Take your love of embroidery to the next level with this intensive two day workshop where you will hand embroider a beautiful peacock portrait onto vintage fabric.  This workshop isn’t suitable for absolute beginners - you should be comfortable handling a needle and thread.

Over the two days you will be guided through a number of techniques, and will be able to choose from a selection of gorgeous vintage fabrics from my collection, for the background of your picture. 

We will start with design - choosing a peacock image from a selection which will include examples of my own work.  We will discuss composition, colour and shading, and stitch direction.  Going beyond standard techniques, we will also consider stitch “styles” and how you might develop your own, which may be very different to mine!  We will then move onto transferring the design onto vintage fabric, and hooping up, in preparation for stitching.  The main body of the workshop will be spent embroidering our beautiful peacock portraits.  I will demonstrate various stitches that you can use such as outline stitches (e.g. split back stitch, back stitch, stem stitch), silk shading (also known as thread painting), couching, and French knots.  I will demonstrate how to stitch an eye, a beak, and feathers…techniques that you can use to create all manner of birds going forward!  Due to the slow nature of hand embroidery, you won’t complete your peacock during the workshop, but by the end of the two days you will be confident enough in your skills to finish it in your own time.  During the workshop I will also demonstrate how to mount a finished peacock on the wooden stretcher frame provided, so that you can complete this final step at home, should you wish.

We will break for tea and biscuits (provided), and for lunch (please bring with you, or you can buy a takeout lunch from Savages café 2 mins walk away).

The workshop cost includes all materials.  You will be given a kit to use and keep (comprising an embroidery hoop, calico, vintage fabric, needles, embroidery threads, wooden stretcher frame).  Scissors and clamps (should you wish to use one) can be borrowed during the workshop.

Terms and Conditions:

If you would like to cancel your booking please notify me as soon as possible, and no later than two weeks before the workshop, for a full refund.  If you cancel less than two weeks before the workshop I will offer a refund if I am able to fill your place, but cannot guarantee this.  If I cancel the workshop I will offer a full refund.