In addition to our regular Certificate & Diploma classes, we run ‘Summer Intensives’ which teach one technique over two weeks.  This year we will be running two sessions at Hampton Court Palace in August.  If you would like to learn onsite, then please book as soon as possible as we only have a few places remaining.  Once fully booked, add your name to the waiting list and we will open up more sessions.

If you do not live close to Hampton Court Palace, but like the idea of learning a technique in a short, but intense, time, you can join us for our Online Summer Intensives in Canvaswork, Blackwork, Silk Shading, Goldwork and for mixed techniques on the Diploma.  These are live sessions with an RSN Tutor and we teach them across two time zones – UK/Europe 10am – 4pm BST and the USA 10am – 4pm EST.

If you would like further details on the Summer Intensive Courses or to book a place, please email: [email protected]

To find out more about the C&D course, reserve your place at our next C&D Virtual Open Day on Monday 28 June at 5.30pm.

Featured embroidery of Hampton Court Palace is by RSN C&D Student, Julia Jackson

The onsite Certificate & Diploma classes reopened in March at Hampton Court Palace and, from Easter, our satellite venues across the UK opened in Bristol, Rugby, Durham and Glasgow.  We have enjoyed every minute of students being back with us.

Across all our venues, we are maintaining and closely following all Government restrictions, allowing a safe return for our students and Tutors. We are delighted that so many of you are joining us again and due to such high demand, we have added more classes at Hampton Court as we quickly become fully booked, all the way to the end of the summer term!

If you are thinking of joining our Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery onsite or online, please attend one of our Virtual Open Days to find out more.  The next Virtual C&D Open Day is on Monday 28 June at 5.30pm.  Book your place here.

Current C&D Students can book their class via Bookeo

The RSN has a fine tradition of holding Grand Sales and some of you may remember attending one held in recent years, at Hampton Court Palace.  We are very fortunate that RSN Friends and Supporters regularly give us donations of pre-owned and pre-loved threads, fabrics, kits, buttons, sought after books – both current and vintage, and many, many other things, as well delightfully unexpected collectible items.

We have packaged up some of these wonderful donations to create Summer Inspiration Packs.  These packs are put together to bring a little summer inspiration into your hearts.  Carefully curated by colour, they contain a selection of beautiful threads, materials, ribbon, beads or sequins – and no two boxes are the same!

These Inspiration Packs are just the start!  With our Grand Sales and sustainability in mind, we are pleased to announce that we will be selling more pieces via a new dedicated section on our Online Shop – Donated Items.  So, if you have not been able to visit one of our Grand Sales, we are now bringing our Virtual Sale of donated items to you!

We will be adding stranded cottons, vintage silk threads, some pre-owned embroidery and Cross Stitch kits, vintage iron on embroidery transfers (from as early as the 1930’s and 40’s, which still work as we have tested them!) and many books, including one or two antique ones.

Keep checking the dedicated page on the website.  If you are unable to see what you are hoping for straight away, don’t be disappointed, as further pieces will be added over the coming weeks. You might be surprised to find some gorgeous embroidered handbags, clothes from the 1970’s and 80’s (or maybe earlier) and some little curios.

We are a small, mostly voluntary team working behind the scenes to sort and pack the kind donations we receive, giving them new life.  All proceeds from the sale of these items go back to the RSN to raise funds for our work.

If you would like to donate any items to the RSN, please email: [email protected]

RSN Online Shop – Donated Items

As part of the Online International Summer School we will be offering a series of exclusive Talks, not just from the RSN, but also related areas that would not normally be possible with physical conferences.  We are delighted to reveal details of the full line up of Talks.

Bacton Altar Cloth – The Lost Dress of Elizabeth I

Eleri Lynn is the former Curator of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Hampton Court Palace.  Whilst researching a history of Tudor Royal Fashion, Eleri identified a cloth that had been used as an altar hanging but which, on closer inspection, suggested an even more prestigious and historic origin.  She will talk about her research and findings, and the conservation undertaken by Historic Royal Palaces for the exhibition of the Altar Cloth in 2019/20.  Then Anne Butcher, Head of Studio & Education at the RSN, will talk about the work we did to create three replica flowers for the exhibition and ultimately the kits that are being taught as part of our 2021 Summer School.

RSN and the USA

It is well-known that the RSN first showed work in the USA at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, but how did relationships between the USA and the RSN develop after that? Learn more about the people from the RSN who went west and the Americans who came to London, from RSN Chief Executive Dr Susan Kay-Williams. Teaching, exhibitions, talks were all happening at different times and this talk will give more of an insight into the people and the occasions – and even features the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth ships.

RSN Graduate Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson trained at the RSN in the 1940s, just after World War II.  She taught evening classes and helped in the showroom, which often also meant giving private lessons.  Erica left to go to the United States in 1954. She went on to bring Crewel embroidery and a host of other stitching techniques to thousands in the US and UK through her television shows, books and kits.  Anne Hilker undertook research in preparation for an exhibition of Erica Wilson’s work at Winterthur in the US, co-curated by Linda Eaton, and will bring to us the story of Erica’s career.

Behind the Scenes of the Royal Collection Trust

Caroline de Guitaut is Deputy Surveyor of The Queen’s Works of Art at the Royal Collection Trust in London. She has been responsible for many exhibitions at Buckingham Palace and other royal residences, including the Coronation Exhibition of 2013 which featured three items made by the RSN including the Robe of State.  She will be talking about some of the challenges of looking after and telling the stories of The Royal Collection which has a very wide range of objects.

The Overlord Embroidery

Tracy Teasdale worked for many years at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth and was there when it was re-presented and became The D-Day Story.  She will share detailed information about the Overlord Embroidery made by the RSN to tell this powerful narrative, and about the museum and the way in which the embroidery is appreciated by those who come to see it.

The Life of Princess Helena and her connection to the RSN

The RSN’s first Royal connection was with Princess Helena, officially known as Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein, and Queen Victoria’s third daughter. This talk by RSN Chief Executive and Archivist, Dr Susan Kay-Williams, will explore the life of Princess Helena and particularly her 50-year connection with the RSN as a driving force, spokeswoman, saleswoman, fundraiser, advocate and devoted servant.

 

These Talks are only available to people who have signed up for our Online International Summer School, (and you can join them live or at a time that better suits you over the two weeks of the Summer School).

There is still time to join us in July, whether just for one class or for the week.

Read more about our Online International Summer School 2021.

Images show: RSN Embroiderers working on the Coronation Robe of Her Majesty The Queen;  Eleri-Lynn examining the Lost Dress of Elizabeth I © Historic Royal Palaces; RSN Embroiderers working on the Overlord Embroidery; RSN Diploma Whitework by Erica Wilson

Online Talks

Tune into our two Talks this month to find out more about the fascinating history of Royal Commissions on 12 May and Embroidered Millinery on 26 May.

Goldwork & Tapestry Shading Classes

Most of our embroidery classes are sold out this month, but there are a few spaces on these two new classes:

New Goldwork Fundamentals – Wednesday 12 May, running for 6 weeks, 2 – 4pm Only 2 spaces

New Introduction to Tapestry Shading ‘Ladybird’ – Friday 28 May & 4 June, 10am – 1pm

Drawing & Design Classes

If, on the other hand, you wish to improve your drawing and design skills, we have a few places remaining on these classes:

Drawing Flowers – Tuesday 18 May, 10am – 4pm  Only 1 space

Colour Theory in Practice – Sunday 23 May, 10am – 4pm  Only 1 space

Designing for Embroidery – Tuesday 25 May, 10am – 4pm

 

View all RSN Online Day & Evening Classes

View all RSN Online Talks

 

The deadline for applications to the Future Tutors Programme is 1 May.  Turn your passion into a career.  You can read more about the course and apply here.

Our current students have continued with their studies throughout the year, despite lockdown, and we have put together a collection of some of their stunning recent projects.

On the Future Tutors Programme, students learn all the different hand embroidery techniques to the highest standard, including Jacobean Crewelwork, Silk Shading, Blackwork, Canvaswork and Goldwork.

If you have any queries regarding the course, please visit our website or contact: [email protected]

Future Tutors Programme

Images shown are projects by current RSN Future Tutor Students:

Blackwork by Amanda Rymel; Canvas Stitches by Abbie Carter; Appliqué by Kate Pankhurst; Jacobean Crewelwork by Natalie Rowe; Silk Shading by Nao Nagamura; Jacobean Crewelwork by Caroline Lee; Canvaswork by Sally Randle

We have been ‘drawn’ to some wonderful new products, now available in our Online Shop. A perfect addition to any craft box is a collection of exquisite coloured and graphite pencils by Tombow.  Called the ‘Dictionary of Colours’  (Irojiten in Japanese), the set is beautifully presented in three themes – Rainforest, Woodlands and Seascape. And for even more colour injection, why not add a set of our new rainbow effect Goldwork scissors.

We are also now stocking a wider range of embroidery threads by DMC, fabrics for embroidery, including Linen Twill and don’t forget that you can order your Appleton’s Wool from us, both in skeins and hanks for your larger projects.

If you are looking to start a new project, we have a selection of RSN Tutor Lizzy Pye’s kits back in stock, including Blackwork Bumblebee, Jacobean Peony and her signature Whitework kits.

View all products available from the RSN Online Shop.

 

Thank you to everyone who has kindly contributed to help us fundraise for the RSN Stitch Bank and adopted a stitch.  The RSN Stitch Bank 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.

Read more to hear what prompted stitch lovers to adopt a stitch and support this unique project.

Helen Miller, who adopted the Diamond Trellis Stitch, explains: “It was a pleasure to be able to contribute towards the Stitch Bank.  It’s a great idea.  I dedicated my stitch to my paternal grandmother, Rhoda, who I adored.  She was born early in the last century and so lived through two world wars.  She lived in Gloucestershire with her family in her parents’ home, nursing her parents and my grandfather whilst bringing up my father and my aunt.  At some point the house was used for groups of women learning to sew, and sewing. Out of necessity she was very resourceful.  She made all of the family’s clothes using her 1938 Singer sewing machine (it is still in use). She would pick up old jumpers at jumble sales, unravel them and knit new clothes. She saved all material scraps and old clothes and made beautiful circular plaited rag rugs and rag dolls as presents.  At Christmas she would go across to the village farm to pluck and dress the turkeys for a bit of extra money to spend on others.  She had so little, but helped so many.  My dedication is a thank you for her unfailing generosity and for fostering a love of hand stitching and resourcefulness.“

Alison Elliott, adopted Square Eyelet and said: “The stitch preservation initiative, as part of the broader development of the RSN, is exemplary. You are doing a wonderful job to both preserve and celebrate such a crucial area of our international heritage.  I am amused and gratified to be the person attached to ’Square Eyelet’. Eyelet, a vision onto our world. As a feminist PhD Art History student, I aim to offer a particular vision into portraits of women. Square, I am certainly not! Curvaceous, knobbly, and unconventional would be a closer description!”

If you would like to dedicate a stitch to a loved one and help the creation of the RSN Stitch Bank, click here for more information on how to ‘Adopt a Stitch’.

Previously, we have written about how our Marketing Department stepped up to the challenge of the global pandemic (if you missed it, you can read it here).  In this news story, Day Class Manager, Noleen Wyatt-Jones, explains how the RSN Education Team quickly embraced changed, to continue teaching hand embroidery during this difficult time.

“One year on from when we closed the door in March 2021, not knowing what was around the corner and when we would be back, we are now in a position to look back on an extraordinary 12 months and what we have achieved in that time with so much pride.

The RSN family has always been a small but dedicated team of people with a shared love of hand embroidery, focused on our part in protecting it for the future. A year on, we emerged a smaller but stronger team and the shared experience has forged an unbreakable bond.

I will never forget that first day sitting at the kitchen table and taking part in our first virtual team meeting as we struggled to come to terms with the unprecedented global crisis whilst trying to find a way to navigate our way through.  Those first days passed in a whirlwind of cancelling all of our onsite classes, fielding a multitude of enquiries and trying to work out how we could continue to operate in such a disjointed way with the ‘active’ team spread across different locations. Technology was a challenge but we quickly mastered how best to use unfamiliar systems in order to communicate.

After 22 weeks of working from home, Anne Butcher (Head of Education & Studio) and I took our first tentative steps towards coming back to Hampton Court Palace and we spent many days in a deserted Palace, planning and finessing the online/onsite teaching plans. The Online Certificate & Diploma tuition began in April with a very swift and enthusiastic take up from our student base. This gave us the confidence to move on to Online Day Classes.

Never ones to shy away from a challenge, we sped headlong into planning mode and remembered a Rainbow Class design previously submitted by RSN Tutor Sarah de Rousset-Hall.  This was perfect as our first Online Day Class, given that the rainbow had become an iconic beacon of hope worldwide.  We have not looked back since that first class and it has been a steep learning curve for everyone as we have learnt together how to teach online, faced the challenges of getting kits out across the world and being on hand to support our Tutors and customers in this rapidly evolving world.

We are also delighted to announce that we have just launched a new ‘Silver Linings Bright Rainbow’ design Day Class.  Featuring the popular Rainbow design from our very first online class but with the added sparkle of Silver Chipping and the opportunity to personalise with text.

We are currently working on our Day & Evening Class programme for August onwards and can’t wait to share this with you.  Watch this space!”

The new Silver Linings Bright Rainbow class takes place on Saturday 29 May at 10am – 4pm.  Book Now.

View all RSN Online Day & Evening Classes

The RSN is seeking three new trustees to replace members of the committee scheduled to finish their term of office over the next year. We seek one with Curatorial/Archival experience and two with strong commercial finance backgrounds. Financial trustees must be qualified and be comfortable with investments. These are voluntary roles with no remuneration, though travel expenses are reimbursed.

The Council is the governing body of the RSN, which is a registered charity, with responsibility for overall direction, financial management and holding the Chief Executive and Senior Management team to account.  The Council meets six times a year and the financial trustees meet four times a year for the Finance and Investment Committee. Over the last year, these meetings have been online however, we would hope to resume physical meetings soon. Council meetings take place at the RSN’s base at Hampton Court Palace and Finance meetings take place in central London.

The current annual report and annual review can be found on our website here.  If you are interested in becoming one of our Trustees and would like further information, please contact our Chief Executive, Dr Susan Kay-Williams on 07940 177218 to discuss the role.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter for the attention of the RSN’s Chairman, Mr Andrew Palmer and email to: [email protected] or post to: The RSN, Apt 12A Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.  Applicants do not need to have stitch experience.

The Royal School of Needlework is committed to building an organisation that supports inclusion, celebrates diversity and recognises the values of different cultures.  We are developing strategies to widen our appeal and relevance to students, staff and customers irrespective of gender, age and background.  We particularly encourage men and minority backgrounds to apply as these groups are currently under-represented within the sector.

The RSN Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery (C&D) has gone through a transformation over the last 12 months starting in April 2020 with online, one-to-one lessons, delivered by a small pool of RSN Tutors.  We did a number of trials, including a group of Australian students who tried an Online Intensive as they were not able to come to the UK for our Summer Intensives last year. Two of these students had already completed the Jacobean Crewelwork module and the other was studying the RSN Diploma. All went well and we learnt a huge amount about online teaching, which we have used to develop and tweak as we have continued to deliver.

The first module on the Certificate is Jacobean Crewelwork and teaching it online initially presented a challenge.  This module does not only cover many stitches but also framing up, design, the pricking and pouncing technique and then mounting the finished piece.  When teaching these techniques onsite, the RSN Tutors are able to feel the fabric tension and test the consistency of the paint for the design. Instead, they have had to think about descriptions and other ways of testing, such as comparing the tension to the sound of a tight drum.

These challenges meant that we had to really think about the techniques, how to deliver and assess, allowing more time for each of the new processes. The scheme of work was rewritten to allow more time making the module more structured and slightly longer than the onsite version. Once completed the students can return to the more flexible approach booking an online lesson when they need one.

At the end of January, we were delighted to virtually welcome three new groups to the C&D Jacobean Crewelwork module.  We taught the sessions across three different time zones, with students far and wide. We started each group with a welcome session with the RSN Tutor, Head of Education Anne Butcher and our Chief Executive Dr Susan Kay Williams, who had the challenge to give the history of the RSN, all 149 years in 15 minutes!  We have all watched the progress of these students with great interest. We have seen the end of the UK/Europe group followed by USA and Australia, and we are really looking forward to seeing the finished pieces arriving here at Hampton Court Palace for assessment.

The response for this module has been excellent and the students have all worked hard to achieve their pieces. Our Tutors have thought up different ways to deliver the necessary information, as well as assessing that the students are working correctly. The mobile phone app, WhatsApp, has proved to be an essential tool and there is no hiding any errors in the photos that can be sent this way!  In fact, we sometimes have to use an indicator of scale to help assess whether the gap that can be seen close up can be seen via the naked eye!

We are about to start six more groups at the beginning of May and have been packing up starter packs for the students.  These include frame, fabric and all necessary equipment needed for this technique and those that follow. We are offering the Jacobean Crewelwork module in two time zones and we have different Tutors who are all working closely with our trail blazers.

Already some of our completing students from the first groups are looking to book on to the C&D Online Summer Intensive 2021 in either Canvaswork or Blackwork.  One student is planning to attend our Summer Intensive at Hampton Court Palace in August.

We are really pleased that we have been able to offer our Certificate & Diploma course, giving students from all over the UK, and indeed the world, the chance to attend an RSN course without the expense of travel and accommodation.

To find out more, book onto our next C&D Virtual Open Day scheduled for Wednesday 2 June, 2021 at 5:30pm UK BST.

Images show set up of RSN Tutor and C&D Students; embroidery as seen on WhatsApp.

We have put our best foot forward in an exclusive collaboration with luxury Chinese footwear brand Sheme.  Creative designs by three RSN Degree Students were selected by Sheme to be made into shoes, and are now on sale as part of their Autumn/Winter 2021 Collection.

RSN Degree Students Millie Whitehead,  Erin Ledsom and Sabina Lima  submitted their designs last year, inspired by imagery of beautiful scenes from the classic ‘Book of Poetry’, which has been popular in China for over 2000 years. The spectacular lines of colour and abstract images, combined with rich and passionate shades of red, provided the perfect footprint!

Angie Wyman, Degree Course Leader at the Royal School of Needlework said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work exclusively with such a prestigious shoe brand as Sheme. Our Degree Students were able to apply their design and hand embroidery skills to create bespoke designs, which align perfectly with Sheme’s design brief.”

Millie Whitehead, RSN Degree Student said: “Taking part in this project was such an honour.  Sheme gave us inspirational imagery with such strong texture and pattern, that it provided a brilliant starting point.  I spent many hours sketching and creating a sophisticated design that would be flattering on any foot, yet at the same time comfortable and wearable.  I couldn’t be more pleased with the final result; it is exactly what I envisioned when I sent my designs.  I would like to thank Sheme for the fantastic opportunity.”

Erin Ledsom, RSN Degree Student said: “When I found out my design had been selected, I couldn’t believe it! I absolutely LOVE my shoes and taking part in the Sheme project has been such an amazing opportunity.  I really enjoyed designing them, especially drawing the lines and shapes as I’m a big lover of pattern. To be able to walk around in shoes that I have designed, is a dream come true!

Linda Liu, Founder of Sheme said: “We are very grateful to the Degree Students of the Royal School of Needlework for their design work, inspirational ideas and exquisite work.  Their combination of quality with in-depth research on the Sheme brand, really moved us. We look forward to working together on future projects.”

Sheme is a luxury footwear brand, using handmade and original design.  Established in 2008, after ten years of extensive research, the brand combines the best materials with traditional artisans and master shoemakers from around the world.  Sheme is the first Chinese luxury shoe brand with a presence in the London, Paris and New York Fashion Week.

RSN Degree Students have the opportunity to engage with live projects throughout their course, such as the Sheme collaboration.

For more information about our Degree Course in Hand Embroidery, visit our website and attend one of our Virtual Degree Open Days.

Images: RSN Degree Student Millie Whitehead with her Sheme shoes and original designs in the background; The three Sheme shoes designed by RSN Degree Students; RSN Degree Student Erin Ledsom with her Sheme shoes