In September, I took a trip to London, England to cat sit for a friend. While looking at things to do while there I came across the classes offered by the Royal School of Needlework. They were offering several different classes during my time there, but I decided to take the Bespoke Embroidery class in Bath. In the class we learned various stitches of white work based on the white work on a regency dress in the collection of the Fashion Museum in Bath. I thought this class more appropriate for the era I most study.
Based on white work on dress in front.
It also happened to be the Jane Austen festival at the same time. I was able to go out at lunch and visit the vendor market and found a pair of gloves. The class was held in the building with the Assembly Rooms, which were closed for a wedding. We were upstairs in a classroom with great views of the neighborhood. Bath is wonderful, I plan to spend more time there next time I am in the UK.
The first thing we were given a tour of the museum with the curator before it opened for visitors. Such a great collection!! Would love to have gotten even closer.
Queen Alexandra’s wedding dress, 1863
Identified as an 1860s croquet jacket. I see a Genteel Arts class with this one.
We then went to class. The class was presented by Deborah Wilding of Stitch & Co. She provided a wonderfully presented kit with fabric, threads, instruction book, marking pen, pattern and plastic awl.
The kit cost was in addition to the class cost. We were also loaned really cool hoops and embroidery scissors. I really loved the hoop; I need to find these over here; you sit on them leaving both hands free to stitch.
We first traced the pattern onto the fabric provided. The design goes in the corner of the handkerchief and we left enough fabric to trim and hem.
Here is the pattern completed by the instructor.
The vine is a stem stitch, the center dots, pedals and outside dots on the white example are padded satin stitch. The holes are embroidered around with a satin stitch. The outside dots on the yellow example are a collection of four French knots. Here are my attempts at the various stitches.
I have always hated French knots, but she provided a technique of sliding the knot down the needle after it is insert part way that made it much easier.
We were also taught a new and easier way to make a rolled hem using small stitches to basically roll the fabric over on itself to create the hem.
This was an amazing class in a wonderful location and a wonderful instructor. I would highly recommend one of these classes at Bath or Kensington if you ever get a chance.