In view of the gloomy news from all over the country about embroidery classes closing, I thought that members might like to hear about a new initiative by the City Lit, London.
For many years they have run day and evening classes for students of all abilities, under the direction of Caroline Bartlett, but last September a new course was launched for advanced embroiderers. Fifteen students were enrolled after interviews and I was lucky enough to be accepted.
The classes are held all day on Saturdays in blocks of lessons, four weeks on and four weeks off to give time for expanding on the work started in class. The aim is to encourage skills and confidence to enable students to develop their own work independently once the course is completed. It culminates in an exhibition.
We have a variety of excellent tutors, mainly Louise Baldwin and Rachel Gornall for design and inspiration and days with Heather Belcher (felt work) and Charlotte Hardy (drawing and printing. By the end of January we were planning our own projects and working on them, with individual tuition from the tutors, and in July a selection of all the work will be exhibited.
I am finding it quite hard work, but very interesting and stimulating, as one learns not only from the teachers but from the other students. It is fascinating to see how the subject for the year – Unfolding – can be interpreted in so many different ways.