Course name: Goldwork 1

Tutor name: Gill Riordan

Level: complete beginners

Full kit available, choice of colour, gold on blue/purple GP, gold on turquoisemix GT, gold on purple/red GR cost £19.50, other requirements are scissors, a 6in embroidery hoop and tacking thread.

What you will learn: In this course you will learn to identify some specialist goldwork threads and the ways in which they are used. You will explore felt padding and use fine leathers. You will work some small stitch samples to master basic couching and padding before following a simple design to produce a panel on silk noil. There is a pack available in purple, dark pinks or blue. This includes all the threads, silk noil, needles and beeswax that you will need. If you do not need this because of your personal stash, then this is probably not the right course for you. Please wait for the traditional and modern goldwork project courses to be launched later.

GOLDWORK 1 KIT CONTENTS

Beeswax Guttermann 488 100% polyester Needles…..1x chenille 18, 2x embroidery size 10, 1x beading

Gold beads size 15, approx. 60+ Yellow felt 3in square Gold kid 2in square No 1 gilt purl 0.5m

No 13 Imitation Japanese gold 1m T72 gold 3m Rococo gilt fine 1m, silk noil, backing fabric.

Course name: Whitework 1

Tutor name: Judith Symonds

Level: complete beginners

Kit available: Cost £11 other requirements are scissors, a 8in embroidery hoop or slate frame.

What you will learn: In this course you will learn to use two weights of thread to form a variety of whitework stitches.. You will work some small stitch samples to master techniques before following a simple design to produce a panel on linen. Whitework stitches are geometric worked over an even number of threads vertically or horizontally. This is a beginners course, other traditional and modern project courses will be launched later.

WHITEWORK KIT CONTENTS

45X30CM Dublin 100% linen 25 threads per inch, coton a broder 20 and 25, 2 tapestry needles size 24.

Course name: Fabric dyeing

Tutor name: Jane Gamble

Level: Complete Beginners

Full kit of chemicals available, other requirements are 2 cat litter trays and various kitchen supplies.

The object of this course is to learn the basic techniques of fabric dyeing using the plastic bag method.

You will be dyeing both cotton and silk fabrics and will see the way these fabrics react differently to the dyes.

You will be using dyes in three primary colours, yellow, red and blue, and will see how different colours and shades can be obtained from these three colours.

At the end of the course you will have squares of material in a range of colours and shades, together with a notebook showing swatches of the various colours obtained and also the recipes for obtaining these colours, so that you will be able to repeat them when required.

Fabric dyeing kit £19 including postage.

Course name: Working with moulding paste

Tutor name: Jan Lovell

Level: all

What you will learn: In this course you will learn how make a simple cut out stencil which you will use with Gesso and Moulding paste to give a different dimension to your work. You will use the stencil on natural fabrics and synthetic fabrics that can be burnt back with a heat gun. The stencil will be of your own design to be incorporated into your own work. At the end of the technique you will see different ways this technique has been used to good effect.

No kit available

Sewing machine preferable

Main requirements are gesso and moulding paste

Tutor: Sheila Ford

Level: ability to free machine

Equipment required: Sewing machine (able to lower or cover feed dogs) with an embroidery or darning foot; Iron; Heat gun .organza and sweetie wrappers + kit or supply yourself.

What you will learn: During this course you will look at the beautiful patterns and colours in the artwork of Gustav Klimt. Using these as a design source you will free machine stitch a sampler on velvet and organza. You will learn how to use transfer foils and metallic sweet wrappers to add highlights, and how to burn back the organza to reveal your design.

Equipment required: Sewing machine (able to lower or cover feed dogs) with an embroidery or darning foot; Iron; Heat gun .organza and sweetie wrappers + kit or supply yourself.

Kit available at extra cost: Cotton velvet; transfer foils; iron-on Vilene; Bondaweb £8; (does not include) metallic papers or organza.

Tutor: Sue Munday

Level:

DURING THIS COURSE YOU WILL USE TRANSFER CRAYONS AND STITCH TO CREATE TEXTURE IN A GLORIOUS LITTLE BAG USING HYDRANGEA PETALS AS DECORATION.

Materials required: a range of hand threads, transfer crayons, embroidery hoop, organza, pelmet Vilene, Bondaweb and lining + ruler, cutting board, iron and board.

Course name: Sea Holly

Tutor: Delia Cecil

Level: ability to free machine

In this course you will learn how to make a 3D flower on a covered wire stem,you will be doing free machine stitching, working with your sewing machine, using lutrador, a hoop and a hot gun.

WHAT YOU NEED

Sewing machine with the facility for putting feed dogs down. Darning foot 8” 20cm embroidery hoop Hot gun [not a hairdryer] Soldering iron[only if you have one] Metallic or rayon thread, [thread that will not burn when you use the hot gun] 90 or metallic sewing machine needle Black marker pen or pencil Fine 0.2mm copper wire [I like the colour gunmetal] available from the scientific wire company White lutrador ,medium or light weight 1 or 1.5mm wire for stems about 13” long,strong enough to stand without bending,bear in mind the Flower head is not very heavy,I get off cuts from my electrician, or available from scientific wire co. Old flesh coloured tights,stockings or pop socks ,thread to match Piece of cotton to fit hoop for teasel Brown coloured thread for teasel.