For Laurel Roberts, embroidery began as a way to find calm after years of working in a demanding and stressful role. What started with a simple kit quickly grew into a passion for colour, texture and the meditative rhythm of hand stitching. Newly retired, Laurel was ready to dedicate time to her creativity. However, she wanted to achieve more than just simply following existing patterns. She longed to design her own work, explore traditional techniques and discover her own voice as a stitcher.
Her search for structure and inspiration led her to the School of Stitched Textiles. Laurel explains how our City & Guilds accredited Hand Embroidery Stage 2 course has helped her. How it’s given her the freedom to study at her own pace, while introducing her to new techniques like Hardanger and blackwork. She also talks about developing her skills and confidence to design her own pieces, supported every step of the way by expert tuition.
Laurel’s story shows how transformative structured learning can be, helping crafters not only improve their technical ability but also uncover a deeper creative confidence. Today she is developing her own unique designs, with plans to continue onto Stage 3 to build on everything she has learned.
Read on to discover Laurel’s inspiring journey and take a look at her beautiful embroidery.
Laurel Roberts
“I would definitely recommend this course for people who want to learn more about embroidery, try different techniques and find their own voice but don’t know where to start.”
Finding Calm Through Creativity
I have always been a crafter. Both my mother and grandmother, who was a dressmaker, taught me to sew, and from an early age I was making myself outfits to go to the disco.
Over the years I have practised many crafts from knitting and straw work to stained glass, but cross stitch was the only type of embroidery I had tried. Then just as I was about to retire, I saw an embroidery kit I liked and decided to give it a go. I had a responsible and stressful job and felt completely burnt out and I thought that the slow meditativeness of hand sewing with lovely colours may help to counteract the stress I was feeling at the time. I fell in love with it straight away and wanted to learn more.
Motivation for Studying
Now, newly retired, I had the time and space to do something just for myself and I decided I wanted to learn as much as I could about embroidery. I was learning just how broad a subject embroidery is, with a wide variety of techniques, many of which are routed in history (another fascination of mine) I decided I didn’t just want to do other people’s designs as lovely as they were, I want to be able to make my own designs, but wasn’t sure where to start.
I chose the course with the School of Stitched Textiles because it had a module in design and was structured in a way which would I thought would help me learn about design whilst trying different techniques, such as Hardanger and black work, which I don’t think I would have done otherwise. I liked the idea of the course being accredited but I didn’t want to be tied to attending classes, the School of Stitched Textiles course gave me the freedom to work at my own pace wherever I am, with the support of an experienced tutor if I needed it.
What I Learnt
I found the course gave a logical structure to my sewing and learning which I enjoyed, as well as teaching me to consider colour and texture whilst developing my own designs. I struggle quite a bit with abstract design and my tutor Sam was very helpful with advice and guidance, coming back to me quickly with answers to my questions.
Since I finished the course I have been working to develop my own designs to stitch, especially for a project about my family. I also hope to go onto Stage 3 Hand Embroidery with the School of Stitched Textiles in November to build on the skills and knowledge I gained from Stage 2.
I would definitely recommend this course for people who want to learn more about embroidery, try different techniques and find their own voice but don’t know where to start.
My advice to new students would be to go for it, you’ll learn a lot which will surprise you about yourself. Make good use of the advice and support the School for Stitched Textiles gives and enjoy your stitching.
