The Royal School of Needlework is home to more than 10,000 unique and priceless Collection and Archive pieces.  For the first time, the RSN is launching its Collections on a new website, revealing the first 100 items.

The first one hundred pieces give a tantalising glimpse of the breadth and depth of the RSN’s exciting treasure trove. These include textiles from the 7th to the 21st centuries, spanning from Guatemala, to Egypt, to the UK and everywhere in between as well as documents tied to the history of the RSN and its more than 150 years of embroidery design and production.

Curator at the Royal School of Needlework, Dr Isabella Rosner said:

“It is very rare for a textile collection to be made available to the public online, so we are delighted to be able to share some of our treasures. We hope that visitors to the Collections website are surprised by how many centuries and continents our objects span. This is just a first step and we will be adding an exciting variety of 2D and 3D pieces which span several hundred years. We look forward to building the platform to reveal more of the RSN’s amazing Collection and Archive with the world.”

The new Collections website features comprehensive catalogue entries, including high-definition images for each object with the option to view stitches up close, maker’s names, dates, places, stitches, motifs, techniques and extensive descriptions. Visitors can also find out more about the techniques and stitches featured via handy links to RSN Stitch Bank. RSN Stitch Bank is an incredible educational directory of stitches and now includes over 400 stitches.

The new Collections website can be accessed free of charge, anywhere in the world, at any time. Visit collections.royal-needlework.org.uk

Happy Easter from the RSN!

To celebrate the long Easter weekend as well as the Spring Equinox which brings with it longer daylight hours and the anticipation of warmer days ahead, we are launching some additional RSN Day & Evening classes! Over May and June we will offering classes both Online and Onsite, at Hampton Court Palace and RSN Durham. With a mixture of techniques, including Crewelwork, Opus Anglicanum, Goldwork, Whitework, Canvas Stitches and Beadwork there is something to inspire everyone.

For an eggstra special Easter treat, we have extended the Early Bird Discount for the International Summer School  2024 until 14 April.  Not only that…we have added a new class which will be taught by RSN Tutor Deborah Wilding, ‘Spring Flowers’.

Deborah’s glorious symmetrical design will cover Silk Shading along with Stumpwork (Raised Work) elements, with the addition of a pollinator bee signifying its importance in the English countryside.

With the Bank Holiday weekend to look forward to, this is the perfect time to sit back and peruse what is on offer and treat yourself to an Easter Gift of a class.

See our full list of Day Class here: https://royal-needlework.org.uk/courses/day-classes/

The RSN will be teaching a 90-minute workshop every day of the Artisan Fayre. The workshops will take place in our learning studios which are part of the original ‘grace and favour’ Palace apartments, not usually accessible to visitors. We will teach a Luna Moth design (also known as an American Moon Moth) which has been created by RSN Future Tutor Graduate 2023 Abigail Carter.

These giant silk moths have beautiful lime green coloured wings with a burgundy outline, which Abigail has reimagined in stitch. You will learn a variety of surface stitches and beginners’ Goldwork techniques. This is an opportunity to learn back stitch, stem stitch and turkey rug, along with couched gold metal thread and spangles.

Dates:

This 90-minute Workshop will take place from 11:30am-1:00pm on each day of the Fayre. The cost is £30 per person, including kit. There are only 12 places per day so book your workshop now!

Friday 17 May, 11:30am-1pm

Saturday 18 May, 11:30am-1pm

Sunday 19 May 11:30-1pm

Please note that, to attend the RSN workshop, you must buy an entry ticket to the Artisan Fayre or show your Historic Royal Palaces membership card.

Book your tickets to the Artisan Fayre here

See our new stunning RSN Experience Classes, to celebrate the beautiful spring surroundings.

Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival Experience Class – Friday 26 April

Join Tutor Jessica Ingram at Hampton Court Palace in April to stitch a gorgeous design during the Palace’s famous Tulip festival!

Your day will begin with a highlights tour of the tulips with Historic Royal Palace’s Head Gardener, Graham Dillamore, followed by joining Tutor Jessica to stitch this beautiful tulip motif.

See book details here

Sweet Briar Rose Inspired by Icons of British Fashion exhibition at Blenheim Palace Experience Class – Saturday 11 May – 1 SPACE LEFT

During the class,  you will learn all the steps to embroider this stunning sweet briar rose design using a mix of raised work techniques  which include wired shapes and silk wrapped purls plus simple embroidery stitches to create the leaves.

See booking details here

 

Vintage Lace Pin Cushion inspired by Royal Portraits at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

Join us for an RSN Experience Class at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace on Thursday 23 May to create an exquisite vintage lace pin cushion evocative of the work our Embroidery Studio applied to the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress and veil in 2011. The event includes a Curator-led visit to Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography opening at the Gallery in May.

See booking details here

We are delighted to share that a new exhibition, entitled ‘Chawton in Stitches’ will be opening this summer at Chawton House, Hampshire, and is inspired by Emily Barnett’s Major Project ‘The Chawton House Project’ created during her third year of the RSN Degree Course.

‘The Chawton House Project’ won the Worshipful Company of Broderers Associate Award ⁠at the 2023 Hand & Lock Prize and will take centre stage at this lovely exhibition.

Emily shares her inspiration for ‘The Chawton House Project’:

‘The Chawton House Project consists of three hand embroidered wall panels inspired by the grounds of Chawton House, Hampshire.

As a student, I was employed at Chawton House as a tearoom assistant spending my tea-breaks exploring the extensive gardens. These hand- embroideries were created in response to the colours and beauty I discovered there.

 I have also embraced the Biophilic design trend, aimed at improving wellbeing by bringing elements of the natural world indoors, using natural products including linen and raffia. 3D parchment paper petals reflect the botanical elements, hand embroidered with text taken from the letters written by Jane Austen. Floral elements have been embroidered using silk shading or tonal canvas work and the various goldwork techniques reflect the richness and beauty of the natural world.’

Visitors to the exhibition will have the unique opportunity to follow Emily’s creative journey, from early inspiration photographs to experimentations with different materials, as well as viewing historic items from Chawton Houses’ Collection placed alongside Emily’s work.

The exhibition opens on 3 May 2024, and is included in the House and Garden admission price. See the Chawton House website for ticket information.

Congratulations Emily on a fantastic achievement!

Follow Emily on Instagram

To learn more about the RSN Degree in hand embroidery, attend an RSN Degree Open Day.

At the start of this year, the RSN Embroidery Studio had the great pleasure of conserving the Girl Guiding County Standard for Sussex Central District.

With a number of our Studio team having been either a Rainbow, Brownie or Guide themselves, we were all fascinated to learn of the symbolism attached to this particular Standard.

In 1918, Lady Olave Baden Powell was appointed Chief Guide. She was previously the first County Commissioner for all of Sussex, and was succeeded by her friend, Dame Alice Godman of South Lodge, Lower Beeding. Dame Alice in turn was succeeded by her two daughters Eva and Edith who held the position jointly from 1945–1960. It was Dame Alice and her daughters who were responsible for this particular Standard having worked it together.

Measuring 94” long and 30” wide at the hoist, tapering to 10” the standard is very impressive indeed. The “field” or background fabric is blue brocade and was originally Dame Alice’s wedding dress dyed blue. The Standard is edged with a blue and gold braid and with a blue fringe.

As in all Guide Standards, the trefoil comes in the place of honour nearest the hoist. Next to the trefoil is the county badge of Sussex, six gold martlets, placed not on a shield but in a blue lozenge outlined in gold, because to be heraldically correct women must not bear arms on a shield, but they may do so in a lozenge.

Then come seven green trees in foliage, designed after the one on the front of South Lodge, they represent the seven inland divisions, originally only six, but one was added when new division was formed. The dolphins represent the seaside divisions. Since the Standard was dedicated in 1932 there have been alterations in the numbers of the divisions. Between the trees and the dolphins are two diagonal bands of gold with red lettering on them.

One side of the Standard has the Girlguiding motto “Be Prepared”, the other side has the Godman family motto: “Coelum quid quaerimus ultra” (What do we desire beyond heaven”). Running the length of the fly above and below the trees and dolphins, is a wavy bordure of gold, which, with the blue of the field, represents the waves along the sands of the seashore.

The trefoil, martlets and bordure are made of gold kid from a pair of Dame Alice’s own gloves (which does not tarnish); Miss Godman had said that the Standard was the first of its kind to make use of gold kid. The dolphins are of silver metal brocade, and the trees are embroidered in various shades of green floss silk.

In 1997, the Standard was “preserved” by members of the Royal School of Needlework (not repaired as it was too fragile). 27 years later the Standard returned to us here at the RSN this time with attention given to the silver dolphins who were in need of a little TLC.

Our expert team began by part disassembling the banner so that we could encase each of the silver dolphins with a fine conservation net and surface couch where needed.  On completion of the work we were able to reassemble the Standard in time for World Thinking Day on 22 February.

World Thinking Day is celebrated each year by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the world on the 22 February. Thinking Day originated from a desire by the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to dedicate a day to thinking about and appreciating the global spread of important worldwide movements.

 

Learn more about the RSN Embroidery Studio

See the RSN Embroidery Studio website for past commissions and learn about what we can do to restore or conserve a family heirloom or create a new piece for the next generation.

Website https://rsnstudio.co.uk/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rsnembroiderystudio/

The RSN Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery is a wonderful way to learn hand embroidery skills and techniques both Online and Onsite.

Meet Diploma Student Nola Emmett, who shares her experience of the Certificate & Diploma (C&D) course, at Hampton Court Palace.

“In 2010, my daughter and I travelled from Australia to the UK for a lengthy holiday. As part of the travel plans, I looked for activities to do while we were there. I had previously studied fashion and textiles and while my children were young, I had a small dressmaking business, which I operated from home. So, when I was searching the Internet for things that related to my interests, I found the RSN website and saw that we could do workshops at Hampton Court Palace.

We signed up for a two-day Stumpwork workshop, featuring Peter Rabbit with Tutor Jacqui McDonald. I was hooked on the whole thing.

I decided to return to London the following year, to begin the Certificate course in Technical Hand Embroidery. My first technique was Jacobean Crewelwork with Shelley Cox, who is a brilliant Tutor. I then returned each year to complete the 4 techniques during the Summer Intensive Programme.

I took a break in 2015, when my first grandchild was born, but I continued to do workshops closer to home, particularly with Nicola Jarvis whenever she visited Australia. In 2016, I arrived back in London to begin the Diploma course.

My first technique was Appliqué with Shelley and Jen, what a great team! During the next two years, I finished the Appliqué and started Canvaswork, which I particularly enjoyed.

In 2019, I was extremely fortunate to be offered free accommodation in London by a wonderful friend, so I decided to take advantage of that, and spent three months at Hampton Court Palace completing the Canvaswork, Silk Shading and Advanced Goldwork modules.

On my days off, I also volunteered at St. Paul’s Cathedral with the embroiderers, repairing vestments and other pieces. Then along came 2020 and everything it threw at the world. Due to this and a change of living situation, I haven’t managed to finish what I started. I am determined to though, and hope to return to London to do so. The atmosphere at the palace is mesmerising and I would recommend experiencing the world of embroidery through the RSN!”

 

Are you interested in learning technical hand embroidery? Find out more about the RSN’s Certificate & Diploma Course by attending our next Online Information Session on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 3pm (UK time). Book here.

Day & Evening Classes

Designing for Embroidery: ‘Jacobean Crewelwork’ – Hampton Court Palace: Saturday 6 April

A Wheel of Blackwork Tulips – Hampton Court Palace: Sunday 7 April – ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT

Whitework Seahorse – Online: Weekly, from Wednesday 10 April – Wednesday 22 May

Goldwork Spider – Online:  Weekly, from Wednesday 24 April to Wednesday 8 May

 

Live Online Talks

Stitching Freedom, with Dr. Isabella Rosner – Wednesday 24 April, 7pm

Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House: 100th Anniversary, with Kathryn Jones – Wednesday 15 May, 7pm

Development of Dye Colours in the 18th century, With Dr. Susan Kay-Williams – Wednesday 19 June, 7pm

 

Online Information Sessions

Professional Embroidery Tutor Programme (NEW): Tuesday 28 May, Online, 11am

Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery – Tuesday 21 May 2024, Online, 3pm

 

Degree Open Days

Hampton Court Palace

Wednesday 24 April, 2pm

 

Online via Zoom

Thursday 28 March, 11pm

Wednesday 24 April, 5pm

 

Workshops

Luna Moth 90 Minute Workshop at the Hampton Court Palace Artisan Fayre: Hampton Court Palace, 17, 18 and 19 May

 

Experience Classes

‘Tudor Rose inspired by RSN Dolls’ House Bed: In partnership with Royal Collection Trust at Windsor Castle’: Windsor Castle, Wednesday 17 April – ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT

Hampton Court Palace Tulip Festival Experience Class: Hampton Court Palace, Friday 26 April

Goldwork Wyvern inspired by Medieval Window at Canterbury Cathedral: Canterbury Cathedral, Friday 26 April

Future dates for your diary

Luna Moth Workshop at the Hampton Court Palace Artisan Fayre – Hampton Court Palace, Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, 11:30am – 1pm

Are you a lover of all things historical? Combine your love of history with hand embroidery and take an International Summer School class inspired by pieces from our very own RSN Collection.

Jacobean Scene

New to hand embroidery? This Jacobean scene, taught by RSN Tutor Sarah de Rousset-Hall in Lexington, Kentucky, is the perfect entryway for those wanting to learn introductory, beginner-friendly hand embroidery techniques.

This design has been inspired by a painting in the RSN Collection, offering you the chance to learn all the fundamentals of Jacobean Crewelwork.

Book here

Crowning Achievement

The second of Tutor Sarah de Rousset-Hall’s classes In Lexington, will be this stunning crown design, which is an Advanced Goldwork Class taught over 3 days and covers Padding, Couching and Cutwork techniques onto a bespoke printed cotton with a purple watercolour effect.

The crown image was inspired by a beautiful piece in the RSN collection, which itself is a representation of the St Edward’s Crown in the UK Crown Jewels held in the Tower of London and celebrates the recent Coronation of King Charles III.

Book here

 

Myrtle Blossom

This beautiful floral class, designed by Tutor Nicola Jarvis, was inspired by a watercolour held in the RSN’s archive, painted by artist Mary Gemmell who worked as a designer for the school in the 1870s.

Aimed at intermediate to advanced embroiderers, the project features Crewel Work and Surface Stitches, including Split Stitch, Long and Short Shading, Satin Stitch, Stem Stitch, Chain Stitch, Couching, French Knots and Velvet Stitch.

This class will offer a unique hybrid style of teaching, with Nicola teaching remotely via Zoom, whilst Tutor Sonia Lee will be Onsite in Lexington to provide assistance.

Book here

 

Loving Lettercase

Join Tutor Zinaida Kazban in Lexington, Kentucky, for an educational and creative experience in the world of 18th century needlework.

In this class, you will have the opportunity to learn and practice traditional techniques used to decorate purses, wallets, and letter cases, based on the 18th century letter case from the Royal School of Needlework Collection.

Book here

 

17^th Century Raised Embroidery

This two-day course, taught at Hampton Court Palace by Tutor Helen Jones, is inspired by a beautiful and fun piece of Raised Embroidery in the RSN Collection.

Over two days, you will consider the materials, stitches and threads that were used in the 17th century to create raised embroidery. You will stitch the “Oak Tree” using traditional approaches where possible, offering the perfect class for lovers of Jacobean history.

Book here

Captivating Crewelwork

Inspired by the iconic Screen Panel from the RSN Collection, this Crewelwork class taught by Tutor Kate Barlow has a beautiful bird as its main feature, as seen in Panel 4 of the original screen.

During this 5-day class taught Online, in Lexington KY, or at Hampton Court Palace, you’ll use Appleton’s crewel wools on linen twill fabric to create your very own panel, which will include many Crewelwork stitches, with the main focus on Long and Short and decorative Trellises. This class is suitable for intermediate and advanced stitchers, as well as adventurous beginners.

Book here

Looking to stitch a more contemporary design?

Look no further! Our International Summer School also offers plenty of opportunities to stitch contemporary, experimental and artistic designs. There really is a class for everyone!

Whether you are joining us in Lexington, KY USA, Hampton Court Palace, Durham or Online, see the full list of International Summer School classes here

Do you have a question about our International Summer School Classes? Join our Live Q&A Session on Zoom to ask any questions you may have, and find out more about what’s in store!

We are thrilled to be returning to this year’s Fashion & Embroidery exhibition at The NEC Birmingham, the last time we exhibited was in 2019 before the pandemic and how the world has changed since then!

You will see all that glitters through a stunning array of Certificate & Diploma (C&D) Goldwork, RSN Future Tutor work, and some contemporary designs by the RSN BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery Students and Graduates.

Visit us on stand H30 and meet with staff and RSN Bristol and RSN Rugby C&D students who will be demonstrating on a frame – and you are invited to come along and stitch alongside them, you are all most welcome!

We are also running a 90 minute ‘Luna Moth’ workshop each day which you can book here. The kit was designed by RSN Future Tutor Graduate 2023, Abbie Carter, and will be taught by Head of Studio & Standards, Anne Butcher.

Anne will also be a Judge for the Madeira Embroidery Competition, which takes place on 14 March.  The theme this year is ‘Visions of Paris’. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and, in 2024, it plays host to the Olympic games.

With its reputation for being a romantic and cultural city, famous for its iconic monuments, historic theatres, Fashion Houses and café life, there is so much to excite and inspire. The event Organisers have asked stitchers from around the UK to get creative and embroider their ‘Vision of Paris’, for a chance to win a fabulous prize and the Perpetual Madeira Trophy!

So, we are looking forward to seeing the beautiful display of work at the show and we hope to many of you there!

Book your tickets with a 30% discount here

Book the Luna Moth Workshop here

 

The Stitch Festival – Business Design Centre, London

If you can’t make it to Birmingham, then we will be teaching the same ‘Luna Moth’ workshop at The Stitch Festival, Business Design Centre, London.  There are a few spaces remaining on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March. This workshop is a great opportunity to learn a variety of surface stitches and beginners’ Goldwork techniques.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to book soon so you don’t miss out! Book here.

We are also offering a discount code for ticket admission. Use code RSN23 when checking out for £2 off all general admission tickets.

Book your tickets here

Book the Luna Moth Workshop here

The Royal School of Needlework Degree Students have had the exciting opportunity to collaborate with internationally renowned artist, Ruben Montini.

Ruben’s latest project is a performative installation, ‘Altarpieces’, which features a series of textile pieces bringing together voices of LGBTQIA+ communities.  These powerful pieces of art embrace personal stories and expose homotransphobic phrases that the LGBTQIA+ communities have suffered. The project illustrates the power of speech through textiles, building awareness of voices from around the world including the UK, Poland, Italy, Iran, Mexico and Brazil. Every word has an added personal vulnerability with letters cut from pieces from the individual’s own clothing which have been witness to the discrimination suffered.

RSN Degree Students have hand embroidered and appliquéd each letter onto the textile composition, layering fabric and stitch onto compositional formats defined by Montini.  The fabric and stitch echo the brush marks of a painting, to create the signature identity of the artist’s work.

Royal School of Needlework’s Degree Students also collaborated on Montini’s ‘This Anonymity is Subversive’ embroidery project in 2017. The piece showcased a contemporary embroidery journey through Europe, highlighting the connection and union through stitch, without borders.

Find out more about the Royal School of Needlework Degree Course here

Sign up here to attend the next Degree Open Day

Our International Summer School classes have a class that is suitable for everyone, but don’t just take our word for it! Meet Lionel Fifield, and find out about his experience on discovering a brand new hobby through taking classes with the RSN.

‘I am a 75-year-old man who discovered the world of embroidery about 6 years ago whilst visiting a friend who had been recently widowed. This lady was a teacher of Japanese embroidery and had some magnificent examples of her embroidery displayed in her house.

Suggestions that I would like to purchase one of these were rejected, but she offered to teach me how to do it, but only if I learnt how to sew. I decided to take up the challenge, even though at this point of my life I had never picked up a needle.

A Christmas present that year was a basic sort of sewing kit for a small table cover. Whilst doing this, I discovered that the Royal School of Needlework was teaching a class in Dublin (where I live) so I signed up. To do so, I had to become an honorary member of the ICA (Irish Countrywomen’s Association – their equivalent of the WI) to be allowed on their premises.

I spent a few days there under the guidance of an excellent RSN Tutor, and never had to thread a needle as the other pupils were all kind enough to assist this rather clumsy man.

To expand my knowledge, I followed the classes of the RSN, taking a few to learn about Crewelwork, Silk Shading, Blackwork and how to mount a piece. All these classes have been excellent, and aside from learning all of these the techniques, I have met some very interesting people in the classes Online via Zoom.

I chose the Butterfly Garden for last year’s International Summer School as it was different and more of a challenge than some of the introductory pieces. I am nearing completion and am excited for the new classes being taught this year.

Being a man who does embroidery, I have had nothing but nice comments from those around me.  I belong to a bridge club and have to take my latest piece in on completion for their critique, happily they are kind to me.

When I have been sewing in a public place there has been nothing but good comments from the other men. During Covid it was a wonderful way of passing the time and today I still try to fit in an hour or two of needlework.’

Inspired by Lionel’s word? Get started with your hand embroidery journey, and browse our International Summer School classes here.