Classes & workshops
If you'd like to learn Hardanger or another embroidery technique in a group or a one-on-one tutorial, or brush up your skills concentrating on fillings or speciality stitches, why not try a workshop, class, taster session or go for something bespoke?
Classes
Mabel Figworthy (or Ilke Cochrane, as the world at large knows her) occasionally teaches day classes and short courses at the Percival Guildhouse in Rugby, details of which will be posted here well in advance. Enrolment is handled by the Guildhouse, but you are very welcome to contact us for more information.
Goldwork embroidery with colour: Or nué, silk shading & fancy metals
6 weekly meetings on Thursdays, 1.30-3.30pm; starting 17th October 2024
Goldwork can be more than just gold, which is why it is often known as "metalwork embroidery" – and that is before you start adding non-metallic colour to it! In this course, to familiarise you with the metal threads and wires we'll start with a small sample project. Then we will look at two ways of adding colour: one is or nué (literally "clouded gold"), where a picture is created on a gold or silver background by varying the colour of the couching thread, the other combines silk shading or needlepainting with various metals.
Hoops and scissors can be borrowed for the duration of the course, but do bring your own if you have them; if you are likely to do more goldwork in the future you will need a sharp pair of scissors to use just for the metal threads (the tutor will have some available for £6.00). Although it is possible to do goldwork while holding the hoop in your hand, having a clamp of some sort does make it easier; from experience I recommend Siesta Frames' Sonata seat stand or Elbesee's versatile table clamp.
The kit with all the fabrics and materials needed for stitching the three designs will be available at the beginning of the course for £17.50, or £22.00 including finishing materials for the first two projects (brooch, small frame).
For more information download the course leaflet.
You can now enrol for this course at the Percival Guildhouse; the course number is 407.
3D Embroidery: A Christmas Wreath
2-hour workshop, 10am-12 noon, Monday 9th December
How can you achieve a 3D effect in your embroidery without using masses of extra materials like florist wire or padding? By using stitches with a lot of volume worked in chunky threads. We'll create a shaded Christmas wreath in heavy perle cotton, embellished with beads and a bow and mounted in a card. A full kit (all materials plus instructions) will be available at a cost of £5 payable to the tutor on the day.
You can now enrol for this workshop at the Percival Guildhouse; the course number is 701.
Click on the picture for a larger version
Taster Sessions
Ideal if you're a beginner or if you want to have a go at Hardanger, shisha, freestyle, goldwork or appliqué embroidery to see whether you like it, this is a 2-hour workshop in which you are taken through one project step by step: a coaster or needle book in Hardanger, or a card with a shisha flower, a freestyle Wildflower Garden or Little House, an embellished Butterfly Wreath, a tactile Christmas Wreath, sparkling goldwork Flowers & Bee, or a Steaming Mug in embroidered appliqué. You can choose which of them you'd like to tackle, but please note that if you come as a group, all participants will be doing the same one.
A full kit is included in the price; a 4" or 6" hoop and squissors or embroidery scissors are available to borrow for the workshop, and may be purchased to take home if you wish to continue with embroidery.
Taster Sessions for up to 6 people will take place at Mabel's home, larger groups will meet at Dunchurch Baptist Church.
| Price per person for a 2-hour session, including materials; please add £5 per person for the goldwork taster session | |
| 1-2 people | £30.00 |
| 3-4 people | £26.00 |
| 5-12 people | £22.00 |
Private workshops
Treat yourself (or encourage others to treat you) to an individual or group workshop in a relaxing, encouraging environment – Mabel's home. Sustained by coffee or tea and the occasional biscuit, you spend several hours learning new skills or brushing up on existing ones.
All workshops provide:
- Tuition tailored to your level of experience
- Projects that cover a variety of skills and techniques
- Plenty of opportunity to practice
- All materials and equipment needed for the workshop (hoop and/or scissors can be borrowed)
We offer workshops at three levels – Beginner, Improver and Experienced – which are flexible in length according to your preference. You can choose to have a lot of intensive tuition and practice in 2 hours, after which you work most of the projects at home; or to have 6 hours (morning and afternoon with a break for lunch) at a more leisurely pace, finishing most of the projects on the day with Mabel at hand to help when you need it; or anything in between. The standard workshops cover your chosen embroidery technique in general, but you can also request a personalised workshop which concentrates on a particular area such as Hardanger filling stitches and bars, or different types of padding in goldwork. Another option is to design a chart or pattern from scratch.
So how does it work?
Contact us by or telephone to decide on the level that is suitable for you, the type of embroidery, the length of the workshop, and available dates. If you are interested in a personalised workshop, please give us as much information as possible about the skills or activities you would like to include. We will then email you an outline of the workshop and a price; when you are happy with both, we'll send you a PayPal invoice. After that, all you need to do is turn up on the day, and enjoy your stitching treat!
Below are the prices per hour for one-on-one tuition and for groups; prices for material packs for personalised workshops on request. Please note that tea, coffee and biscuits are included in the price, but lunch is not. You are welcome to bring a picnic and have it at the house (or in the garden if the weather is good), or there are several places to have lunch in the village. If you would like to book a workshop for more than 6 people, please contact us to discuss the options.
| Tuition (per person per hour) | |
| 1 person | £17.50 |
| 2 people | £12.50 |
| 3-6 people | £10.00 |
Mabel's house is a non-smoking environment. It does, however, contain a pet: Lexi, our friendly Bengal cross. If for whatever reason you are uncomfortable having a cat around, do tell us – she is quite happy to spend a morning or afternoon out of doors!