RSN Staff and Tutors donned hard hats, hi-vis vests and got stuck into our Skill Swap Day with Fullers Builders back in September. Last month we returned the favour and staff from Fullers Builders came to Hampton Court Palace to learn the art of hand embroidery.

The initiative was part of our 150th celebrations and partnership with Fuller Builders, who like the RSN, use traditional skills in their trade and are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. For one day only, the RSN team learned to use their hands a little bit differently, gaining skills in brick laying, plastering, plaster moulding and even plumbing.

In return, a special design of a builder’s crane was created by RSN Tutor Marg Dier, and she got to work teaching all kinds of stitches including Brick Stitch and Laid Work – of course! The team at Fullers Builders were also taken on a guided tour of the RSN including our Embroidery Studio and current exhibition A Girl’s Education in Stitch.

Emma Doggart, Director of Strategy & External Relations at the Royal School of Needlework said: “Our Skill Swap Days celebrated the wisdom and knowledge of traditional crafts and the skilled hands that continue to shape our environment. However, they also proved to have an added more mindful benefit. Participants said that both the break from the norm and the sense of achievement when learning new skills really helped boost their mental health. In fact, it was so successful that we hope to run more next year.”

William Fuller at Fullers Builders said: “Have we got the materials ready? Are our tools to hand? How long have we got? We cannot possibly do this in that amount of time! – This may sound like a typical day in the building industry, but no, this is stitching! A warm welcome, plenty of encouragement and broad smiles throughout the day, not to mention the benefit of our new found skills. What fun, we didn’t even want to stop for lunch! The very most memorable of days spent at the Royal School of Needlework, when can we come back?!”

Fullers Builders specialise in the conservation, repair and restoration of buildings of historic interest. The company was established by Edward Fuller in 1872, the same year as the Royal School of Needlework, and continues to be managed by the Fuller family to this day.

Read more about Fullers Builders here.