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Design and Create Goldwork Embroidery - Improvers

Funding area Creative Arts (Level 1)
ONL/152143/Q/PF
Location:
Delivered online
Start date:
16/09/2025
End date:
14/10/2025
Level:
Level 1
Time:
12:30 - 15:30
Duration:
5 sessions
Course hours:
Course hours

Course hours are the total number of hours you'll spend being taught by your tutor. Self study time is not included within the course hours.

15 hours
Day of week:
TUE
Tutor:
Felicity Billing
Price: £147.00 Concessions
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Who can join this course

This course is aimed at those who have some experience of hand stitching or embroidery.
If you have no experience of hand stitching or embroidery then please consider our Entry level (Beginners) courses.

This is one of our Tailored learning Level 1 (Improvers) courses. Eligible learners may enrol onto Level 1 creative courses up to a maximum of 120 guided learning hours in total.

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Is this course for me

This course is suitable for all levels of stitch experience, although some experience of handstitching or embroidery is useful.
This course offers the perfect opportunity to get creative and explore the possibilities of goldwork stitch techniques, including couching with metal threads and cut work with metal purls.

Our creative courses aim to build confidence through learning, allowing students to express themselves, think critically, and collaborate with their peers. By empowering our students to become confident, imaginative, and adaptable learners, we aim to develop students' curiosity, resilience, and adaptability, preparing them for future challenges, opportunities, and personal development.

Course aims

By the end of the course you should be able to:

* Demonstrate couching stitch with different thickness of thread
* Demonstrate cut work in a sample
* Create a sampler including your own stitch experiments
* Outline a design to use for your own project using the techniques learnt
* Explain the health and safety considerations for the tools and resources you have used

You will also be asked to think of Personal Aims to individualise your learning experience, as well as another benefits the course may have.

What will I need for my course

For the first lesson you will need:
A basic sewing kit to include embroidery needles, a threader, pins, embroidery scissors
A notepad or paper and a pen to make notes

Please gather as many of the following materials as you have available. If you need to purchase any items specially, then please discuss this with your tutor during the first session.

Shiny seed Beads of your choice
7” Embroidery hoop
20” x 10” rectangle of linen or calico or other similar stable plain fabric
size 10 embroidery needles or similar
Gattermann’s machine thread - Gold 488 & Silver 08
Velvet board - for cutting and catching purls - Tip: cotton velvet double sided taped on a lipped plastic lid works well!
White Tissue paper

Optional:
Beeswax for coating machine threads
Embroidery stand,
45cm x gilt bright check purl No 6
45cm x silver bright check purl No 6
45cm x copper bright check purl No 6
45cm x gilt wire check purl No 6
45cm x silver wire check No 6
45cm x copper wire check No 6
45cm x gilt smooth purl No 6
45cm x silver smooth purl No 6
45cm x copper smooth purl No 6

What can I do next

Your tutor will advise you on follow-on courses relevant to their subject.
You can attend further Improvers courses which will cover additional skills at an Improvers’ level and use those you have already learned in different ways to help perfect them or progress to Vocational or Accredited courses, where offered.

Additional Information

From 1st August 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) require that learners attending this course must identify their primary purpose for learning. This course is not available for learners whose main aim is to learn a hobby, or for leisure/pleasure.

To get the most out of your course we recommend you attend at least 85% of your sessions. If you do have a pre-arranged commitments booked during term time, please let the tutor know in advance so that we can help you catch up on missed sessions and ensure that you still achieve the course outcome.

For Health & Safety, please do not wear open toed shoes.

It is important to note that art and craft courses are practical and require a degree of manual dexterity. Also, please make your tutor aware of any pre-existing health conditions that may impact on your learning.
If you need to bring a carer with you, or another adult please speak to the Curriculum Leader for the course.

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Joining your course

Delivered online

Click here for more details.

If you require any information about joining this online course then please call 03000 41 22 22 and quote the Course Code ONL/152143/Q/PF.