This is the month we had originally planned to launch our new Day Class Programme for 2020/2021 on the RSN website, after months of quiet planning in the background. Tutors submitted their class proposals before Christmas and the department spent time finessing them into an exciting collection of new class kits and a smattering of old favourites. At that point, our biggest concern was Brexit and how it could potentially affect the RSN, but then Covid-19 came upon us which has resulted in a plethora of new challenges.

We now find ourselves in the tenth week of working from home, and in the midst of a new way of operating. We have embraced the concept of virtual teaching which has enabled our C&D students to carry on with personal guidance, whilst our Future Tutors have continued learning from home with their Tutors via Zoom. At the end of April we launched our first Online Day Class, teaching to our UK audience and then to North America which sold out so we repeated the class! Only two weeks ago, we launched our first Evening Class which, again, sold out and is being repeated.

Our world has become smaller and we can now teach anywhere in the world! We are all very excited about this breakthrough, which we know will become a bigger part of the RSN offering with a whole world of new opportunities opening up to us and to you. We are learning daily, and a completely new dictionary of terminology has joined forces with other more familiar words and phrases. This virtual journey is one we are all on together; it is an exciting one and, whilst we naturally long to return to the sanctuary and familiarity of the classroom, we know that when we do it will be in a very different way.

We have been planning and measuring for socially distancing in our classrooms so that we can welcome you safely back in the not too distant future. It will be different: there will be fewer students every day; we will ask you to bring your own water and a mug for coffee; although the tearoom will be out of bounds, you will still be able to enjoy a chat and a drink with your fellow students in your classroom. We are looking to put all possible measures in to place to ensure that we are all safe to return.

Online is here to stay so even if you are unable to fly over to the UK we can come to you virtually. Our offering will increase and, up to Christmas, the vast majority of Day Classes will be delivered online with only a small number of classes taking place in the classroom. We can also offer one-to-one Online Lessons to help you start, progress or finish a project. There will be more Evening Classes, as well as longer classes split over a number of weeks to enable you to stitch, draw and upskill to your hearts content. We have already added a second Silk Shaded & Needlewomen Picot Leaf Spray Evening Class to meet demand, a Raised Embroidery Flamingo as well as two Colour Theory classes timed for the UK and North America.

Above: Colour Theory in Practice, with Caroline Homfray — UK and North America

Above: Raised Embroidery Flamingo, with Amy Burt

Above: Silk Shading and Needlewoven Picot Leaf Spray, with Anita Harrison

Above: Kits for RSN Online Classes being packed and posted at Hampton Court.

Keep an eye on the RSN website , follow us on Instagram  and Facebook, over the coming weeks as we have more Online Classes waiting in the wings!

Embroidery is good for the body and soul and the Royal School of Needlework remains fully committed to delivering the best opportunities to get involved.