an embroidery school for all abilities and budgets.
Our newest addition to the London Embroidery School specialist equipment- The Wooden Bead Tray.
A great accompaniment for anyone working on a tambour or beading project, the 3 shallow sections keep you beads separate while making it easy to switch between them and pick up small items. The spool is especially useful as it allow you to keep pulling off the reel whilst working (great for tambourers) whilst the tray base is heavy enough to stay in place whilst pulling.
See it in action here.
Clarisa Cann @risa.loves.creativity
Want to know what you could really achieve? We are very proud to present just a few of the wonderful completed Introduction to Embroidery kits from our students.
Samantha Kain @samsewsslowly
Victoria Jones @th3creat3escap3
If this is what they could achieve with the online classes, there is no reason you couldn’t too.
Alexandra Goldstein @alexgoldsteinwrites
Wiktoria Godzik @wikagoldziktextiles
Use the link here to start your own stitching journey.
A new way to make your embroidery pieces useful and take them with you where you go. Transform them into a little clasp topped bag with the use of our new bag clasp product and accompanying bag pattern and instructions as shows in use here.
We have used the Goldwork Online Class Pear Design Piece to show you how it can look but you could use any piece or fabric of your choosing to make your bag from. Follow the instructions to make your own little bag and wait for the compliments on your embroidery to roll in.
The Fashion and Textile Museum presents us with a wonderful opportunity to explore the methods, rich meaning and modernisation of the fabric Chintz. This intricate, floral cotton simultaneously succeeds in familiarity and exoticness, captivating us with its technical craftsmanship and closely guarded history. The exhibition highlights the journey of the Chintz industry through generations, leading us to contemporary artists who make the most of its ancient techniques.
Originating in India, Chintz wasn’t brought over to Europe until the Seventeenth century when The Dutch East India Company traders introduced it to the Netherlands. It isn’t hard to see how the elite of Europe had their hearts captured by the alluring patterns of this new sensational silk-lustre fabric. The quality of cotton was coarser in Europe and so the cherished and practical Indian material hadn’t yet been equalled.
The processes behind the fabric were tricks of the trade well-hidden until the eighteenth century by the Indian artisans, creating mystery behind the magnificence. Their secret was understanding the cleverly exploited chemical reactions between metal salts and vegetable dyes. Learning about the processes of allowing the material to absorb the dyes and repeated steps of starching/bathing the cloth truly amazed me with its intricacies.
This child’s dress was a captivating piece in the exhibition. Traditional in shape, yet comprising more than 70 pieces of differing Chintz. In the 19th century poorer classes gave cotton a new lease of life as linings for blankets, bed capes and cloaks. An aspect of Chintz history our current industry could vitalize to aid more sustainability in textiles.
In our current times, Chintz is still maintaining its colours. Texteil Factorij, a team of contemporary artists, filmmakers and designers, travelled to India in 2017 to work alongside the artisans there. Combining both the ancient traditions of block printing with the latest modern techniques, their purpose was to breathe new life into its history; illustrating how it is still a source of inspiration.
The exhibition further displays the relationship between contemporary art and Chintz methods with the amazing artist Annie Phillips’s vivid works, using batik.
These pieces jump out at you when you walk through the gallery doors; a treat for your eyes! Phillips had studied this Ancient Egyptian style of wax-resist dyeing in Ghana and Indonesia. Her grasp of balancing hues links her work to the historical pieces on display, harmonious to the colourful block prints of the seventeenth century cottons, yet contrasting with her modern twists.
Alongside the time-consuming processes of Chintz, the cotton displays layers of exquisite plants from far away countries and comforting botanics that remind you of homely interiors, all keeping the viewers continuously captivated throughout the entire exhibition!
To visit this exhibition, head over to the British Fashion and Textile Museum website to book your tickets online! It is open until the 12th of September and prices vary from £11.50 for adults, £9.50 for students and children get in free. The museum is located on Bermondsey Street London, just around the corner from the Shard. Enjoy!
Words and Images by Ellen Anderton
With Father’s day falling on the 20th June this year, you still have a little time to work on adding a small personalisation to his gift with our Monogramming Online Classes.
What’s more, you could start working on a piece for him today as the monogramming online classes are delivered to you by email following your purchase so there’s no need to wait for a kit to come.
Here are a few ideas on items you might like to work on and make extra special for your Dad, this Father’s Day with the London Embroidery School.
Shirt Monogram
May is gone, summer has arrived and with it we have our new student of the month…@paws_and_thread
@Paws_and_thread has been furthering her already rich embroidery repetoir with our Beaded Coral Online Class and Kit
”Really enjoyed starting this beaded coral course with @londonembschool , best way to start the bank holiday!”
Silk shading on T-shirt (design by @trishburrembroidery)
Having a look through her instagram, you can see that the passion for embroidery is very much present we lovely silk shading works on show and a willingness to try out all the techniques. We’re delighted to be part of the mix and hope to see more from this promising embroiderer.
Do have a look at her instagram page to see for yourself. If you would like to be the next #studentofthemonth, use the hashtag #londonembroideryschool or tag us when sharing your photos from your London Embroidery School class or the things you have gone onto make following one of our classes.
Tambour Embroidery Learning (design by @ateliersaintclaire)
All Images courtesy of @paws_and_thread
