Join us for this creative course in collaboration with the Royal School of Needlework, inspired by our current exhibition, The Edwardians: Age of Elegance at the King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

Your day will begin with a curator-led highlights tour of The Edwardians: Age of Elegance. Then, RSN Tutor, Natalie Rowe will teach you how to stitch this stunning motif. Influenced by the Adelaide School of Design’s embroidered silk portière depicting a variety of Australian flora, this design draws on the central motif of a stylised eucalyptus tree and its intertwined branches laden with vibrantly coloured flowers.

This class provides an introduction to long and short stitch, which is used to shade the leaves and flowers of the eucalyptus tree. The design also covers other surface stitches, including split stitch, laid work and chain stitch. Natalie will also teach techniques to achieve subtle shading and gradual colour changes and repetition of design elements will provide plenty of opportunities to practise and perfect these techniques.

The motif is stitched on a pale-blue cotton, in a palette of pink and green stranded cottons and silk threads. These threads provide an additional sheen to the finished embroidery, honouring the materials of the portière.

Important Information

This class is suitable for all levels. All the stitches and techniques will be covered by the tuition and your kit will include a detailed instruction booklet to enable you to complete the design after the class.

You may like to bring your own battery operated magnifiers but please do not bring scissors as you will be able to borrow ring frames and scissors on the day.

Tea/coffee will be provided during a short break in the morning. Please bring a packed lunch and any drinks you may require during the day. We will have a lunch break at approximately 1pm-1.30pm.