Needlelace is a type of lace using a needle and thread working detached stitches in a repeat pattern using buttonhole or blanket stitches.  This type of embroidery is often depicted in raised work embroidery and used to decorate items such as table cloths.  The course will cover and study the different types of needlelace’s including Brussels stitch and all its variations.  The module will also look at scale, working with different thread types, along with different textures of threads, shaping needlelace in grid patterns, and how colour can be used.  Contemporary needlelace will also be explored in terms of alternative threads and materials, colour, and technique.

‘Hand Embroidery: Skills and Studies’, is an e-certificated sampler-based course exploring, learning and developing stitch and embroidery techniques, whilst studying and researching traditional, historical, domestic, international and contemporary embroideries and textiles. The course was developed and taught by Tracy A Franklin, and piloted onsite from September 2024.

This is a visual, practical and modular based course, where each module is themed on technique, subject or design, and taught over 6 lessons either onsite, online, or as an intensive course. It is a sampler-based course where four, 2-inch or 5-centimetre squares will be worked each lesson, based on traditional, historical, domestic, international and contemporary study.

Each module has a similar format, and will produce 24 samples in total, which includes learning traditional methods and techniques, and experimenting with new approaches.  The outcome for each student is a personal body of work which can be used as an archive and reference, made into a cloth book, or mount into a body of work.

For more information on the Skills & Studies programme please click here.

You can explore many more stitches in the RSN Stitch Bank.