Royal School of Needlework

RSN Degree Graduate Show, BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery

Date: Monday 13 June – Friday 17 June 

Time: 11.00 - 15.00

Location: RSN Degree Studios

The RSN delivers the only full time BA (Hons) Degree programme specialising in hand embroidery, and the three-year full time course is based at Hampton Court Palace, a very unique experience for the students. The course inspires students to develop their career in hand embroidery and to design and make contemporary textile work using their knowledge of hand embroidery practice.

During this week-long exhibition, visitors will view the final major projects of the 2022 degree graduates, across fashion, interiors and textile art. The graduates will be on hand to discuss their projects and to inspire the next generation of hand embroiderers.

Please contact [email protected] for further information.

RSN Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery and RSN Future Tutor Graduates’ Exhibition

Date: Monday 04 July – Friday 17 July

Time: 10.00 - 16.00

Location: RSN Embroidery Studios, next to the RSN Shop

The RSN’s Certificate & Diploma in Technical Hand Embroidery (C&D) is a flexible course to suit everyone’s stage in life, whether it is for a career or a hobby. The course is taught across the UK in Hampton Court Palace, Bristol, Rugby, Durham and Glasgow, and internationally in Japan and North America, as well as online, and students can start at any time during the academic year.

The RSN Future Tutors Programme (FTP) is specifically designed for those who want a career in teaching hand embroidery techniques. It is a three year full-time course based at Hampton Court Palace, which trains students in a wide variety of hand embroidery skills to the highest standard. Students learn teaching theory as well as gain practical and commercial experience in the RSN Embroidery Studio.

Please contact enquiries@royal-needlework.org.uk for further information.

A Girl’s Education in Stitch

Date: Tuesday 19 July 2022 – March, 2023

Time: 11.00 and 14.00

Location: RSN Embroidery Studios, next to the RSN Shop

In July 2022, the RSN will open its first onsite exhibition at Hampton Court Palace in three years, ‘A Girl’s Education in Stitch’. This exhibition will demonstrate the variety of work stitched by girls as part of their education and will feature fascinating objects from the RSN Collection and Archive.

In the early days of formal education, embroidery substituted for reading, writing and maths, for example map samplers on which girls learned writing and geography as well as embroidery. Moving through to the 1900s, dressmaking became part of the curriculum through miniature outfits from knickers to pinafores.

Objects on display will include notebooks from students as they learnt dressmaking and samplers, ranging from band samplers to map and darning samplers from the 18th and 19th centuries. From the 20th century, we will focus on the national needlework scheme and other ways in which children were taught to stitch along with examples of work from girls across the UK.

Tours are held in the RSN Embroidery Studios, which look on to the Palace East Front Gardens, for one week of every month (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), and bookings are through the RSN website. Visitors can attend a Guided Tour, a Talk & Tour or a Curators Tour.