We are excited to be teaching a host of brand new and returning Day Classes this October. Have a look below at our offerings around the UK…
Hampton Court Palace
Sunday 13 October –Crewelwork Monogram
Thursday 17 October – Tour & Taster Workshop: ‘Appliqué Skater’
Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 October – Goldwork & Silk Shading Butterfly
Bristol
Saturday 19 October – Introduction to Box Making
Birmingham
Friday 25 October – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Kingfisher’
At the start of the academic year, we always review the funds we have available for bursaries for our Degree and Future Tutor students. While we receive some annual support from livery companies and charitable trusts, with the growing demand for bursaries (last year 42 out of 60 students applied for the Degree bursaries), we rely on funds from legacies to top up what we have available.
Legacy gifts have also helped the RSN develop new programmes and are contributing to the digitisation project. If you would like to know more about contributing to the RSN in your Will, please contact enquiries at [email protected]
If you are looking for the perfect gift, visit our shop at Hampton Court Palace or online www.royal-needlework.org.uk/shop. We have a variety of new products available for a range of budgets from a beautiful scarf to fun fridge magnets.
The scarf (£65) is exclusive to the RSN and made of modal silk. It features a Tree of Life design inspired by our Collection, with Jacobean style motifs and stitches worked in silk thread. You may also like RSN Tutor Rachel Doyle’s new Canvaswork kit (£38.50) which explores a variety of Canvas Stitch patterns to create a gorgeous little house design and landscape.
Our new RSN fridge magnets (£2.95) and lens cloth (£3.95) feature exclusive RSN designs including our famous Wall of Wool and Royal Coat of Arms.W
And if you are not sure what to choose, don’t forget we also offer gift vouchers
This month we are delighted to introduce you to Sharon Ross who started the RSN Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery course in February 2018 and has already graduated on to the Diploma! Sharon lives in Dorset, a county in the South West of England on the English channel coast, and travels over 100 miles for two hours to arrive to the calm oasis of the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace.
What motivated you to enrol on the RSN’s Certificate & Diploma course?
I have been hooked on cross-stitch for more than 20 years and was interested in expanding my skills. The C&D course looked perfect for this as it covers a range of techniques. The information on the RSN website included brief details about the course so I contacted the Education Department to obtain further information. It really helped to know that I didn’t need any prior stitching experience, the length of time allowed to complete the course meant that it would be really flexible and that the cost could be broken down by session so I could spread it to suit my finances.
When did you start the course?
I started the Certificate in February 2018, having attended an Open Day at Hampton Court Palace the previous week!
What do you think are the benefits of attending the C&D?
For me, it’s the amazing guidance provided by the Tutors as this has increased my skills and confidence; I have learned so much already. In addition, the flexibility to work through the modules at your own pace is great.
Which technique has been your favourite so far?
I have thoroughly enjoyed each module, even the Silk Shading, where I was really anxious before I started, but my favourite so far has to be the Appliqué module. This was great because you have such creative freedom and can combine a variety of techniques.
How do you balance the C&D course and homework with your work/home life?
The flexibility of the C&D is great, as there is no pressure to complete each module. However, saying this, I completed the Certificate in just over a year and intend to spread the Diploma over 2 years. The homework fits easily into my life – although some weeks are busier than others so I fit whatever I can into my time available.
What do you plan to do with your newly acquired skills once you have completed the C&D?
I am planning to set up a needlework business selling embroidery kits I have designed.
Why did you choose to learn hand embroidery from the RSN rather than from another organisation?
I chose the RSN because I wanted to learn traditional embroidery techniques from the best!
To find out more about our Certificate & Diploma Course, book your place on one of our forthcoming Open Days or email [email protected]
We teach the Certificate & Diploma at Hampton Court Palace, around the UK in Bristol, Rugby, Durham & Glasgow and internationally in Japan and the USA.
Back by popular demand, we are delighted to announce our return to the USA for our second summer school in July 2020. We will be returning to Lexington, Kentucky from Sunday 12 July – Sunday 26 July. Some of your favourite Tutors will be returning and you will meet some new ones too. We will also be offering a programme of new classes alongside some special events.
We will be coming for two back to back weeks, and also giving an option of a 4-day mini session as follows:
Week 1
Reception Sunday 12 July
Classes start Monday 13 July
Final session Saturday AM 18 July
Week 2
Reception Sunday 19 July
Classes start Monday 20 July
Final session Saturday AM 25 July
Alternatively if that is too long there is a 4-day session (Thursday – Sunday) for just 24 people each week.
Week 1A
Classes start Thursday 16 July
Classes end Sunday 19 July
Week 2A
Classes start Thursday 23 July
Classes end Sunday 26 July
We are bringing 13 Tutors and our Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams will be lecturing and showcasing recent donations to the Collection. Over the next 12 weeks we will show you images of the finished kits you can select. For the six-day event, students can choose one three-day class and one two-day class. For the four day mini session, you can book two two-day classes. You will be able to select any of the two-day classes for Thursday/Friday but there will be a limited choice for Saturday/Sunday.
The returning Tutors will be Deborah Wilding, Heather Lewis, Kate Barlow, Helen McCook, Sara Rickards and Zinaida Kazban. Tutors new to the Summer School include Sara-Jane Dennis, Jen Goodwin, Chrissie Juno Mann, Amy Burt and Helen Richman, and there will also be two recent graduates from our Future Tutors programme.
Read more about our USA Summer School 2020 and view Class Previews.
So, save the date in your 2020 calendar to join us! Bookings will open January 2020.
We will be opening the RSN doors at Hampton Court Palace as part of Open House London on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, 10am – 4.30pm (last entry is 4pm). Come and see behind the scenes of our Embroidery Studio rooms, not usually open to Palace visitors.
We will also be giving Tours of our Education Rooms at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Tickets for the Tours will be available from the RSN Shop on the day. Spaces are limited to just 20 people per Tour and are on a first-come, first-served basis. View more details here.
Please enter the Royal School of Needlework via the RSN Shop which can be accessed through Hampton Court Palace’s Governor’s Gate and the East Front Gate.
There are over 800 buildings, walks, talks and tours in the Open House programme including parts of Hampton Court Palace. Why not make a day of it.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
We were delighted to welcome our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall on 5 September and show a very special Blackwork portrait of The Duchess.
The embroidery was created by the experts in our Embroidery Studio and will be available to see up close in our forthcoming exhibition, Faces & Figures in Stitch.
Her Royal Highness met with the expert RSN Studio embroiderers who created her portrait and students whose work will also be on display. There will be over 100 embroideries in our new exhibition, including key figures in history and familiar faces of today such as Henry VIII, William Shakespeare, Nelson Mandela and David Bowie.
Watch the making of The Duchess of Cornwall’s Blackwork portrait here.
Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework said: “Blackwork uses just one colour of thread which enables dramatic effects to be created and is ideal for depicting faces and figures. Our Embroidery Studio team worked hard on the preparation, firstly choosing the right image and then sampling the stitches beforehand. The image chosen was from a photograph taken of The Duchess during her first visit to us in November 2017. We are delighted that we can showcase this wonderful embroidery in our new exhibition.”
The exhibition Faces & Figures in Stitch opens on 24 September and runs until 19 March. The exhibition is in the RSN’s Embroidery Studios, based at Hampton Court Palace, so when you book your Tour, not only will you have the chance to see The Duchess’ portrait, but you may also meet the team who created it! Pre-booking is essential.
If you would like to include a Taster embroidery workshop as part of your Tour, book onto our next Tour & Taster workshop.
For Talk & Tour bookings click here or email: [email protected]
We are excited to kick off the new term with a host of brand new and returning Day Classes and can’t wait to get started. Have a look below at our September offerings around the UK…
Hampton Court Palace
Saturday 21 September –Drawing and Design for Embroidery
Saturday 28 September – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Hydrangea’
Sunday 29 September – Introduction to Japanese Embroidered Temari Balls
Sunday 29 September – Intermediate Crewelwork: ‘Bird’
Durham
Wednesday 11 September – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Take A Stitch’
Saturday 28 – Sunday 29 September: Analysing Colour: Design and Composition
Glasgow
Saturday 14 – Sunday 15 September – Introduction to Drawn Thread Work
Rye
Saturday 14 September – Bespoke Appliqué Class in Rye: Inspired by the Hastings Embroidery
Bristol
Sunday 22 September – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Dianthus’
Saturday 28 September – Canvas Shading: ‘Echinacea’
Birmingham
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 September – Fairy Toadstool: ‘Pin Cushion’
Thank you and well done to everyone who attended our Certificate & Diploma Summer Intensive Courses. It is, as the name says, an intense 2 weeks for our students and they have done brilliantly. If you are thinking of joining us again next year or for the first time, the new dates have been released and available to book. The C&D Summer Intensives take place at Hampton Court Palace from 22 June – 14 August 2020.
They start with the Jacobean Crewelwork technique (22 June – 3 July), followed by Canvas Work / Blackwork (6 – 17 July); Silk Shading (20 – 31 July) and Goldwork (3 – 14 August). We also now teach modules on the Diploma which take place (20 – 31 July) and (3 – 14 August).
For more information click here.
Play a part in the story of stitch…
For some time, the RSN has been working on what will become the RSN Stitch Bank. This will be a digital database of all the stitches in the world, in one place. It will include a picture of the stitch, a video of how to create the stitch, illustrations of the steps of the stitch, a little about the stitch’s history and examples of pieces in which the stitch has been used, ultimately across time periods and locations. The purpose of the RSN Stitch Bank is to conserve these stitches which are even more at risk than wildlife or nature.
We have made a great start with preparing the database and now we need to populate it with stitches. Each stitch takes between a day and a day and a half to prepare and now we need to fund this work. Two charitable trusts have come forward with £27,000 between them towards this work but the next phase will cost a total of £76,800. Will you help us to raise the remaining £49,200?
We hope to launch the RSN Stitch Bank in July 2020 but can only do so if we have the funds and in enough time to prepare all the work.
You can read more about the RSN Stitch Bank below and you can help us by making a donation here
If you kindly donate at least £135 your name will be added to one of the stitches in recognition of your support for the future of stitch and the RSN Stitch Bank
Thank you.
If you are looking forward to a summer spent stitching, take a look at some of our August classes – there are just a few spaces left!
Hampton Court Palace
Tuesday 6 – Wednesday 7 August – Drawn Thread Bookmark (in colour)
Wednesday 7- Thursday 8 August – Blackwork Flower with Elizabethan Plaited Braid
Saturday 10 – Sunday 11 August – Stumpwork Figures: ‘Queensguard’
Wednesday Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 August –Box Making: ‘Keepsake Box’
Rugby
Tuesday 13 August – Introduction to Crewelwork: ‘Enchanted Crewelwork’
Birmingham
Saturday 31 August – Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Russian Doll’
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 900th 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.
