The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) and SewandSo has announced its partnership for a June launch of www.rsnonlinecourses.com, a new online education platform for embroidery tuition. The site will launch with two initial courses – Introduction to Jacobean Crewelwork and Introduction to Blackwork, taught by RSN Tutors Deborah Wilding and Helen McCook respectively.
A further five courses will launch throughout 2018. The course programme uses market-leading online learning technologies with video instruction, step-by-step written and photographic guides, the ability to interact with other students on each course, to ask questions and share individual progress. Each course includes an exclusive kit of materials so that students can follow each lesson at home and create a beautiful piece of embroidery.
The Royal School of Needlework was founded in 1872, and is the international centre of excellence in hand embroidery. While the RSN offers more than 150 in-person short courses at different venues around the world, this new step into online learning will allow an even wider global audience to enjoy the art of hand embroidery. Dr Susan Kay-Williams, Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework said: “Our objectives are to preserve the traditional techniques of hand embroidery and encourage new participants so that these skills continue for future generations. The online distance learning programme brings the expert tuition of the RSN to many more people around the world and represents a fantastic new chapter for us.”
SewandSo has established itself as a market leader in the needlecraft category. “We see growth in hand embroidery with techniques increasingly being used traditionally and in fashion, film and TV productions. We’re delighted to be bringing together the training expertise of the Royal School of Needlework with our online, ecommerce and customer service focus at SewandSo,” said Managing Director of SewandSo, James Woollam.
