We will be teaching this beautiful Colourful Peacock motif each day at this year’s Knitting & Stitching Show, at the Harrogate Convention Centre from 21 – 24 November.

This 90-minute workshop is an introduction to embroidery for you to create your own beautifully embroidered bird. Using crewel wool, you will learn a range of core embroidery stitches such as back stitch and chain stitch, as well as some easy embellishment stitches, including French knots and fly stitch.

Colourful embroidery wouldn’t be complete without a little bit of sparkle so added sequins to create the tail feathers will complete this simple and charming design of the most elegant of birds. This workshop will also be taught at the Alexandra Palace show in London, with a few spaces still available.

Along with teaching this workshop, we will also be exhibiting beautiful Blackwork & Whitework from RSN Students, as well as a demonstration frame for you to have a go at stitching yourself.

 

Book your tickets now!

The Knitting & Stitching Show London Admission Tickets

The Knitting & Stitching Show London Workshops

The Knitting & Stitching Show Harrogate Admission Tickets

The Knitting & Stitching Show Harrogate Workshops

Exclusive to the Royal School of Needlework, a range of threads have been carefully selected by the RSN and developed in partnership with Au Ver A Soie ®.

Established in 1820, Au Ver A Soie has been producing the highest quality silk threads, pure silk, spun silk and metallic threads for over 200 years.

Paris has always been an important trading centre, and around 1823 it became the centre of French industry, becoming synonymous with luxury goods, and it was only the seal that they came from Paris that made these goods popular in the French provinces.

At the time, large department stores belonging to the textile manufacturers lined the two boulevards rue de Clery and rue de Bourbon-Villeneuve. It was only natural therefore that the young silk manufacturer Au Ver A Soie settled nearby at 235 rue Saint Denise and supplied the French market with luxurious silk yarns.

After World War One the company relocated to 102 rue Réaumur where they remain in the original building, now run by the fifth generation Marc Boucher and Nathalie Boucher-Bothorel.

Au Ver A Soie is the world market leader in fine silk yarns. Customers continue to be the most important houses of haute couture such as Dior, Lanvin, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint-Laurent, Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Hermès.

As well as producing beautiful exclusive threads to the RSN, Au Ver A Soie are also proud sponsors of RSN Stitch Bank.

Shop the RSN’s exclusive range of Au Ver A Soie threads here

Join us for a month of fascinating Live Online Talks, exciting events and a brand new exhibition!

Online Classes

Little Bird Stumpwork Panel: Online, Weekly, from Monday 7 – Monday 21 October

Learn to Draw for Embroiderers 1:’Essential Drawing Skills’: Wednesday 9 – Thursday 10 October

Mounting Your Finished Embroidery: Online, Weekly, from Saturday 10 – Saturday 19 October

Introduction to Canvaswork: ‘Mondrian Inspired Sampler’: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 16 – Wednesday 23 October

Introduction to Crewelwork: ‘Autumn Leaf’: Online, Weekly, from Thursday 24 – Thursday 31 October – only 4 spaces left

Learn to Draw for Embroiderers 2: Get Confident with Using Colour: Online, Sunday 27 October

Stumpwork & Surface Stitches: ‘A Winters Tail’: Online, Weekly, from Tuesday 29 October – Tuesday 26 November

Onsite Classes

Introduction to Opus Anglicanum: ‘Violet’: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 5 – Sunday 6 October

Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Bright Rainbow’: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 19 October

Introduction to Stumpwork: ‘The Orangery Garden’: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 19 October

Experience Classes

Wildflower Posy inspired by Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House Sofas at Windsor Castle: Windsor Castle, Tuesday 8 October

Leaves and Berries Experience Class inspired by a Georgian Waistcoat from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection:  Hampton Court Palace, Wednesday 16 October

Events & Exhibitions

‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’: Hampton Court Palace, 25 September 2024 to June 2025

‘Embroidered Excellence: Treasures from the RSN Collection’: FREE Entry, Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, open now until Sunday 10 November

Decorex International Interior Design Show: London Olympia, 6 – 9 October

The Knitting and Stitching Show: Alexandra Palace, London, 10 – 13 October. Join our 90 minute workshop

Online Talks

‘Dressing Children in the 18th Century’ with Royal Collection Trust Curator Lucy Peter, Wednesday 23 October

Degree Open Day

Friday 25 October, Online, 4.00pm

 

image credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 Royal Collection Trust

Beat the end-of-summer blues and join the RSN this month for new Day & Evening Classes, Online Talks, a brand-new Exhibition, and more!

Online Classes

Technical Tuesday – Goldwork – Term 1: Online, Weekly, from Tuesday 3 September

Technical Thursday – Blackwork – Term 1: Online, Weekly, from Thursday 12 September

Introduction to Embroidery: ‘Starburst’: Online, Weekly, from Wednesday 18 September

Whitework Roundel: Online, Monthly, from Sunday 22 September – Sunday 27 July

A Bayeux Tapestry Bird: Online, Weekly, from Monday 23 September

Technical Tuesday – Crewelwork – Term 1: Online, Weekly, from Tuesday 24 September

Introduction to Embroidery: ‘The Beginning’: Online, Weekly, from Thursday 26 September

Hampton Court Palace Classes

Introduction to Punto Antico: ‘Wheels’: Hampton Court Palace, Saturday 21 September

Native Wildflower: ‘Elderberry’: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 22 September

Experimental Beading: Hampton Court Palace, Sunday 22 September

RSN Exhibitions

‘Embroidered Excellence: Treasures from the RSN Collection’: FREE Entry, Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, open now until Sunday 10 November

‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’: Hampton Court Palace, 25 September 2024 to June 2025

Online Talks

Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus: with Dr Isabella Rosner, Wednesday 18 September

Course Info Sessions

Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery: Online, Tuesday 10 September, 2pm

 

We are delighted to announce that Rhian Harris will be joining the organisation in September as the new Chief Executive. Rhian will take over from Dr Susan Kay-Williams who has led the charity for 17 years and is retiring at the end of August.

Rhian comes with a strong track record and wealth of experience in the charity, arts and heritage sectors. She was previously the Chief Executive of Lakeland Arts, Cumbria, a multi-site, independent arts and heritage charity based in the Lake District and the Director of the V&A Museum of Childhood, now the Young V&A, which earlier this month was awarded The Museum of the Year 2024.

Pip Wood, Chair of Royal School of Needlework Council said: “We are very excited about the skills and expertise that Rhian will bring and we are sure the RSN will continue to innovate, develop and grow stronger under her leadership.”

Rhian Harris said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework. Throughout my career I have worked with amazing collections that have included hand-stitched embroidered art works and they have never failed to capture my imagination and to engage, both emotionally and intellectually. The language of stitch tells us so much about craft, memory, identity, protest and mortality, amongst many other aspects of private and public life.

“I am looking forward to building on the heritage and the remarkable work that has already been undertaken and to taking the RSN forward, strengthening the excellent educational programmes and widening the charity’s impact.”

We look forward to welcoming Rhian on 30 September.

Would you like to benefit from the expertise of an RSN Tutor, and also commit to something longer than a Day Class? Our new classes give you the opportunity to learn, explore and progress with hand embroidery techniques in greater depth, over several weeks or months.

Technical Courses

Our established Technical courses are a great way to gain in depth knowledge of a specific embroidery technique.

There are a few spaces remaining on our Blackwork, Goldwork and Crewelwork classes, so make sure to book soon as spaces are limited.

Whitework Roundel

RSN Tutor Jen Goodwin will be teaching a 10-month course, as a deep dive into Fine Whitework embroidery. In this class you will stitch this breathtaking Whitework roundel design, featuring the four emblematic flowers of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland – the Tudor rose, daffodil, shamrock and thistle.

There are many techniques to explore from surface stitches, manipulating the base fabric with pulled work and eyelets, net embroidery, drawn thread and cutting away fabric to expose net.

Month by month the large, complex design will be broken down into bite-size chunks to allow plenty of time between classes for homework meaning your design will grow at a steady pace.

Book here

 

Elizabethan Rose

This truly stunning Elizabethan rose will be taught by RSN Tutor Zinaida Kazban at Hampton Court Palace this October, over five weeks, inspired by two 17th-century panels from the V&A museum in London.

During this class you will learn Stumpwork, Goldwork and Surface embroidery techniques. These include needlelace stitches, crafted ‘punto in aria’ to create raised flower petals; satin stitches shaded with luxurious silks to form beautiful patterns; and couching with various metal and gimp threads.

This is the perfect class for experienced embroiderers who have taken the RSN Certificate & Diploma course and want to continue with learning more advanced techniques.

Book here

See all RSN Classes & Courses here

We are incredibly excited to be returning to The Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in October!

You can find the Royal School of Needlework at Stand TGA7, to see some stunning work on display from our RSN students, as well as the chance to shop RSN products and chat to us about all things needlework.

This year, the main techniques showcased will be Blackwork and Whitework by RSN Future Tutors, Certificate, and Diploma students, who have learnt technical hand embroidery from across the world.  There will also be pops of colour through displays of RSN Degree Graduate Final Project work.

Alongside our stand you can join us on our demonstration frame, full of stars. Stitch and make new friends whilst you try your hand at hand embroidery, whether you’re an expert or a complete beginner.

For beginners, we are also teaching a 90 minute workshop every day, ‘Colourful Peacock’ designed by RSN Future Tutor Graduate 2024 Kristina Clarke – a perfect motif with a bit of sparkle to add to a bag or cushion. Workshop places have already sold so book yours now – this is often the start of our students’ RSN hand embroidery journey so jump on board!

We will also have a range of RSN Shop kits, gifts and stationery for sale, and you can take part in our annual Day Class Prize Draw to win £150 towards a class.

The show organisers are kindly offering a discount code for standard advance tickets. The discount codes gives £2 off standard adult / concession tickets. (Not valid Saturday 12 October.) Offer expires Sunday 6 October. Enter code: ‘RSN’ to use.

Win a pair of tickets to the show

We are delighted to be giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the show! To enter our competition, email [email protected] and tell us who you would like to take with you for a chance to win! Deadline for entry is 12pm Tuesday 10 September.

See you there!

 

The Knitting & Stitching Show, Harrogate

Unable to make it to the London show? We will be at The Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate in November, where we will teach the Colourful Peacock workshop and displaying the beautiful work of our students and RSN shop items.

 

Book your tickets now!

The Knitting & Stitching Show London Admission Tickets

The Knitting & Stitching Show London Workshops

The Knitting & Stitching Show Harrogate Admission Tickets

The Knitting & Stitching Show Harrogate Workshops

‘Tales of Textiles: The RSN Collection in Focus’ highlights the life of key pieces from the RSN Collection & Archive featuring many of the first 100 objects to be digitised and catalogued. Objects on display span three centuries and tell a story of wear and use, protection and care, tradition and innovation, and stitchers domestic and professional.

The exhibition runs from 25 September to 14 June 2025. Due to popular demand, all of our tour dates have now been released. Our Talks with a Private View are held on selected days each month and provide an opportunity to see rare objects up close and hear their stories. For groups we offer one exclusive Group Talk & Private View each month, so book now!

 

Tales of Textiles Experience Class

Join us for one of three RSN exclusive historical stitch hand embroidery classes inspired by a 1650s silk panel on display at our new Tales of Textiles exhibition. Your day will include a private highlights tour of the exhibition with RSN Curator, Dr Isabella Rosner.

The silk panel which inspired this class would have originally belonged to a small casket. Embroidered casket panels were often made by teenaged girls as part of their education in mid to late seventeenth-century England.

RSN Tutor, Helen Jones, will teach you how to stitch this beautiful motif using a range of historical stitches. The delicate flower motif is worked in 17th century style Long and Short Stitch which is less structured than today’s version. Other stitches include Laid work, French Knots, Stem, Fly and Feather. It also incorporates silk wrapped purls.

See the classes here

View all Tours here

We were asked to visit St Albans Cathedral to have a look at the Shrine Canopy that sits upon the Shrine of St Alban, as the embroidery and fabric needed a little tender care. We were pleased to say we could assist.

The conservation entailed us unmounting all the pieces from the steel frame so that we could give each piece a light hand clean using a low suction conservation hoover. After which we were able to tackle some areas with specialist sponges as areas had a layer of soot from the candles that light the Shrine.

There were some areas where the base fabric had deteriorated, especially on the corners, and where the canopy sits on the stone shrine. These areas were all supported and secured to prevent further deterioration. The embroidery was generally in good condition but needed a little tidy in places.

The original steel structure of the shrine canopy was combined with a wooden panel with no protection between the wood and the embroidery which could cause staining. We replaced each section with conservation grade board that will support the fabric while on display.

Over this we placed some soft fine padding so that the fabric is supported and slightly cushioned protecting it for longevity. Each piece once mounted were lined to help maintain the tension and support.

 

Do you have a piece of embroidery you would like conserved?

Visit the RSN Embroidery Studio Website to find out more about our conservation services.

This beautiful Pulpit Fall dates back to the second half of the 16th century and is constructed from panels of burgundy silk velvet. It is decorated with Appliquéd motifs, sequins, Raised Work and silver Metal Thread embroidery.

The Studio started by removing the piece from a wooden stretcher and dry surface cleaned the front and back. A support fabric was used behind the velvet and the original silk and metal fringe remained attached, therefore keeping as much of the stitch history as possible.

The next step was to secure any loose threads and motifs as well as any holes. Due to the fragility of the piece, it was not possible to roll the embroidery frame it was in and have easy access to the middle.

To complete the work, the piece had to be stood vertically and two of the Studio Team had to work from either side of it. This enabled one embroiderer to pass the needle through the fabric in the correct position to the embroiderer on the other side.

This takes excellent communication and a steady hand! Once all the repair work was complete, the piece was mounted onto conservation grade board and is on display in a purpose built frame for all the congregation and visitors to enjoy.

 

Do you have a piece of embroidery you would like restored?

Visit the RSN Embroidery Studio Website to find out more about our restoration services.

 

The RSN Embroidery Studio was asked to submit costings and designs for a full Pontifical set to celebrate the Abbey’s Millennium. Following the brief, many saints were designed as well as Our Lady of Buckfast, holding the Christ child and Jesus Christ on the cross. There were two Kings; King Edmund and King Canute, featured on the Stole and the Crown of Thrones with PAX in the centre on the Chasuble.

The techniques used for the figures were a combination of Appliqué for the bodies of the saints and the flooring. These were embellished with hand embroidery to create depth, giving a three-dimensional feel. The faces and hands were worked in Tapestry Shading, a form of Silk Shading where the stitches are kept perfectly vertical yet achieves the movement of a draping garment.

Each saint was researched and their garments and colours were denoted by whether they were a Bishop, Monk or even a hermit. Each figure was placed within an arch, design and shape taken from the Abbey. These were created in appliqued Cloth of Gold with Gold Pearl Purl to define the curve of the columns, shadowing was added with stitches to give the sense of depth.

The combination was repeated throughout the vestments to maintain a continuity to the design of the whole set. On the bottom of the arch, we featured the saint’s name. Research of the Abbey’s other vestments combined with a discussion with those who would be wearing them led to the decision regarding the style and size of the final pieces. Each of the vestments were drawn up as a paper pattern and a toile, then a mock up was made in cotton fabric.

On one visit, the Abbot tried on the toiles and they were altered to ensure that they fitted comfortably around the neck and under arm, and were the correct length. This is very important as the vestments are heavy and cumbersome to wear during long services, so we try to make them as comfortable and light as possible. For this particular set, we sourced a lighter weight interlining to reduce some of the weight particularly on the Chasuble as it had the most embroidery.

The Orphreys on all the garments were in the same fabric, a gold silk. On the Chasuble, the Orphrey was embroidered between each of the saints with a scroll pattern taken from within the Abbey. This was worked in Pearl Purl with shadow lines again to give a sense of depth. The Orphreys throughout the Pontifical set have been edged with red and gold braid and on some vestments fringing was also added with the braid running along the top of the fringe.

This was a very large project and all of the team in our Embroidery Studio have helped deliver these exquisite new pieces. We were delighted to work on this wonderful project and feel privileged that our work is set to become part of the new history of Buckfast Abbey.

 

Do you have a piece of embroidery you would like produced?

Visit the RSN Embroidery Studio Website to find out more about new commission service.

 

The RSN Embroidery Studio was approached to produce a Laudian Fall for the Altar in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace.

It was to be an All Seasons Festal Frontal so the base colour had to be cream, however we also felt that it was important to feature some of the blue that is so dominant in the chapel’s stunning ceiling. The fabric used is St Margaret’s Brocade, this includes a coronet and Tudor rose in the figured pattern which we felt was appropriate for the historical venue. The weave is a mix of cream and metallic gold which subtly catches the light when viewed from different angles.

The design is ‘The Glory’ which contains IHS, a cross and three nails. The Glory and lettering were applied to Cloth of Gold with blue silk, forming the shadow on the rays and the background of the central area. The fabric is edged with a combination of gold Japanese thread and Pearl Purl along with a blue twist to echo the blue silk.

The nails are worked in silver kid leather and decorated with silver passing to form the head of the nail. The cross is in Cloth of Gold and both the cross and the letters are edged in Pearl Purl. The cross has extra decoration from silver Bright Check Purl to add a little sparkle and highlight the silver in the nails. The Laudian Fall has a firm interlining to ensure the corners take a good shape and was finished with a gold-coloured fringe and cream linen lining.

We worked closely with the Chapel Royal and Historic Royal Palaces to ensure we met the brief, budget and the final environment.

The Frontal needed to be completed for a very special service taking place in the Chapel and we were able to pulled together a bigger team of embroiderers to meet this tight deadline with the piece still looking like one person’s work.

Do you have a piece of embroidery you would like produced?

Visit the RSN Embroidery Studio Website  to find out more about our new commission services.