In-person students can start whenever is most convenient for them. To do this, simply book onto any available in-person term-time class making sure you select the option ‘Jacobean – 1^st Class’ when booking. This lets the tutor know that you are starting the course and ensures that your starter kit is available when you arrive.

We teach at Hampton Court Palace seven days a week during normal UK school term times and at our other venues up to two or three days a week. Please login to Bookeo through our website to see all available dates.

Online students must book onto an online Jacobean Crewelwork module to start the course. We usually run new modules every few months. If you have registered to start the C&D programme online you will be emailed with all the upcoming dates of Online Jacobean modules as soon as they become available. We generally run modules targeted at three different time zones, UK/Europe, North & South America and Australia/SE Asia but students are welcome to book on any course that suits them. You can also visit our Online Modules page to view upcoming modules with spaces still available.

Jacobean is the only technique on the programme which must be completed either entirely in-person or entirely online. It is not possible to mix and match in-person and online classes for this technique.

There are three options for completing this technique: 

• Book an online Jacobean module. 

• Book individual in-person classes (a minimum of 8 classes (40 hours) are required to complete the technique). 

• Join an in-person intensive course at Hampton Court, Durham, Glasgow, Bristol, Fredericksburg VA. 

All students are required to complete Jacobean Crewelwork as their first technique on the Certificate programme. During this module you will learn skills such as framing up and mounting and basic embroidery skills which you will then build upon when completing later techniques. Once completed students can then move onto Canvas Stitches, Silk Shading and Goldwork. We recommend students complete the techniques in this order.

For the Diploma, students start with Applique then go onto Blackwork, Advanced Silk Shading, Advanced Goldwork, plus their two selected techniques.

Once the Certificate and Diploma programmes have been completed you can then choose to complete a number of Post Diploma Techniques.

A minimum of 40hrs tuition is required to complete each technique. This generally equates to eight 5hr classes (if you are doing shorter online classes then more classes will be needed to complete the 40hrs).

Apart from the first technique, Jacobean Crewelwork (which must be completed either entirely in-person or entirely online), you can mix and match online and in-person classes for all other techniques – our aim is to be as flexible as possible.

We teach some Saturdays throughout the year at all UK venues, and at Hampton Court we teach C&D classes on both Saturday and Sunday every weekend during term time. Online we teach classes some weekends and some afternoon/evenings.

Students are not required to have any embroidery experience before starting the course. We teach students from a beginner level, and many students with limited previous experience go on to complete the programme very successfully. However, as it is a substantial commitment, we recommend trying a day or evening class to help decide whether the programme will be the right fit for you. You can book an RSN day or evening class through our website to get a taste of what you will learn on the C&D programme.

We have a variety of tutors who teach on the C&D programme. All of our tutors have either completed the RSN Future Tutors course, RSN Professional Embroidery Tutor programme or an RSN Apprenticeship. When booking your classes the tutor teaching the class will be shown. Students have the opportunity to learn from multiple tutors and do not have to stick with the same tutor throughout the programme. You can learn more about our tutors here.

You do not have to do the entire programme if you don’t want to, however please be aware that you will therefore not receive a certificate. Furthermore, students are required to start with Jacobean Crewelwork as you will learn basic techniques such as framing up and mounting which you will need to know for other techniques. Please email us at [email protected] if you would like to discuss this further.

During our in-person classes and online general classes there are likely to be students at different stages of the C&D programme completing a variety of techniques during the same class. The tutors are used to working like this. We also find that students enjoy meeting other students further along in the course and it helps them start planning for the techniques they will be completing in the future.

No, we do not record our online classes. Each student works on their own individual design, so teaching is tailored for each student and their project. It is therefore not particularly beneficial for students who have missed the class to watch it afterwards.

We have a 1:6 tutor to student ratio with a maximum number of 12 students per class.

Starter Kits are available for students starting the Jacobean Crewelwork, Goldwork and Blackwork modules. When booking your first Jacobean Crewelwork class the cost of the Jacobean Crewelwork starter kit will automatically be added to the cost of the class. This kit includes all the materials you will need to get you started including a 24” slate frame (which you will use for all C&D modules), Linen Twill, Webbing, String, Needles etc.

For in-person students the cost of the Goldwork and Blackwork kits will automatically be added to the cost of the class when you book your first class in these techniques.

Online students requiring Goldwork or Blackwork kits can email the certificate inbox at any time to order these.

During your first module, Jacobean Crewelwork, most things you will use are included in the starter kit which you pay for when booking your first class. However, the Appletons wools you select when creating your design are an additional cost. We ask students to bring their own basic sewing kit to all their classes. 

For other techniques we have lots of materials such as fabrics and threads which are available to purchase at all venues, although students can source their own materials if they prefer. Online students can order from us by using our materials order form or emailing us, although it may be easier and quicker for you to source materials locally.

Yes, students are advised to work on their projects between lessons, and your tutor will give you direction as to what homework you should complete before your next class. Our advice is that you should spend an equal amount of time on homework as you would during classes, i.e. 40hrs of tuition and 40hrs of homework for each technique.

In exceptional circumstances we may be able to arrange for a student to pay by instalments. In these situations, all instalments must be paid before the start of the class/module. Enquiries regarding this should be emailed to [email protected] and are dealt with on a case by case basis. 

Yes, up until a week before you class you can cancel or change your class without penalty. If you choose to cancel the class a credit will be added to your Bookeo account for you to use towards your next class.

If you would like to cancel or change a class less than seven days before it starts, you need to do this by emailing [email protected] as cancellation charges will apply. 

No, if you have not quite finished your piece with the 40hrs of minimum tuition time then not to worry, you can book another class with us if you require extra tuition or if you feel able you can finish you piece in your own time.

We advise that students should aim to complete the four techniques of the Certificate within 5 years, and the same for the six techniques of the Diploma. The average length of time to complete the Certificate is 2.5 years. The C&D programme is designed to be very flexible and students are in control of the length of time which they would like to spread their studies over. 

If you would like to receive a Certificate once you have completed the programme, then you need to submit your work to us for a formal assessment. Each technique must be assessed, and you will receive an overall grade.

If you prefer, you can also choose not to have your work assessed or you can choose to have some informal feedback instead.

There are no deadlines which you are required to meet for the C&D programme. We have assessment weeks timetabled throughout the year to assess student work. If you would like your work to be assessed during a particular assessment week, please make sure you get your work to us at Hampton Court Palace ahead of these weeks. If you miss an assessment week, we can assess your work during the next one. 

Yes, we normally hold a graduation each summer at Hampton Court Palace. Students who have completed either the Certificate or Diploma and have had their work assessed will be invited and presented with their certificates at this event.

Please be aware that this is a leisure course and not a professional programme. For those wanting to develop a career in embroidery we recommend you consider the RSN Degree or the RSN Professional Embroidery Tutor Programme.

The RSN do not offer any grants or funding for the C&D programme.  

A small number of previous students have obtained funding for the course from other organisations such as QEST. 

To book C&D classes at our venue in Japan please email our tutor, Emi Nimura, at [email protected] and she will be able provide further information.