Textiles: illustrative embroidery
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Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 25 Jun 2025End Date: 30 Jul 2025Wed (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00In PersonFull fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £181.00
- Start Date: 24 Jun 2026End Date: 29 Jul 2026Wed (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00In PersonFull fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £175.00
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What is the course about?
On this course you will develop your embroidery skills. You will learn a range of hand embroidery stitches and how these stitches can be used to design a piece. You will also learn machine embroidery, using your sewing machine as a drawing tool and experimenting with different techniques, threads and surfaces. Students will experiment with design ideas and will learn how to transfer designs to cloth. Some appliquéd fabrics using bondaweb will be added to the mix to create a range of samples. Both garment embellishment and textile design will be explored.
What will we cover?
Hand embroidery, Machine embroidery, appliqué, drawing, design elements and composition.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
Create your own design for embroidery.
Use a variety of hand embroidery stitches, including filling in stitches, couching and outline stitches.
Use the sewing machine for free machine embroidery.
Transfer a design onto cloth.
Use bondaweb to attach fabric to a background.
Consider designs for both garments and textiles.
Develop a range of samples.
Create an embellished garment or textile piece.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a beginners course for learners with little experience in embroidery.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and 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?
Through practical demonstrations and 1-2-1 support. Group discussions and feedback are encouraged. You do not need to do any work outside the class, but you may want to work on ideas and practice your embroidery skills. You may also want to try what you have learned on your own sewing machine.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Access to basic resources and materials are available as part of the course.
You may wish to bring a notebook or folder to store any handouts, or samples.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We run a range of embroidery and stitch courses that also includes quilting, experimental hand stitch and Japanese mending techniques.
Please browse the website for 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.
Rosie James is a Textile Artist living and working in Kent, UK. She has a BA Hons Textiles degree from Surrey Institute of Art and Design and an MA in Textiles from Goldsmith College London. Rosie started off with a small business making dyed and screen printed fabrics, scarves, ties, cushions etc, but once she discovered that she could use the sewing machine to draw with, she found herself doing less printing and more stitching. She began creating larger and more one off pieces and brought back her screen printing skills to mix up stitch and print in large-scale illustrative pieces. People and crowds became her focus and particularly specific groups in particular places, such as art galleries or tourist spots. She gets in amongst them with her camera and then translates these photos into drawings and then stitches them using an old Bernina and black thread. Rosie has exhibited her work all over the world and has large-scale pieces in hotels and museums in the UK and the USA. Rosie has published a book called “Stitch Draw” which illustrates and demonstrates her techniques.
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.