Our graduates have stories to tell. Read through our Graduate Stories and discover how our courses have enabled them to begin new textiles careers, gain creative confidence and become more focused. Through these stories we aim to help prospective students decide what courses to study and demonstrate how they can benefit so many people.
Our graduates are shaping the world of textiles. They’re designers/makers who supply clients and stores in all corners of the globe, they’re authors for magazines and books, and business start-ups. Some even go on to work in TV/ theatre, teach or simply take pleasure in evolving their textile skills to a new level.
We are frequently asked about the direction that our students take after they have graduated from their courses at School of Stitched Textiles. So we ask our graduates to tell their stories.
We have combined their narratives with images of their work to showcase their very individual styles in our graduate stories publication. We hope their accounts inspire you to undertake a course yourself and see where it can take you.
Gillian Richardson’s journey into hand embroidery is one shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a lifelong pull towards creativity. Largely self-taught, and having faced early challenges in learning traditional sewing techniques, Gillian spent years exploring different artistic disciplines before textiles truly took hold. What began as an interest in felting gradually
Brooke Booth recently completed our Skill Stage 2 Hand Embroidery course and is continuing her studies with us at the School of Stitched Textiles. Like many learners, Brooke began with a passion for embroidery but felt limited by her knowledge of stitches and a reliance on pre-designed kits. She was
When Susanne de Beer enrolled on our Skill Stage 3, intermediate Machine Embroidery course, she was already an experienced sewer and quilter. What she was seeking was not simply a new technique, but deeper confidence, structured progression, guided creative freedom and a qualification that would carry weight beyond hobby learning.
There is a moment many makers recognise, when curiosity is there but confidence is not, when ideas begin but never quite reach the finish line. Lynne West came to us with years of creative exploration behind her and a long held desire to truly understand machine embroidery, not just how
For Cecilia, embroidery has always been part of her life. She grew up in Brazil surrounded by creativity, with a mother who encouraged making and a grandmother who worked intricate tambour embroidery into carnival costumes. From an early age, working with her hands felt natural, and embroidery in particular became
When Trinity Nevil enrolled on our Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 3 course, she arrived with curiosity, determination, and a quiet hunger for depth. Her experience of embroidery until that point had been largely self taught, shaped by cross stitch, basic surface techniques, and hours spent studying and emulating work she
Vanessa Rush didn’t set out to become a patchwork and quilting student. In fact, she wasn’t even looking for a course at all! She was looking for “something to fill a void” she’d only half-noticed in her busy life as a tax advisor. But one accidental click led her to
Lorraine Duff’s journey into hand embroidery didn’t begin with years of creative confidence. In fact, she often said she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. Yet during lockdown, while completely housebound and searching for connection, she picked up a needle and thread and discovered a new world of
Lyn White’s journey into patchwork and quilting proves that it is never too late to unlock your creative potential. Having retired a few years ago, Lyn wanted to upskill and explore her artistic and stitching capabilities. With just a basic skirt made at school and no formal art background, she
When Do Adams first discovered quilting in the mid-90s, she was immediately drawn to the creativity and calm it offered. Over the years, her passion for fabric and design grew from following patterns to developing her own distinctive style, inspired by artists such as Gloria Loughman and Ricky Tims. Yet
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