Start the New Year off right and join one of our hand embroidery Day & Evening classes, come along to an Open Day, visit our Special Display, or sign up for an Online Talk this month!

Degree Open Days:

Hampton Court Palace

Wednesday 17 January 2024 (2pm)

Saturday 20 January 2024 (11am)

Wednesday 24 January 2024 (2pm)

 

Online Open Days via Zoom (UK Time)

Friday 12 January 2024 (4pm)

Wednesday 17 January 2024 (6pm)

Friday 26 January 2024 (2pm)

 

Certificate & Diploma Open Days:

Thursday 25 January, Online Via Zoom (1pm)

 

Online Talks:

Whitework: The Versatile Enhancement: Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Wednesday 17 January

RSN Stitch Bank: Exploring the World Directory of Stitches – FREE – Dr Susan Kay-Williams and special guests, Wednesday 24 January

 

Exhibitions:

The Royal School of Needlework & Five Coronations 1902 – 2023 – Special Display: RSN Embroidery Studio, Hampton Court Palace – * EXTENDED until May 2024*

Spaces available:

Talk and Private view:

Wednesday 24 January – 11am

Group Talk and Private view:

Wednesday 24 January – 2pm

Thursday 25 January – 2pm

 

Day & Evening Classes:

Drawing Basics for Beginners: Online, Weekly – from Tuesday 9 January

Technical Tuesday Crewelwork Progression -Term 1: Online, Weekly – from Tuesday 16 January to Tuesday 26 March

Whitework Lovebirds: Online, Weekly – from Wednesday 17 January to Wednesday 7 February

Whitework Wednesdays: Online, Weekly – from Wednesday 17 January to Wednesday 10 April

Colour Theory in Practice: Online, Wednesday 24 January

Introduction to Blackwork: ’Winter Leaf’: Weekly, from Thursday 25 January to Thursday 8 February

Share your passion for stitch and give the gift of needlework this Christmas. We are delighted to announce the launch of a brand new Self-Paced Video Online Course, Introduction to Embroidery – Tulip, which is perfect for beginners to embroidery.

RSN Tutor Sarah de Rousset-Hall gives step by step tuition to create this stunning Tulip design, inspired by a much treasured piece in the RSN’s Collection & Archive. Beginners can complete the course at their own pace and learn a range of essential embroidery stitches, including Stem Stitch, Seeding and French Knots.

Introduce the wonderful world of stitch to a loved one with the Introduction to Embroidery – Tulip. The course costs £55.

Watch the trailer

View all RSN Self-Paced Online Video Courses

We have two very exciting Partnership Classes happening at the RSN in the New Year, at The Holburne Museum, Bath, and at The Cortauld Building, London.

Join RSN Tutor Deborah Wilding at The Holburne Museum, Bath on 6 April for an exciting Partnership Class inspired by a 17th Century Raised Embroidery Panel. The panel is on permanent display at the museum and you will have an opportunity to view this embroidery and many of the museum’s magnificent objects during the day.

Book Here

Also in the New Year, we will be teaching a Canvaswork hand embroidery class evocative of a stunning Floral Back Chair from The Courtauld Gallery’s Bloomsbury Room. The one-day class will be held at the gallery on Friday 1 March, and during the day, students will also be treated to an expert-led view of the Bloomsbury Chair.

Book Here

We are thrilled to launch another 25 stitches on RSN Stitch Bank this December, with an exciting lead up to Christmas that will see one stitch being released every day up to 25 December!

This winter’s release of stitches for RSN Stitch Bank will look back exclusively to the embroidery of the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

For this, the RSN Stitch Bank team has been working with author Jacqui Carey. Her research into the stitches of this period has brought to light stitches that have fallen out of use, as well as different ways of working familiar stitches.

RSN Stitch Bank is the world directory of stitches, and an incredible resource, featuring videos, written instructions, illustrations, and photographs for each stitch. It also includes a history of its use and images of them on items from the RSN Textile Collection.

RSN Stitch Bank is available online via the website rsnstitchbank.org and is a unique resource for all stitchers, teachers, curators, historians, researchers, and students.

RSN Stitch Bank has been made possible thanks to several charitable trusts and many individual donors who have ‘Adopted a Stitch’ for themselves, a friend, group, or in memoriam of a loved one. If you would like to support the project and ‘Adopt a Stitch’, visit RSN Stitch Bank for more information.

Browse all of the stitches on RSN Stitch Bank

We are incredibly proud of our three RSN Degree Graduates winners, as well as several other RSN alumni who were finalists in the International Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery 2023.

The Winners⁠:
⁠
Lizzie Gray

RSN 2023 Graduate Lizzie Gray took first place in the Student Textile Art Category for her piece ‘Inside Out’.

‘Inside and Out’ is a series of five embroidered neck pieces exploring the human condition through the use of anatomical imagery, putting a microscope on the mind, body, and soul connection.

Follow Lizzie on Instagram here.
⁠

Chloe Rogers

RSN 2023 Graduate Chloe Rogers took third place in the Student Fashion Category with her piece ‘Purifying Graffiti’.

Using text as a powerful, unfiltered tool to address social and political issues, ‘Purifying Graffiti’ invites you to take a moment to reflect on your own responsibility towards the climate crisis.

This showstopping full-white look unites craft and sustainability through a contemporary window. Purity achieved through precision.

Follow Chloe on Instagram here

 

Emily Barnett
⁠
RSN 2023 Graduate Emily Barnett was the winner of the Worshipful Company of Broderers Associate Award⁠ for her piece ‘The Chawton House Project’.

The Chawton House Project consists of three hand-embroidered wall panels inspired by the grounds of Chawton House, Hampshire. These embroideries were created in response to the colours and beauty discovered on the grounds by Emily.

Follow Emily on Instagram here

 

Naomi Aindow Clarke

RSN 2020 Degree Graduate Naomi Aindow Clarke was the winner of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers Associate Award.

Naomi’s piece ‘Grounded’ embodies her experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Reflecting on her distorted reality, Naomi uses repetitive, slow-process crafts to enter a flow state.

Follow Naomi on Instagram⁠
⁠

The Finalists:

⁠Fiza Shahid

RSN 2023 Graduate Fiza Shadid was a finalist in the Student Textile Art Category with her piece ‘Hidden Beauty’.

 

Hidden beauty is a depiction of Fiza’s understanding of the Muslim religious garment, the Hijab. This work aims to convey meaning through emotions, emphasising the exploration of spirituality and subconscious through the design, hand embroidery techniques and colour.

Follow Fiza on Instagram

 

Kate Pankhurst

RSN Tutor and former Hand & Lock Prize winner Kate Pankhurst was a finalist in the Open Textile Category for her piece ‘Fancy Free.’

‘Fancy Free’ embodies a symbol ubiquitous throughout religion and spiritual practice. The piece stands for creativity, fertility, good fortune, wisdom, and most of all, freedom.

 

Free of restraint, he swims transcendently through the elements of fire, water, earth, and air. The piece is mostly goldwork, including the rare technique ‘underside couching’, which pays homage to the great ecclesiastic embroiderers in Opus Anglicanum of medieval times.

Follow Kate on Instagram here

 

Chloe Angrave

RSN 2023 Degree Graduate Chloe Angrave was also a finalist in the Student Fashion Category.

‘Oceanic Decay’ examines Chloe’s fascination with sea life. She believes it is important that the fashion industry becomes more sustainable.

 

This body of work presents through embroidery how climate change is affecting the ocean, using new innovative materials as well as repurposed collected ones to create a luxurious, bespoke garment.

Follow Chloe on Instagram here⁠
⁠⁠
Congratulations to everyone on their fantastic achievements, and we can’t wait to see what each and every finalist does next!
⁠
Come along to the next RSN Degree Open Day to see what opportunities could be in store for you. Book here

Want to learn more about RSN Stitch Bank and how it can help you?

Following our hugely successful RSN Sip & Stitch fundraising events at the beginning of November, we would like to invite you to a FREE live RSN Online Talk.

RSN Stitch Bank, which launched in September 2021, now features 350 stitches. The RSN’s amazing world directory of stitches is a free resource, and has been used by researchers, curators, historians, teachers and students all around the world.

During this round table discussion, RSN Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams, will welcome a panel of experts and users of RSN Stitch Bank who refer to it to inform their work.  You will have the opportunity to pose questions to the panel and to learn how this wonderful free resource is able to contribute to your own world of stitch.

We look forward to welcoming you all to this FREE online event on Wednesday 24 January at 7pm.  Please sign up here to register.

As an extra special bonus, we are adding one new stitch to RSN Stitch Bank from 1 December which will bring it to 375 stitches on 25 December…what a wonderful festive treat!

After what has been a very busy year, keep up to date with the RSN Embroidery Studio and see what they have been up to in recent months.

Decorex International 2023

In October the RSN Embroidery Studio team were once again in attendance at Decorex International, held at London Olympia.

This was the team’s fifth outing to the show, and it was lovely to meet so many different designers and artists from a wide range of creative industries, including Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen.

Our theme for the stand this year was inspired by the work the RSN Embroidery Studio had recently undertaken for Their Majesties Coronation.  A particular highlight for visitors to the show was being able to see up close our part-worked coronation sampler inspired by Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s Robe of Estate. The piece encapsulates all the flowers featured on Her Majesty’s robe and will be a valuable contribution to our archive and teaching resource for future generations here at the RSN.

In addition, there was a very special collaborative piece on display that was worked on in partnership with Nick Gutfreund, whom the RSN Embroidery Studio team had worked with earlier this year on the Anointing Screen for the Coronation. Designed and worked especially for the show, the embroidered canvas chair back was inspired by a piece from our design archive and was set onto a bespoke chair frame created by Nick. The top of the chair represented a roll of fabric and was the perfect match to the embroidery.

Drapers Hall event

At the end of October, the RSN Studio team were thrilled to host a special event in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Drapers in their livery hall in London.

The day began with a bespoke embroidery class led by RSN Tutor Sarah de Rousset-Hall. The students worked on a design of a dove created especially for the event, inspired by the symbolic motif on the Anointing Screen which the RSN Studio had produced earlier this year.

Later in the day, livery members from 88 different livery companies attended a presentation showcasing the various processes that went into producing this monumental piece. Guest speakers included Aidan Hart, who designed the screen; Pete Tarrant from Digitex, who machine-embroidered the main tree; Nick Gutfreund, the project lead and creator of the wooden framework; Tim Royall, who created the gold eagles which sat atop the screen; and David Roper from the Grenadier Guards, who coordinated the deployment of the screen. Our Head of Studio, Anne Butcher, and Studio Manager, Gemma Murray, represented the RSN Embroidery Studio team.

Following the presentation, Anne and Gemma, along with Masako Newton and Sarah, were able to meet with the members of each company and talk through their experience of working on the screen.

It was a wonderful event and a great opportunity to share some behind the scenes facts and figures.

Visit the RSN Embroidery Studio’s website to find out more about their work, from restoration and conservations to new bespoke commissions to be admired by generations to come.

Thinking of taking up a new hobby in 2024? Why not start the New Year by learning something beautiful and join our Certificate & Diploma course!

If you are going back to work in January and looking for a flexible new hobby that you can fit around your busy schedule, our Certificate & Diploma Course in Technical Hand Embroidery is the one for you.

The RSN Certificate & Diploma course is an excellent and flexible way to elevate your hand embroidery skills and can be learned from wherever you are in the world.

Meet Magdalena, who shares her story of moving to the UK from Poland to take the Certificate Course.

“I started practicing hand embroidery when I was 10 and I was inspired by my mum.

I learned a lot, but as an adult I was looking for more techniques to expand my knowledge, and then I discovered the Royal School of Needlework on the internet. I decided to join a Day Class and travelled all the way from Poland to the UK just to attend this class.

Everything was mysterious: the palace itself, the school, the hidden staircase, the interior, the equipment (in Poland the sitting frame is not widely used).I fell in love with the place and was so desperate to learn more that I decided to move from Poland to London to live and attend classes at the RSN.

While living in London, I immediately decided to take the Certificate course, which I have now completed. During the course, I learned a lot of new stitches and techniques we don’t know and don’t use in Poland. In the meantime, I have since started teaching hand embroidery at the Royal Wilanów Palace in Warsaw.

I love all the techniques that I have learnt on the Certificate course, and I inspire my students with the love I have learned at the Royal School of Needlework.”

If you are interested in joining our Certificate & Diploma Online Course, join one of our upcoming Open Days and learn more about what the course has to offer.

Read more about the Certificate & Diploma Course here

Get into the festive spirit and see our packed full schedule of festive treats this December, with lovely Day & Evening Classes, events and Online Talks to give you that hint of Christmas magic.

Day & Evening Classes

Festive Wreath Brooch: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 3 December

From Drawing to Design: Online, Wednesday 6 December – 4 SPACES LEFT

Metalwork Gingerbread House: Online, Friday 15 December – 3 SPACES LEFT

 

Events & Exhibitions

The Royal School of Needlework & Five Coronations 1902 – 2023 – Special Display: RSN Embroidery Studio, Hampton Court Palace – * Due to this event being a sellout, we have extended the run until May 2024*

The Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers 400th Anniversary Exhibition: Guildhall Art Gallery, London – EXTENDED until 31 December

 

Online Talks

“The Wardrobes of King Henry VIII’s Wives” Live Online Talk – (With Fashion Historian Eleri Lynn), Wednesday 6 December

 

2024 dates for your diary:

FREE Online Talk – ‘Stitch Bank: Exploring the World Directory of Stitches’, Wednesday 24 January

 

Degree Open Days

Hampton Court Palace:

Wednesday 17 January 2024 (2pm)

Saturday 20 January 2024 (11am)

Wednesday 24 January 2024 (2pm)

 

Online Via Zoom:

Friday 12 January 2024 (4pm, UK GMT)

Wednesday 17 January 2024 (6pm, UK GMT)

Friday 26 January 2024 (2pm, UK GMT)

With only 8 weeks left until the big day, it’s important to take a little time out for yourself in amongst all the planning, purchasing of gifts, wrapping and cooking!

Between now and December, we have a fabulously festive selection of Christmas-themed classes to get you in the mood, as well as allow you a little time to appreciate the mindful benefits of hand embroidery.

Join us Online, take a class in person at Hampton Court Palace or even on the other side of the world in sunny Brisbane, Australia!

Whether you come on your own or bring a friend, take time to stitch something for yourself or even as a thoughtful gift.

There really is something for everyone at the RSN this Christmas, so whether you are a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, make the RSN part of your run-up to Christmas.

See all of our Christmas Day & Evening Classes here

Discover the Christmas Shop at the Royal School of Needlework this winter, where you can find everything you need for your stitching season ahead.

Our beautiful range of festive products includes Christmas embroidery kits as well as unique one-off gifts, jewellery, greeting cards and decorations, all to add to your Christmas shopping list.

Why not also treat yourself to a little Christmas indulgence and ask for an RSN Gift Card from Santa this year, to put towards stitching gifts, Day Classes, Certificate & Diploma modules, Online Talks and more.

Be it hand embroidery, homeware, drawing and design items, or more, shop the RSN shop this season for that touch of Christmas magic.

Shop the range here

The RSN Degree BA (Hons) Degree Programme provides a great way into many industries. From Fashion, to teaching to textiles, there is a wealth of opportunity available to anyone who is considering joining the course.

Meet Livia Papiernik, the newest addition to the RSN Degree team. Livia’s teaching journey began at the very same place, as a student!

“I’ve known I wanted a career in textiles since my GCSE’s, and the art room became my sanctuary throughout school. Arriving at the RSN surrounded by other textile and embroidery lovers, was such an inspiring place to be!

Throughout my degree, I was searching for what my artistic language was, what it was I wanted to say through my art and where I wanted to go. This constant search for who I was as an artist led me to think extremely experimentally and outside of the box with my stitches. I was always eager to push the boundaries of this traditional craft and find myself and my stories within them.

We are often in a rush to decide who we are as makers, putting pressure on ourselves to know the answer by the time we graduate. I’ve learnt that it is our journey that gives us those answers and that we should in fact constantly be searching, rethinking, requestioning what and why we are making.

Returning to the RSN as a lecturer feels like a beautiful full circle. I’m excited to help future makers discover what embroidery can be and how they can find their unique and individual language through stitch. I love the RSN’s value of ensuring the future of these century old traditional techniques and how much the degree pushes for them to be challenged and crafted for a contemporary world. It has always been my aim to showcase the extraordinary qualities of stitch, and what better way to do that than mentoring more makers to have their voices heard within the embroidery world.’

Inspired by Livia’s words?

If you are interested in learning more about the BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery Degree course, attend an Open Day Online, or Onsite at Hampton Court Palace

Follow Livia on Instagram