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. 

 

From Wedding Dress to Garden Den

We are thrilled to have collaborated with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge to help bring her showcase ‘Back to Nature’ garden to life at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival.

The Royal School of Needlework first worked for Her Royal Highness in 2011, creating the bespoke lace on her wedding dress, veil and shoes (designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen). For this latest project, we have created a hand embroidered textile by only using compostable materials to complete the surround of a forest den. The hand embroidery techniques of Appliqué, Whitework and Needlelace were a perfect combination to emulate a camouflage style netting and provide magical, dappled light into the den.

The ethos of the design was to create a piece which employs the traditional skills of hand embroidery combined with the fabrics and materials of the garden. Fine embroidery threads have been replaced with jute garden twine, and fine linens and silks replaced with coarse hessian fabrics.  The unique hand embroidered textile artwork was then set over a Birch tree ‘A-frame’ to create the forest den.

Angie Wyman, Course Leader for the RSN Degree in Hand Embroidery said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with The Duchess of Cambridge again and to be able to showcase the adaptability of needlework. This project was brought to life by RSN staff, Degree and Future Tutor students. It is a perfect example of how RSN students work collaboratively and can successfully apply their design and hand embroidery skills to new contexts and materials.”

The Duchess of Cambridge created the special garden to inspire families and communities to spend time in natural environments and help build foundations for positive physical and mental wellbeing.

Our annual exhibition of work from our Certificate & Diploma and Future Tutor graduates will take place from 2–7 July at Hampton Court Palace.  The display of work is in our Embroidery Studio and free to enter.  There is no need to book.  Visitors can enter the Palace via Governor’s Gate and then into the exhibition through the RSN shop.  The exhibition opens at 11am and closes at 4.45pm each day.

If you have any queries or would like more information, email: [email protected]

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.