Textiles: creative machine embroidery
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
This course has now started
- Course Code: VX555
- Dates: 09/04/24 - 28/05/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Renata Minoldo
Course Code: VX555
Duration: 8 sessions (over 8 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
Exploring, experimenting and developing machine embroidered work.
This course is very practical. We will explore a variety of ways of using the sewing machine for creative embroidery, developing up a collection of samples and design ideas around a theme. You will use a variety of materials from paper to water dissolvable fabric. To keep the ideas flowing we will look at some contemporary embroidery and its application.
What will we cover?
You will be shown how to use the sewing machine for free embroidery and we will use that method, with traditional machine stitching, in a variety of ways to create interesting stitched work. You will explore a visual theme to help develop interesting imagery and surface design. You will be shown ways of interpreting your designs in a variety of ways including appliqué, using water soluble fabric, using thick and thin threads and couching threads to the surface. We will work with both fabric and paper and other media if you choose to. Your work could lead to textile art projects or applied to more practical ideas in soft furnishings of fashion.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
All students will be able to:
- Use the sewing machine for creative free machine embroidery
- Use water-soluble fabric to create lacy surfaces or patterns
- Use a sketchbook or sheets to research and develop design ideas from a theme
- Work with a variety of thread types on the machine
- Use simple appliqué techniques
- How some understanding of contemporary embroidery
Intermediate students will be able to :
• Combine techniques to create expressive embroidery
• Extend design challenges to make them more personal.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is for beginners or intermediate students that want to extend their embroidery and design skills within a structured course.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with practical demonstrations to the group and individual help where needed.
Hand outs will be provided where useful. Samples of stitching and design work will be shown and further supported with a variety of books and PowerPoint shows. There will be some informal group discussions and feed back will be given both individually and within the group.
There will be suggestions for some homework that will help the projects move on. This will include things like collecting images from magazines, looking up certain textiles on the internet or magazines or short design challenges.
Students may enjoy working in their sketch book outside of the classroom to enrich their sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Access to basic resources and materials will be available as part of the course.
Please make sure that you have some scraps of fabric or beads. You will also need a sketchbook.
Your tutor will advise you on further materials during the course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can further develop your skills and interest in design through a range of textile courses at the City Lit such as 3D design, illustrative textiles, or explore surface design techniques using the Laser cutter or 3D printer.
Experienced students may wish to apply for the go on to City Lit advanced textiles course. Details on how to apply will be shared soon.
Please browse the website for all other upcoming courses.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 12:00 – 14:00 the 16:00 – 18:00.
Renata Minoldo is an artist and educator exploring the physical and emotional body through textiles, sculpture and experiences with people. She has an academic training in Fashion and Visual Arts and hands on experience in the Fashion Industry working in London and New York. She is interested in alternative ways to approaching art education, aiming to stimulate an intuitive learning and focusing on the individual processes and needs. She works with a wide variety of people, from children in galleries and primary schools to teenagers and older adults in community centres, charities and public spaces. Her work has been awarded with residencies internationally. https://www.renataminoldo.com/
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.