, 7pm – 8:30pm

 

View all Day & Evening Classes here

View all Online Talks here

*All times above are British Summer Time.

As part of our International Summer School, we will be teaching a series of Online Classes from 3pm – 9pm (British Summer Time), ideal for the Americas Time Zone (or any late risers in UK and Europe!) These classes take place from Monday 14 – Saturday 16 July.

Students can join us for the whole week, or book two classes – one 2-day class and one 3-day class, or book on an individual class. The 2-day classes will be held on Monday and Tuesday, and the 3-day classes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (there will be no class on Wednesday). The five day classes also leave Wednesday free for some talks.

Whether you join us for the whole week or an individual class, you will also be able to enjoy the additional events over the period of our Summer School, which include a Welcome Reception and exclusive Online Talks with guest speakers. Each student will also receive a goodie bag.

Two Day Online Classes: Monday 11 – Tuesday 12 July

Introduction to Jacobean Crewelwork: ‘Snail’ – a beautiful design for students new to the technique and wish to learn traditional stitches in Jacobean Crewelwork. Beginners Level.

Monstera Leaf Brooch – create this unique brooch using Silk Shading and Goldwork techniques. Mixed Ability Level.

Coronation Goldwork: ‘Thistle’ – inspired by the Coronation Robe of Queen Elizabeth, consort to King George VI. Intermediate Level.

Three Day Online Classes: Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 July

Contemporary Goldwork: ‘Leaves of Gold’ – treat yourself to a feast of Goldwork embroidery. Mixed Ability Level.

Embroiderer’s Accessories: ‘Biscornu & Scissor Minder’ – create an RSN anniversary keepsake of your own using Blackwork patterns, Beadwork and cord making. Mixed Ability Level.

Contrast Colour Wheel – this class combines coloured Blackwork embroidery with Goldwork accents. Intermediate Level.

Shaded Blackwork: ‘The Eyes Have It’ – learn how to create an intricate shaded effect with the Blackwork technique. Intermediate Level.

The International Summer School offers a wide variety of Online Classes at different times to suit all times zones as well as classes Onsite at Hampton Court Palace. We will be highlighting more classes in the next eNews issue.

Click here for bookings and for more information on the International Summer School 2022.

We will be running Summer Intensives for our Certificate & Diploma Onsite at Hampton Court Palace; at RSN Durham at the Tracy Franklin Studio in Fowlers Yard and at RSN Scotland in The Glasgow Art Club. This is the first full Summer Intensive Programme we have been able to run since summer 2019 due to Covid.

Students attend our venues from far and wide, including Australia and Hong Kong, and we are really looking forward to welcoming students from around the world at our intensive sessions again. The Summer Intensives teach one technique over two weeks, which can be intensive (hence the name!) but also very achievable if students follow their Tutor’s guidance and manage their time effectively.

The dates for all the Summer Intensive sessions are below and show where spaces are available. We have a limited number of spaces remaining, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

RSN Hampton Court Palace

Jacobean Crewelwork Summer Intensive – Monday 27 June – Friday 8 July – Full

Blackwork/Canvas Stitches Summer Intensive – Monday 11 July – Friday 22 July – Full

Silk Shading Summer Intensive – Monday 25 July – Friday 5 August – 1 space left

Goldwork Summer Intensive – Monday 8 August – Friday 19 August – 1 space left

RSN Durham

Summer Intensive 1 – Tuesday 7 June – Friday 10 June; Wednesday 15 June – Saturday 18 June – 1 space left

Summer Intensive 2 – Tuesday 26 July – Friday 29 July; Tuesday 2 August – Friday 5 August – 2 spaces left

RSN Scotland

Summer Intensive – Tuesday 7 June – Friday 10 June; Monday 13 June to Thursday 16 June – 5 spaces left

If you are interested in a remaining space or would like to put your name on a waiting list please contact [email protected]

Click here for more information about the Certificate & Diploma Course.

We are very excited to be able to bring you a series of special Online Talks with our Anniversary Ambassadors Clare Hunter, Susan Aldworth and Jamie ‘Mr X Stitch’ Chalmers. Listen to their needlework stories and the importance and relevance of hand embroidery in the world we live in today.

• Textile artist, curator and author Clare Hunter will be talking about ‘The Salve of Sewing’ on 25 May, sharing stories of people using embroidery as an emotional expression. Book here.
• Join experimental artist Susan Aldworth for ‘Sewing the Self: The Threads of Being Human’ on 29 June and discover how and why Susan uses embroidery in her exhibitions and the work she did with our Degree Students. Book here.
• On 6 July, we welcome one of the world’s most well-known male embroiderers, Jamie Chalmers who will explore modern needlework and how it remains a powerful tool for expression. Book here.

Dr Susan Kay-Williams and Amy Hare are also back with more inspiring talks about the RSN and our Collection. If you are surprised to hear that an organisation founded by women, for women, has men as Ambassadors, make sure you join Susan’s talk on Wednesday 11 May and find out how men have always played many roles in the RSN, including as supporters and benefactors.

For bookings and more information on RSN Online Talks click here

The RSN Embroidery Studio has been very busy this year with their latest challenge, to hand embroider two large hangings for the Katie Paterson Studio. Entitled ‘Evergreen,’ the pieces were inspired by a May Morris hanging based on the ‘Tree of Life’. This design comprised over 350 extinct plants, taken from botanical drawings.

The embroidery was worked in a small range of surface stitches, using a variety of black threads on a linen twill fabric. The stitches included Stem Stitch, Straight Stitch, French Knots and Pistol Stitch, and there was a wide range of plant styles, from simple and clean to flowery and fluffy.

When transferring the design onto the fabric, only the main important lines were transferred. This has meant that our amazing talented Studio Embroiderers had to stitch free hand, or ‘free styling’, which they nick named the process!

Due to delays in receiving the design and our team being hit by Covid, the Embroidery Studio had a limited time to stitch the piece, but our expert team put their heart and soul into this in order to meet the deadline. One of the hangings is now finished and can be found at the Ingleby Gallery in Edinburgh. The second hanging is nearly ready and, once completed, will go to Norway.

You can find out more about ‘Evergreen’ on Katie Paterson’s website. Click here.

The RSN Embroidery Studio is based at Hampton Court Palace and all work is done Onsite. The Studio is usually closed to the public, but for one day on Friday 13 May the team will open their doors as part of the Artisan Festival. So if you are visiting the Festival or the Palace on that day, please come and see our team in action. Book your tickets to the festival here.

If you would like to enquire about a restoration and conservation project or new commission, please email: [email protected]