The Certificate and Diploma course (C&D) at the RSN offers a unique opportunity to elevate your skill in hand embroidery, both onsite at our various locations, or entirely online. You will learn valuable embroidery techniques, with many of our past students going on to work as designers and embroiderers on private and public commissions.

Here, RSN Diploma student Catherine Thorn shares her experience of learning at RSN Scotland, based in The Glasgow Art Club.

“I first learnt about the RSN when I picked up a leaflet on a visit to Hampton Court Palace. I started the Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery in 2014 embarrassingly, at RSN Scotland in Glasgow, with Tutor Helen McCook.

I’ve always loved embroidery, despite a long gap when the only sewing I did was mending and attaching name tapes, but I went to some RSN Day Classes, which I really enjoyed, and wanted to take it further.

I loved the Canvaswork best, despite not thinking I would enjoy it. I really enjoyed the freedom of finding different threads for different textures, mixing threads in the needle, and, also, I think I chose the subject well, as it’s a place I love.

I’ve been inspired by Helen who has encouraged me so much – I’m one of these people who never thought I could design my own embroidery because I can’t draw. I’ve also been inspired by the other students and seeing the breath-taking work they produce.

I’ve already started the Diploma and would love to teach embroidery.”

Follow Catherine through her Instagram account here 

Find out more about the Certificate & Diploma Course by attending our next Online Open Day at 1pm on Tuesday 6 June.  Book here.

C&D Summer intensives

The Summer Intensives teach one technique over two weeks and will be taught during July and August at Hampton Court Palace, Durham, and Glasgow.

If you would like to join us for one of our Summer Intensives, we have listed the dates below. If you are new to the Certificate course, start with the Jacobean Crewelwork Summer Intensive, however if you are already studying C&D and would like to do an intensive course for your next module, we also run them in Canvas Stitches/Blackwork; Silk Shading; Goldwork and the Diploma techniques.

RSN Hampton Court Palace

• Jacobean Crewelwork Summer Intensive: Mon 26 June to Fri 7 July – 5 spaces left 
• Diploma techniques: Mon 26 June to Fri 7 July – 3 spaces left
• Canvas Stitches/Blackwork Summer Intensive: Mon 10 July to Fri 21 July – 5 spaces left
• Silk Shading Summer Intensive: Mon 24 July to Fri 4 August – 4 spaces left
• Goldwork Summer Intensive: Mon 7 August to Fri 18 August – 3 spaces left

RSN Durham

• Summer Intensive: Tues 4 to Fri 7 July; Tues 11 to Fri 14 July – 2 spaces left

RSN Scotland

• Summer Intensive: Mon 19 to Thurs 22 June; Mon 26 to Thurs 29 June – 5 spaces left

If you are interested in a remaining place or would like to put your name on a waiting list please contact: [email protected]