RSN Certificate student, Margaret Bateman, lives in Cumbria. She started learning at RSN Glasgow from September 2019, and had attended six classes for her first module Jacobean Crewelwork, prior to lockdown. Margaret has found that progressing with the Certificate online has been a marvellous opportunity to continue sewing during lockdown, making new friends from around the world, and learning with them in her kitchen!

“Having completed a one hour Workshop making a Canvaswork scissor fob with the RSN at the ‘Fashion & Embroidery’ exhibition, NEC Birmingham, in 2016, and two weekend classes at Hampton Court with a friend in 2017, I was hooked! The Day Classes were such a great tester to see if the C&D programme was for me.

The idea of doing the Certificate course stayed with me and, in September 2019, I started the Jacobean Crewelwork module with Helen McCook at the Glasgow venue. I had been travelling up to Glasgow every few weeks to see my family and the monthly class fitted in perfectly. Previously, I had enjoyed doing Pulled Work, Blackwork, with coloured thread, and Canvaswork, and the Certificate course was perfect for me to try out new techniques.

At the beginning of the first lockdown I felt lost as I couldn’t continue with my Jacobean Crewelwork technique and wanted to keep working at it. I was thrilled when the RSN emailed and said they were going to teach classes online. My first class was an hour class with Tutor Angela Bishop at the end of April 2020.  I was on tenterhooks as I had never used Zoom and had only just started using WhatsApp. Before the class Angela sent me a very friendly email asking for details and photos of my Jacobean Crewelwork and I knew I was in safe hands.

I use my laptop to connect to the Zoom link from Angela’s email, and my phone to send photos to her via WhatsApp. Everything I need is on the table beside me and, rather than use trestles, I have an embroidery frame/seat which I attach the slate frame to. The evening before the class I like to set everything up and send Angela an email detailing my progress and any queries, requests for demonstrations etc. Preparing for the class the night before allows me to check that I also have my devices plugged in and fully charged.

Over the summer, I continued with the one hour classes, every three to four weeks, and I worked on a Canvaswork sampler to try out each stitch in the RSN Essential Stitch Guide  and have a go at blending. The sampler was a great way of experimenting with the stitches and using up thread from my ‘stash’. I also did an online mounting class with Angela for my Jacobean Crewelwork piece and her patience in explaining and demonstrating the process has been invaluable, as I have gone on to mount several other embroideries myself.

I was delighted to learn that in September the C&D classes would continue online and I now do two classes a month, which I find works well for me. Angela’s knowledge and support is just brilliant and it is just as good as being at an in-person class. The classes are very relaxed and the bonus of online learning is you can see what is being demonstrated with other students and you pick up tips and advice you wouldn’t hear in a normal class environment. It is also inspiring to see everyone else’s work as well through WhatsApp.

I love that I’m progressing with my work in a safe, supportive situation and I have a day’s company with other students without leaving the house. I look forward to continue online learning and the challenge of the remaining modules.

I can safely say that I have now had more online classes than in-person classes and I am so grateful to the RSN for the wonderful way they have embraced the challenge of the pandemic. The Tutors and Education team are amazing!”

Margaret will be sending both her Jacobean Crewelwork and Canvaswork projects for assessment in the coming weeks and we wish her every success on progressing with the rest of the Certificate.

Read more about our Certificate & Diploma Course here.