LEARNING SOMETHING NEW

One of my main precepts has always been that we get old when we stop wanting to learn new things. Recently I decided that I wanted to spread my wings from an embroidery point of view, and learn some new techniques. I started off fairly small, with a workshop at our Yorkshire and Humber Embroiderers Group Summer School. I did a class on Opus Anglicanum, taught by Tanya Bentham. I had tried a bit of OA before, but it was good to get the ‘proper’ way of doing things. Great fun! Tanya is a very good tutor with a quirky sense of humour. 

The class was reassuring, in that as well as techniques, I learned that my close-up stitching hadn’t been affected by an operation for a cataract in my left eye. I could still stitch quite small, which helped, ‘cos I still had the op for the other eye to go at the end of the month! We had a great time at the class, and indeed the whole weekend, despite fairly grotty weather (where did the summer get to this year? Not to East Yorkshire, at any rate!) I’m afraid I still have work to do on Tanya’s piece, things have got in the way of finishing it, but I will, I promise! 

The summer school really restarted my mojo, and the second eye op went well, so I went slightly mad (or perhaps madder). I was thinking how much I’d enjoyed the class with Tanya, and that I would like to try some more. I’m also very much a traditionalist, and had a thought that coming out of my comfort zone would do me good. Then I discovered the embroidery courses at Hand and Lock in London. They are one of the oldest firms in London, established in 1767, and specialise in bespoke embroidery, both hand and machine work. They have recently started a School teaching embroidery. They do classes in London, but also online. (I’m not being paid here, honest!) 

So, after some dithering, I signed up for an online course on Contemporary Couture Embroidery, running over 6 weeks. It’s been fab! We meet by Zoom on Monday evenings, learning stitches, chatting, and sending photos of what we are stitching via a WhatsApp group. The students are literally all over the world. USA, Netherlands, UK, Australia, New Zealand. Some of them are doing the class at 3 in the morning! I’ve been learning new tricks for stitching, even some stitches I’ve never done before. The design is lovely, and has lots of glittery bits and shiny stuff! We’re making good progress: this is week 4, and it’s coming together very well. 

It’s a symmetrical design, in quarters, so we are mainly focussed on the top right section. I’ve tried to keep up with the other three quarters as well, but not completely, so there will still be work to do in a couple of weeks after the class finishes. But I definitely won’t be leaving it in the heap of workshop UFOs, because it’s lovely, and I already have ideas about framing it in a shadow box in some way. I’ll keep you posted! 

Even better, Hand and Lock have set up a Diploma in Hand Embroidery. Everyone in the WhatsApp group has been buzzing about it since the Couture Embroidery course started. There are 5 modules for the complete Diploma, each one 10 weeks of online classes, then time to finish your project to complete the class. The Diploma launched at the beginning of September for the modules running next year – and the classes for 2025 are already full! I don’t think they realised how popular the Diploma would be. I’ve signed up for Embroidery for Jewellery and Wearable Art, running in the Spring, and Embroidery for Haute Couture in September.  We’re all buzzing on WhatsApp about it, and we can’t wait to start! 

I’ll be posting about progress once we start in February, but l’m already thinking about it. The theme for the Jewellery module is William Morris, so I’ll be collecting Arts &Crafts pics and such, and I’m going to the William De Morgan Exhibition at Blackwell in the Lake District on my way home from holiday in Galloway soon! Whhheeee! One thing that I’m very pleased about is the design elements to the modules. I’ve never had any formal teaching about design, so that will be a great help. 

By the way, if you are into Arts &Crafts, you really should visit Blackwell, near Ambleside. It’s the most beautiful A&C house, built around 1900, with stunning views, and lovely décor. They usually have an exhibition on, art, ceramics, whatever, and the café is also excellent! The William De Morgan exhibition is on till October. I’m glad to have an excuse to visit, not that I really need one! 

So I’m going to be learning a lot about contemporary embroidery over the next couple of years, as I am aiming to do the full Diploma if I can, with luck by the end of 2026. It must do me good to break away from my traditionalist mindset, I hope. Watch this space, dear readers, I’ll keep you posted! 

Links:

Blackwell Arts and Crafts House: https://lakelandarts.org.uk/blackwell/

Hand & Lock Embroidery School: https://www.handembroideryshop.com/pages/school  Other courses still have places!