The RSN Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery Course is an excellent and flexible way to elevate your hand embroidery skills and can be learnt from wherever you are in the world!

Meet Phoebe, who shares with us her experience of learning through Certificate & Diploma Intensives:

“I started dressmaking when I was 12 and went on to study Art and Textiles at GCSE and A -level, followed by a BA (Hons) in Costume Design and Construction at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). During lockdown I began to study history and fashion and developed a particular interest in historical costume and the various techniques used to create often elaborate and complicated garments. Whilst at NTU, I studied a millinery module; my final piece was a 1940s-style felt hat, decorated with embroidery, and it was then that my fascination with the technique was kindled.

One of my Tutors suggested I pursue the Certificate programme at the Royal School of Needlework. I took one of the self-paced Online classes and really enjoyed it, so from there I looked at the Certificate and Diploma courses and decided to study the Certificate as an intensive summer course at Hampton Court Palace in the time between my second and final degree years.

I find I learn more effectively from condensed blocks of learning so enjoy the fast-paced style of the intensive classes. I learnt so much during that summer Certificate course that I decided to specialise in the discipline during my final year university projects. This led to me recreating a heavily-decorated costume worn by Lord Byron for members of the public to try on at his ancestral home of Newstead Abbey, and making a flamboyant ballgown with an embroidered bodice for a character from the novel The Selection.

Having graduated from university, I am currently completing the intensive RSN Diploma. I have really enjoyed discovering the stitching process of the six different techniques and feel proud of the high level of the work I have produced. Every RSN Tutor has a unique way of approaching their subject and it is fascinating to work with them and learn the various ways of solving problems and creating often complex images. To date, my favourite pieces have been Advanced Goldwork and Advanced Silk Shading as they have really allowed me to demonstrate my skills to the best of my abilities. For Silk Shading I chose to stitch my tabby cat – a somewhat daunting challenge because of all the detail needed to depict his facial features and multi-coloured fur, but I was delighted with the end results. My Goldwork heart* was a pleasure to create; I love the use of different metals and paddings to create the beautiful, multi-dimensional textures.

My time at RSN has been both fulfilling and wonderfully enjoyable. I have made a number of lifelong friends with a shared love of embroidery and above all have learnt so much, not just from the Tutors and from stitching my own projects, but from observing the work of my fellow students. I am very much hoping that my future career will allow me to further develop my love of embroidery in all its forms.”

Inspired by Phoebe’s words?

*  See Phoebe’s Goldwork Heart at ‘Fashion & Embroidery’ at the NEC, Birmingham, this month!

Join our next Certificate & Diploma Online Info Session to get your hand embroidery journey started.

Certificate & Diploma 2025 Intensives Dates