The RSN is home to more than 10,000 unique and priceless Collection and Archive pieces. Capturing the passion for embroidery throughout history, the charity’s treasure trove of textiles has also been storing an extremely rare and significant sampler.

This new discovery is a sampler made in Barbados in the 18^th century and is one of only three samplers known to have been made on the island at that time. It is also the earliest known Barbadian sampler.

The textile gives a unique insight into the education of girls from slave-owning families in the Caribbean and will be of interest, not only to sampler and embroidery enthusiasts, but also scholars of girlhood, race, enslavement and the Atlantic world.

Dr Isabella Rosner, RSN Curator said: “This sampler was made by a young girl, named Martha Collymore, in 1771 and, at first glance, looked like a typical sampler made in England a full century earlier. However, on closer inspection, the style of some of the stitching and patterns did not fit with the date it was made, which prompted further research into the family name. This research revealed it was in fact made in Barbados, many thousands of miles away and is an extremely rare discovery.”

This special sampler is available to view and learn more about on the Royal School of Needlework’s Collections website, a free resource which aims to open the doors of the RSN’s Collection & Archive to the world.

You can read more about the Sampler in History today magazine, as well as Isabella’s blog post.

 

115 New Objects added to the RSN Collection & Archive Website

Along with the Barbados sampler, the latest launch of 115 new objects on the RSN Collection & Archive website includes 70 design cards from major Arts and Crafts figures, including designs by Gertrude Jekyll, Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris, Walter Crane and Selwyn Image, as well as additional textiles, including an early 19^th-century double hemisphere map sampler, a wonderful variety of samplers from the 17^th through 19^th centuries, and an additional three Litany of Loreto pieces.

 

View the RSN’s Collection at Hampton Court Palace

To see some of the RSN’s Collection pieces up close, visit the RSN’s special exhibition, Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus at Hampton Court Palace.  Open on set days, the exhibition runs until June 2025.

 

View the RSN Collection & Archive website here

Read about the latest unique project from the RSN Embroidery Studio, where the team created a very special embroidery transfer and kit for our customer Kay Hopkinson, based on a Women’s Royal Naval Service badge (WRNS) from WW2:

“In 2021, I enrolled on an Online embroidery course with my local education authority. When I was searching my craft room for materials, I looked through an old sewing bag which had belonged to my late mother-in-law, and in it I discovered a leaflet and instructions for a WRNS badge, which was designed by the RSN but put together in kit form by Briggs of Manchester. This was number 93 in a series of 133 Services badges and would have included two transfers for two sizes of badge. 

My mother-in-law had served with the WRNS during and after the Second World War and had obviously used the pattern and transfer to do her own embroidery at the time. My husband was very keen for me to create the badge as an embroidery but there was no transfer with the pattern, so he set about researching Online to see if he could find an original transfer but without any luck. Not one to give up easily, he decided to email the RSN with a request for help in tracking down the transfer. 

Unfortunately the RSN could not find the pattern in the archives, but offered to recreate the pattern. After my husband had sent the RSN the leaflet and instructions for the original pattern, he agreed to commission them to recreate a kit of the badge design. All the RSN had to go on to recreate the cap badge was a small colour picture on the original leaflet, which was nearly 80 years old.

When the kit arrived in October of that year, he was absolutely delighted, but I was terrified of making a poor attempt at embroidering it. Whilst I had learnt to embroider at school and with my mother at home, I was an amateur and this kit required skill and expertise to make a good, finished badge. Over the course of three days, I was taught by Angie Burt, a Tutor at Higham Hall in the Lake District, who really helped me and got me started on the embroidery, giving me enough instructions and confidence that I could continue the embroidery at home on my own afterwards.

I finally finished my piece in June and once it was framed I entered it into the Clitheroe and District WI Craft and Produce Show. I was a little disappointed with my Third Place but the judge hadn’t studied it very carefully because she commented that “I should keep my felting even”! My mistake was to put ordinary glass on it because she could not see the work clearly – perhaps I should have left it unframed, but I wanted to protect it.

I was delighted with the final result, and I now enjoy a new hobby of hand embroidery. This is all thanks to the RSN and to Angie Burt. I would like to thank RSN Studio Manager Gemma Murray who oversaw all the work in creating the transfer.”

Do you have a special embroidery piece you would like recreated by the RSN Embroidery Studio, or a family heirloom you would like restored?

Get in touch with our RSN Studio team for a quote!

See the RSN Studio services here

Certificate & Diploma Intensives

Our 2025 Certificate & Diploma Intensive modules are now available for booking. The Intensives are the perfect way to complete a module from the course in a short space of time, as each module is taught over eight days, interspersed with a few additional stitching days.

Though not mandatory, it is possible to complete one module of the C&D programme during an intensive, from sampling to mounting your finished work.

The modules can now be booked via our Online booking platform, Bookeo, and will take place at several RSN venues from March – August 2025, at Hampton Court Palace in London, Durham, Glasgow, Australia and the USA.

To see the full schedule and dates, click here: https://bit.ly/3CsNjKr

 

A Royal Gift

We are delighted to share the news that RSN Scotland Diploma Student Elizabeth Hay recently made a beautiful piece of embroidery as a gift for her majesty Queen Camilla, the RSN’s patron, through the Scottish Women’s Institute (SWI).

As well as learning embroidery on the Certificate & Diploma course at RSN Scotland, under the tutelage of Tutor Helen McCook, Elizabeth has been a longstanding member of the SWI for 31 years and was honoured to be asked to create this very special piece.

The piece consistent of a photo album, bound in the SWI’s signature Tartan, with Queen Camilla’s insignia embroidered on the front. After presenting this gift to her Majesty, Elizabeth received a lovely letter of thanks from the Queen herself, who was very impressed with Elizabeth’s embroidery skills.

 

Join the Course

If you would like to find out more about the course, come along to our next Online Information Session, or email our team at [email protected]

Day & Evening Classes

Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Crewelwork Seahorse’: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 2 February.

Metalwork Swallow: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 5 – Wednesday 19 February.

Hardanger Hearts & Flowers Needlebook: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 5 February -Wednesday 12 March.

Introduction to Blackwork ’Winter Leaf’: Online, Weekly, from Thursday 6 – Thursday 20 March.

Birch Tree in Sunlight: Online, Saturday 8 February.

A Sicilian Heart: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 15 February.

Embroidered Spring Flower Cards: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 22 February.

Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Starburst’: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 23 February.

Learn to Draw for Embroiderers 2: Get Confident with Using Colour: Online, Wednesday 26 February.

Experimental Goldwork: Online, Wednesday 26 February.

 

Events & Exhibitions

‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’: Hampton Court Palace, on set days until June. Prebooking essential.

The Broderers’ Exhibition: ‘The Art of Embroidery’: Bankside Gallery, London, Tuesday 25 February – Sunday 2 March

 

Online Talks

‘25 Years of Stitching with RSN Tutor, Helen McCook’: Wednesday 12 February, 7pm GMT.

‘Stitching Friends: Quaker Schoolgirl Embroidery in Seventeenth-Century London’: with RSN Curator, Dr Isabella Rosner, Wednesday 26 February, 7pm GMT.

 

Online Info Sessions

Professional Embroidery Tutor Programme, Thursday 20 February, 11am GMT.

 

If you have always wanted to learn the art of hand embroidery, the start of a new year is the perfect time to take up a new hobby.  Join us for an introduction course and begin your embroidery journey in 2025.

 

Online Video Courses

RSN Online Video Courses include a wide range of introduction courses. These courses give the flexibility to learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.  With step-by-step guidance from our expert Tutors, you can develop your skills from the comfort of home.  Courses start from just £55, which include video tuition and kit.

If you are new to embroidery, we recommend starting with ‘Introduction to Embroidery – Birds‘; ‘Introduction to Embroidery: Tulip‘ and ‘Introduction to Jacobean Crewelwork‘.

View all Online Video Courses

 

Live Online Classes

We teach a series of Live Online classes in small groups via Zoom. These take place at different times to suit different time zones.  *UK times featured.

Spring Flowers Live Online – 2pm-4.30pm, Thurs 13 & 20 March

The Beginning – 7pm – 9.30pm, Wed 30 April & 7 May

Browse all our Live Online Classes here.

 

RSN at Hampton Court Palace

We have a selection of beginner courses taking place at Hampton Court Palace, including a pretty Native Wild Flower on Saturday 8 March; and Spring Flowers on Sunday 9 March.

Browse all our RSN Hampton Court Palace classes here.

 

The start of a new year is a great time to learn new skills, and we have the perfect prize for this time of year! Our online directory of stitches, RSN Stitch Bank, now features 475 stitches and is an incredible resource for all stitch lovers. Whether you are looking to enhance your needlework skills, research textiles or simply be inspired, RSN Stitch Bank is the go to place for all stitches and techniques.

To celebrate the start of 2025, we are giving you the chance to win an exclusive RSN Stitch Bank bundle. One lucky winner will receive a copy of our popular new book, ‘RSN Stitch Bank: 200 Essential Embroidery Stitches’, a RSN Stitch Bank tea towel and mug, featuring the cleverly designed stitch icons, and a handy RSN Stitch Bank magnetic needle minder.

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning this fabulous bundle of goodies, all you need to do is email us at [email protected] and tell us your favourite stitch in RSN Stitch Bank. One lucky winner will be selected at random. The competition will close on Monday 20 January, 12pm GMT.

Good luck!

Thank you to everyone who has supported RSN Stitch Bank by ‘Adopting a Stitch’.  As a registered charity, with no government funding, every donation we receive helps us to grow this incredible resource and keep it free for everyone to use.  If you would like to ‘Adopt a Stitch’ in your name or for a loved one, we have a number of stitches currently available.  Adopt a Stitch here.

Visit the RSN Stitch Bank website here to explore the world directory of stitches.

 

Take your embroidery skills to the next level this year with the RSN’s Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery (C&D).

The C&D course is a fantastic way to learn the art of hand embroidery, at a time and place that suits you. Learn fundamental embroidery techniques, taught by expert RSN Tutors, from anywhere in the world.

About the C&D Course

The Certificate course concentrates on the core skills of hand embroidery, including accuracy, stitch selection, colour choices, thread decisions, scale, colour, light, shade and texture. There are three mandatory modules: Jacobean Crewelwork, Silk Shading and Goldwork, and one choice module, either Canvas Stitches or Blackwork.

The Diploma, following completion of the Certificate, continues to build on and expand skills. There are six modules, four of which are mandatory: Appliqué, Advanced Silk Shading, Advanced Goldwork, Canvas Stitches or Blackwork, and two from an optional list: Canvas Shading, Stumpwork, Whitework (Pulled & Drawn Thread and Broderie Anglaise & Richelieu), Creative Box, or Creative Metalwork.

Flexible Learning

• Book on a class-by-class basis: Book on dates and times to suit you.
• Different Time Zones: Covering the UK/Europe, Australia/New Zealand/South East Asia, and North/South America.
• Online Options: Access expert tuition from anywhere in the world.
• Onsite Options: Learn at Hampton Court Palace, Southwest London, Bristol, Rugby, Durham, Glasgow, Australia, the USA and Japan.

 

What’s it like to take the course?

‘To anyone thinking of starting the C&D Programme I would say, just go ahead and do it! You don’t have to be an amazing embroiderer already, all you really need to know is some basics, and they’ll teach you the rest. It’s been an amazing journey so far and I’m looking forward to learning even more.” – RSN Bristol student Sanchia Groves.

 

Join us

2025 classes are now open for booking! Join our next Online Info Session to learn more form our team, and to ask any questions.

Join an Online Info Session

Register for the course here

 

Work by:

• RSN Hampton Court Palace Certificate student Amy Thackeray ⁠
• RSN Online Certificate student Amanda Hogan
• RSN Hampton Court Palace Diploma student Helen Sturdy
• RSN Online Diploma student Deborah Bryan

Are you looking to learn a new skill in 2025 and have you considered learning how to ‘paint with a needle’?

Known as Silk Shading, this beautiful technique uses a number of colours in cotton or silk threads, skilfully blended together to create the natural appearance of a flower, fruit, plant or animal.

Browse our different courses and learn the stunning hand embroidery technique of Silk Shading.

Online Video Courses

Learn anywhere, any time and at your own pace with RSN Online Video Courses.  If you have not tried Silk Shading before, we recommend starting with ‘Introduction to Silk Shading‘.  If you are looking to enhance your skills further, choose the Next Steps course combining Silk Shading with Goldwork to create a gorgeous butterfly.

 

Live Online Classes

We have two Live Online Classes coming up in March and June.  The Live Online Classes are perfect for students who prefer to learn in more of a virtual classroom setting.

Intro to Long & Short: Spring Leaf – Thurs 6 March – 20 March

Silk & Gold: Floral Flourish – Sat 14  to Mon 16 June

 

Learn at Hampton Court Palace

Enjoy a day ‘behind the rope’ at our apartments in the magnificent Hampton Court Palace.

Rainbow Bee Eaters – Sun 18 May only 1 space left

Koala in the Eucalyptus – Sat 24 May – Mon 26 May

 

RSN Experience Class at Mapperton House, Dorset

Spend the day at Mapperton House in Dorset, home to the Earl and Countess of Sandwich. This RSN Experience class will include a highlights tour of the House and a chance to meet its current owner, Viscountess Julie Montagu, who will show you the 18th century apron that has inspired the class.

Floral Hearts at Mapperton House – Fri 25 April

 

View all Online Video Courses

View all Live Online Classes

View all Classes at Hampton Court Palace

 

 

 

 

Get inspired and be creative with the RSN this January! Immerse yourself in the art of hand embroidery and join us for a Day & Evening Class, a fascinating Live Online Talk, or join us at Hampton Court Palace for our ‘Tales of Textiles’ exhibition.

 

Day & Evening Classes

Experimental Beading: Online, Wednesday 8 January

Metalwork Jay: Online, Weekly, from Tuesday 14 January

Whitework Roundel: Online, Weekly, from Sunday 19 January

Medieval Crown: Online, Weekly, from Sunday 19 January

Experimental Fabric Collage – Landscape or Ocean Scene: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 22 January

Experimental Embroidery: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 22 January

Experimental Fabric Collage – Landscape or Ocean Scene: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 26 January

Introduction to Embroidery – Crewel Seahorse: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 29 January

Silver Snowdrop: Online, Weekly, from Friday 31 January

 

Events & Exhibitions

‘Bound, An Embroiderer’s Story’ Exhibition: Brixton Department Store, London, 16 – 21 January

‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’: Hampton Court Palace, on set days until June 2025. Prebooking essential.

 

Online Talks

‘Curator Favourites from the RSN Collection and Archive Digitisation Project’ with RSN Curator Dr Isabella Rosner, Wednesday 22 January, 7pm GMT

‘The Unknown American Heiress, Alberta Sturges, 9th Countess of Sandwich’ with Viscountess Hinchingbrooke Julie Montagu, Wednesday 29 January, 7pm GMT

 

 RSN Open Days

BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery Degree Open Days

Online, Friday 10 January, 2pm GMT

Hampton Court Palace, Wednesday 15 January, 2pm

 

Certificate & Diploma Information Session

Online, Wednesday 22 January, 3pm GMT

 

If you have left Christmas shopping to the last minute, don’t panic.  We have put together a list of ideas to make sure everyone has a happy stitch-mas!

Whether you are looking for a special gift for someone new to embroidery or a seasoned stitcher who has everything already, we have the perfect present list.

 

RSN Gift Card

If you are unsure what to buy the stitcher in your life, an RSN Gift Card is the perfect gift as they can choose exactly what they would like.

 

Learn with the RSN from Home

Gift a RSN video online course which gives flexibility to learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.  Simply click on the ‘Gift this Course’ button, choose which date you wish the recipient to receive their gift email and add a special message.  Courses start from just £55, which includes video tuition and kit.

View the wide choice of courses available

 

Gift the January Blues away
We have a selection of live online and onsite classes in January for all levels. From a cute sea horse design for beginners to an advanced whitework class for the more experienced stitcher, there is something for everyone. We run online classes at different times to suit all time zones. Onsite day classes are taught at the magnificent Hampton Court Palace.

Browse our January and February embroidery classes here:

 

*Postal deadlines to receive the kits for RSN Video Online Courses before Christmas were Friday 6 December for international orders and Monday 16 December for UK orders.

 

 

 

 

 

The RSN is part of the BIG GIVE Christmas Challenge, 3—10 December 2024

The RSN is excited to announce that we have been selected to take part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge this December, aiming to raise £9,800 for RSN Stitch Bank, the world guide of stitches, free for everyone to use. The Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest collaborative fundraising campaign, and donations can be made by anyone across the world.

 

What is the Big Give Christmas Challenge?

Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) that runs match funded campaigns for charities and special causes at key moments across the year. By connecting charities to match funders and the public, Big Give helps them to double their donations. It’s a simple idea – when the public donates through a Big Give campaign, it asks funders to match their donation, so that £50 donated from the public becomes £100 for the charity.

The RSN’s Christmas Challenge 2024 will focus on RSN Stitch Bank, the free world guide to stitches which currently holds 450 stitches with more to be added on 20 December.

 

What is RSN Stitch Bank?

RSN Stich Bank is a free online resource that digitally conserves and showcases the wide variety of the world’s embroidery stitches.

Each stitch on RSN Stitch Bank comes with helpful videos, written instructions, illustrations and photographs for each stitch, giving stitchers a free, accessible way to learn embroidery and preserve stitches for generations to come.

RSN Stitch Bank receives no government funding, so we therefore rely on the generous donations of our users to keep it free for everyone.  From embroiderers to teachers, from researchers to curators, thousands access RSN Stitch Bank from around the world. The RSN wants RSN Stitch Bank to remain a free resource ensuring the future of hand embroidery.

Visit RSN Stitch Bank

How does the RSN’s Big Give Christmas Challenge work?

Every donation given between 3 – 10 December will be doubled! For example, a donation of £10, will be matched, meaning £20 will be given to RSN Stitch Bank. Donations from outside the UK are also accepted.

Donations to RSN Stitch Bank will be generously matched by our incredible supporters and our Big Give Champion, The Reed Foundation.

This year, we are looking to raise a total of £9,800. In order to access the £4,900 we already have in the matching pot, we need to raise another £4,900 in online donations.

 

How can you get involved?

The RSN’s Big Give Christmas Challenge starts on Giving Tuesday, 3 December and you will have 7 days to donate to our campaign.

To make a donation, simply visit our Big Give Challenge page and make a donation between Tuesday 3 (midday) – Tuesday 10 December (midday).

The RSN would really appreciate it if you could share our campaign with your friends who also use RSN Stitch Bank, and your wider social network – anyone who would be interested in having their donation doubled!

Donate HERE

Set a reminder and add our campaign page to it so that you don’t miss your chance to double your donation!

Save the date and double your donation!

The RSN Shop is thrilled to be part of Museum Shop Sunday on Sunday 1 December, when over 2,200 shops at arts, heritage and cultural venues worldwide will be putting on special events and promotions, celebrating the joy and value of cultural retail.

Many students and customers will have met Emily Cunliffe, Head of Retail, Tomas Asmelash, Retail Supervisor, and the team, when they have visited our Shop at Hampton Court Palace, South West London. The RSN Shop really is a box of delights and surprises – for the beginner to advanced embroiderer as well as for those who prefer an RSN souvenir, yummy treat or a Gift Card for a special friend.

Over the last few months, the RSN Shop has been building on our heritage by creating exclusive products inspired by the RSN Collection, particularly pieces which have been included in the first 100 digitised objects and displayed in our current exhibition, ‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’.

Explore these stunning pieces and benefit from 10% off all RSN Shop items bought both at Hampton Court Palace and online this Museum Shop Sunday, 1 December, from 12am – 11:59pm GMT.

Shop with purpose, and discover unique and meaningful gifts you love in order to support the RSN’s mission to ensure and support the future of hand embroidery this Museum Shop Sunday!

Browse the RSN Shop here 

See the RSN Collection up close and personal at our exhibition ‘Tales of Textiles: the RSN Collection in focus’ 

Museum Shop Sunday is brought to you by the Association for Cultural Enterprises in partnership with the Museum Store Association in the US and the Museum Shops Association of Australia and New Zealand.