Since we were founded in 1872, our mission has been to keep the art of hand embroidery alive.  One of the ways we do this is to facilitate more needlework in schools by providing ideas and a wide range of materials to engage the younger generation.  Last year, we launched our ‘Embroider a Selfie’ project which encouraged children, in over 50 schools, to pick up a needle to stitch a selfie rather than reach for their mobile phone!   The initiative helped young people to learn about the fun, creativity and the therapeutic aspects of stitch.

This year, we are working with the delightful Jamie Chalmers, aka Mr X Stitch, and asking school children to ‘Stitch a Power Mantra’.  Mr X Stitch is a guest lecturer at the Royal School of Needlework and agreed to be an Ambassador for the ‘Embroider a Selfie’ project.  He met with some of our Degree in Hand Embroidery Students and inspired them to express their feelings by ‘Stitching a Power Mantra’.  The Mantra can be any inspirational word or expression that helps motivate or provide a goal.

Emma Doggart, Project Manager of the Selfie Project explains: “The RSN ‘Embroider a Selfie’ project is all about self-expression. This project provides a focus for the children and teachers, enabling the children to reflect about themselves and prompting discussion points in the class.  Stitching a Power Mantra will help to build self-esteem and motivate, whilst the focus and soothing flow of stitch will work to block out anxiety and stress.”

If you would like to know more and to involve your local school, please visit our website or email: [email protected]

Kathryn Sanders is a Mechanical Engineer and Second Year Future Tutor Student who, before coming to the RSN, worked with designers building wind farms – so quite different from what she’s doing now!

“After taking a few Day Classes I realised I absolutely loved hand embroidery and I wanted to learn more and more.  I started the Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery at RSN Scotland because I wanted to do something more artistic, but quickly realised I wanted to learn so many more techniques!  The Tutor there suggested I take a look at the Future Tutors Programme and the rest is history.

First year was an incredibly busy time, and the first term of the second year has been equally hectic! However, there is a huge sense of achievement every time I hand something in and I am incredibly pleased with the work I have  produced.  Had I seen photographs of other work before-hand, I’m sure I would have looked at them and thought ‘Oh I would never manage that!’ but I’m really impressed at the level of tuition  and the encouragement from Tutors to push you and to try new things.

I love the course and one of the things I really appreciate is the team atmosphere in class.  You really are forging friendships and relationships which is a lovely feeling.  We all learn from, and help, each other along the way.”

If you would like to find out more about the Future Tutors Programme, then visit us at our next Open Day on Saturday 1 February 2020.  Please email [email protected] to book. 

Students on our Degree in Hand Embroidery Course joined forces with menswear label E. Tautz to encourage sustainable fashion amongst fashionistas. Launching their new Autumn Winter 2020 Collection, E. Tautz showcased hand embroidery skills to drive a ‘Make do and Mend’ message, highlighting the vital need for sustainability in the world of fashion.

RSN Degree Students worked collectively to create hand embroidered patches from upcycled materials which were darned and mended for the new E. Tautz Collection.  Revealed at London Fashion Week Men’s, the Collection took centre stage with a powerful sustainable fashion message from Patrick Grant, Creative Director at E. Tautz:

“Fashion is a celebration of the joy of creativity and craftsmanship. Our version of Fashion creates clothes that have meaning, clothes that are loved and cherished.  Every piece is made to last. If you love your clothes, wear them until they wear out, and when they do, fix them.  And when your clothes can no longer be fixed, recycle them. We are very grateful to the Royal School of Needlework whose students have resurrected and elevated the skills of needlework to give extra life to our garments.”

A large number of the pieces in the show have been made using textiles recovered from unwanted clothes that were placed in clothing recycling banks across the country. Astco, one of the UK’s largest clothing recyclers, provided an amazing stock of second-hand white cotton shirts, cotton bed linen and denim jeans, from which have provided amazing usable fabric.

Visiting lecturer and textile artist Celia Pym, led darning workshops with the Degree Students to inspire their creativity for this project (lead image shows Celia and Patrick with Degree Students at Hampton Court Palace).

More information about our Degree Course – BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery.

Some of our Degree students’ work is currently on display at the Hatton Gallery in Newcastle as part of a collaboration with visual artist Susan Aldworth called ‘Out of the Blue’.  Read more here. 

Did you know that we now teach embroidery classes in Birmingham, right in the heart of the city’s Jewellery Quarter?

RSN Tutor Helen McCook gave us a tour of her Birmingham Studio for you to enjoy, which you can also watch and share via our YouTube channel.

From ‘Introduction to Embroidery’ to a three day ‘Advanced Jacobean Crewelwork’ class, plus ‘Advanced Goldwork’ to ‘Tudor Blackwork’ and everything in-between, with our schedule of embroidery classes in Birmingham there really is a technique and level to suit everyone!

We look forward to welcoming you soon to RSN Birmingham!

For a limited period only, if you buy an RSN Online Course (via www.rsnonlinecourses.com) you will receive the matching RSN Essential Stitch Guide for free!  So for example, if you choose to buy the Online Introduction to Blackwork Puffin, you will receive the RSN Essential Stitch Guide to Blackwork (normally on sale for £10.99).

Our Online Courses partners, David & Charles, is running this special promotion until midnight 7 February.  To take advantage of this offer, visit rsnonlinecourses.com to buy your course.  No special code is needed, all purchases will automatically receive the corresponding book.  This offer is non-exchangeable.

Offer excludes the Canvaswork course. For terms and conditions, click here.

We are very excited about teaching a special Valentine’s workshop at the Fashion Roundtable’s ‘Love is Love’ event with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Jamie Windust & atelier Ashish.   ‘Love is Love’ takes place on Wednesday 12 February, 7pm-10pm, at the London members club The Curtain in Shoreditch.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor (singer and daughter of ‘Blue Peter’ presenter Janet Ellis) and Jamie Windust will kick off the evening with a Q&A discussing music, vintage, identity, inclusion and all things love.  This will be followed by a series of craft activities including an RSN Workshop.  Just in time for Valentine’s Day, RSN Tutor Amy Burt together with RSN Degree Students, will host a workshop to inspire hand embroidery of a large button brooch, perfect for your nearest and dearest to wear close to their heart, using atelier Ashishs’ archives and fabrics.

Attendees to the event can also enjoy make-up makeovers and a workshop to create Statement Earrings’ with Elizabeth Joseph who specialises in upcycling using broken and unworn jewellery. To book, please click here.

Our next exhibition, Stitch is International, will open at Hampton Court Palace on 29 April.   Celebrating stitch around the world, this latest display will feature pieces from the RSN’s unique Textiles Collection.

Showcasing a rich range of embellished objects, the exhibition includes textiles from Europe, Turkey, the Arab world, Indian sub-continent, China, Japan, North and South America.  Embroidery is an art form which has been used by people from different times and in many different places, including as expressions of high art, folk art and cultural identity.  From Guatemalan Huipil designs and a Japanese kimono to Turkish towels and Indian Goldwork, Stitch is International will be a diverse display of stitches, colours, textures and fashions.

Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework said: “This exhibition will demonstrate the shared aspects of embroidery: the same stitches worked in different countries and in different patterns, but all part of a shared experience of embellishment. It may also help us highlight stitches which have become lost or forgotten when they fall out of use.  Teaching the diversity of needlework to new generations is at the heart of our core purpose.  We hope that the exhibition may even trigger the introduction of forgotten stitches to the RSN Stitch Bank – the new world directory resource of stitch we are currently compiling online.  The RSN Stitch Bank will include video, written instructions, illustrations and photographs of each stitch, making it an invaluable source of information for all stitchers across the continents.”

Tours start from £16 per person.  There are different Tour options including, Talk & Tour, Curator’s Tour, Tour & Taster embroidery workshop and Family Stitch Workshop.  Group Tours are also available.  To book visit the website or email: [email protected].  The exhibition is in the RSN’s Embroidery Studios at Hampton Court Palace and only open on set days, so pre-booking is essential.  The exhibition runs until 2 December 2020.

If you can’t wait to visit us, book onto our current exhibition ‘Faces & Figures in Stitch’ which includes a Blackwork portrait of our patron, The Duchess of Cornwall.

By popular demand, we are returning to the D Day Story Museum in Portsmouth to teach three Day Classes in March, May and July.

RSN Tutor Helen Stevens will be teaching a beautiful Silk Shaded Daisy (20th March) and Goldwork Stork (10th July).  RSN Tutor Helen Jones will be teaching a Stumpwork Rose & Nettle motif (15th May) inspired by the D-Day memorial window at Portsmouth Cathedral.

The classes are suitable for all levels and cost £86 each (plus kit cost).  The D Day Story Museum features the unique Overlord Embroidery which was made by RSN Embroiderers from 1968 to 1974.  Students taking the class will also have the opportunity to view this unique historical project.

View all Portsmouth Day Classes

Book here or contact [email protected] / tel: 020 3166 6939.

We are delighted to announce that we will be returning to Fashion Museum Bath to teach three bespoke embroidery classes.  Each class will feature a different technique and design inspired by clothing pieces in the Museum’s exhibition, ‘A History of Fashion in 100 Objects’, and led by RSN Tutors, Kate Barlow or Deborah Wilding.  The classes begin with a viewing of the corresponding item of clothing on display in the Museum with a curator.  These include a 1600s Gauntlet Glove (14 March), Victorian Ladies Boots (25 April) and 1700s Ladies Shoes (16 May).

The workshops are suitable for all levels and run from 10am to 4pm at Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath BA1 2QH.  Each class costs £86 (plus kit cost) which includes a ticket to the Museum, valid for one month from the date of the class.

Book here or contact [email protected] / tel: 020 3166 6939.

Karen Newbrook started on the RSN Certificate in September 2017 with a Jacobean Crewelwork design.  Next, she completed Canvas Stitches and more recently, a stunning Goldwork Reindeer.  Karen shares her journey to study with us and her love of needlework.

“Some of my fondest early memories are of the cute little dresses my mum made for my sister and me when we were growing up in York.  She inspired me, from a very early age, to create clothes for my dolls and then for myself, leading to a life-long love of all things fabric and needlework.  Over the years, I’ve done many related courses and projects, but I’ve always enjoyed hand embroidery the most.  There’s something about the steady rhythm of stitching by hand that is so absorbing, enjoyable and therapeutic.

“For many years, my hobbies had to play second fiddle to a career in publishing.  But now that I’m nearing retirement and the RSN course is so flexible, I can attend the RSN’s Bristol satellite.  It gives me the opportunity to really focus on consolidating and broadening my skills in hand embroidery techniques and design.  I can learn from the best Tutors, feel at home in an inviting environment and enjoy the company of like-minded people, who are a true inspiration – pure indulgence for me!

“The flexibility of the course – to be able to work at my own pace and pay on a session-by-session basis – has made all the difference to my being able to make this journey.  Nowadays, it’s easy to fit embroidery into my everyday life, even though I sometimes still have to wear my publishing hat.

“I’ve loved working on all three of my Certificate designs so far.  I’ve learnt such a lot and now feel more confident that I could design and execute other equally pleasing pieces.  The flowing lines, wealth of stitches and quirky motifs for the Jacobean were a joy to explore and there was such satisfaction in seeing those sinuous lines of Japanese thread bringing my Goldwork to life.  But it’s Canvas Stitches that have been the true revelation and my design was inspired by a watercolour painting by Amanda Clark.

“I used to say that Canvas Stitches was the one technique I wasn’t looking forward to and, at times, keeping track of all the colours drove me mad, but it stretched me and showed me how I could break out of the canvas grid and paint with thread to create a design I’m truly proud of – even though it took me the best part of a year to finish!

“The RSN has always been at the pinnacle of excellence in hand embroidery and I feel very privileged to be able to learn from the best.”

If you would like to know more about our Certificate & Diploma Course, please visit our website and book onto one of our forthcoming Open Days:  Saturday 1 February and Monday 23 March at Hampton Court Palace; Saturday 28 March at RSN Glasgow and Sunday 17 May at RSN Bristol.  Alternatively, email: [email protected]

Whether you want to learn a new technique for wellbeing, curiosity or pleasure, there are many different options for you at the RSN.  We have a range of Introduction to Embroidery classes for beginners to start you on your journey, including special offer packages.

If you love attending Day Classes, but now want to challenge yourself further, then why not try our Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery? Or if you are thinking of options of a career in hand embroidery, join us on our Degree in Hand Embroidery or Future Tutors programme.  To find out more about all our courses, view our video here.

We teach at Hampton Court Palace, Bristol, Birmingham, Rugby, Durham and Glasgow, and internationally in North America and Japan.  Attend one of our forthcoming Open Days:

Degree Open Day on 8 January at Hampton Court Palace

C&D and Future Tutors Courses Open Day on 1 February at Hampton Court Palace.

RSN Glasgow Open Day on 28 March 2020

RSN Bristol Open Day on 17 May 2020