If you’d like to see what some of the most gifted new embroiderers in the country can do, then take a trip to see the Royal School of Needlework’s Foundation Degree Show at the end of May.

The RSN degree in hand embroidery is a unique course focusing on traditional hand stitching skills. The course runs over two years and covers core techniques such as canvas work, blackwork, crewel, silk work, gold work and white work as well as kit design.

The emphasis is on work-based learning, with students preparing for a chosen career in the needlecraft industries. The senior tutors James Hunting and Nicola Jarvis help their students to find work places in a range of commercial and industrial environments, ensuring that the graduates are at the top of their class when it comes to the stitching industry. During their course, students may find themselves working anywhere from a fashion designer’s studio to an outreach centre for Fine Cell Work, the organisation which teaches stitching skills to prisoners.

Coats Crafts has supported the Royal School of Needlework this year by donating a range of Anchor threads to the students for their hand embroidery. Over the last term, Anchor Stranded Cotton, Pearl Cotton and Coton a Broder embroidery threads have been explored and used for an investigation of blackwork and white work techniques. You can see some stunning examples above.

The RSN will be celebrating their first ever Graduate Show with an exhibition of students’ work at the end of May.

If you’re interested in learning how to embroider, and you’d like to learn from the professionals, the Royal School of Needlework runs courses for all skill levels. Follow the next link if you want to find out more about Royal School of Needlework workshops.