When Mera Wagoner first threaded a needle under the guidance of her great-grandmother, she had no idea that those early stitches would one day lead her to a transformative creative journey. Having dabbled in sewing as a child, Mera later explored other art forms; drawing, painting, even animation. But the call of fibre crafts eventually drew her back. Fuelled by a desire to learn, grow, and truly master the textile arts, she discovered the School of Stitched Textiles and enrolled on our Accredited Beginner’s Textiles course Skill Stage 2 course.
Inspired by the extraordinary work of our graduates, Mera was determined to gain the foundational knowledge needed to bring her own creative visions to life. Through hands-on practice, trial and error, and expert guidance, she learned not only the technical skills of patchwork and appliqué but also how to confidently handle materials and develop her own stitched designs.
Now continuing her journey with Skill Stage 3, Mera is more motivated than ever. The goal is to turn her ideas into tactile, expressive works of art. Her story is a glowing example of how our courses don’t just teach technique, but ignite passion, build confidence, and open up exciting new creative paths. Read on to discover how Mera’s stitch journey unfolded and where it’s taking her next.
Mera Wagoner
“When I first discovered the School of Stitched Textile I saw some of the graduate’s work on the school’s website and was blown away by pieces of art I never even considered possible. I then knew I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about textile art, and that this School of Stitched Textiles would be a fantastic place to start.”
Childhood Curiosity
When I was little I my great-grandmother gave me my first sewing lesson and taught me how to use a sewing machine. I sewed a good bit when I was little, making amateur pillows, skirts, and stuffed animals. As I grew up I started to put aside sewing in favor other crafts such as; drawing, painting, and occasionally frame-by-frame animation.
After graduating high school I wanted to get back into fibre crafts and started by taking up crochet and eventually joining a Crocheting for Charity group. Just prior to discovering the School of Stitched Textiles I was attempting to teach myself embroidery.
Motivation For Studying
When I first discovered the School of Stitched Textile I saw some of the graduate’s work on the school’s website and was blown away by pieces of art I never even considered possible. I then knew I wanted to learn everything I possibly could about textile art, and that this School of Stitched Textiles would be a fantastic place to start.
I knew if I wanted to achieve a thorough education I would need to start with the accredited courses. At the time of selecting my course I thought myself more experienced than a beginner, but not quite qualified for one of the Master Practitioner courses. I thought that by pursuing the textile course I could learn most of the general skills required for textile art.
I was introduced to The School of Stitched Textiles by a family member who discovered the classes and promptly introduced me to the school. At the time I was trying to find something I wanted to learn or pursue, and after discovering the school and the work of it’s students, I knew that I wanted to be able to create something half as beautiful as the work presented to me.
Developing Textile Artistry
The most useful skill I gained was probably familiarity with the materials. By trial and error throughout the course I learned to properly handle different kinds of fabric, to control the tension of my threads and fabrics, and to keep my seams relatively straight and aligned (I still have yet to master perfect seams). Learning how to properly control all your materials I think is one of the most important skills one needs when crafting anything.
I’m currently enrolled in the next skillset of the accredited textile course; Skill Stage 3. What I learned on this course was enough to teach me the fundamentals of textile art and of the creation process, but I want to explore everything the Textile Course has to offer. I hope that by the time I complete my next course that I will have attained the skills to fully actualize my ideas into fabric and fibre.
Advice to New Students
The Skill Stage 2 Textiles course teaches the student the basic fundamentals of patchwork, different stitches and their uses, types of appliqué; the applying of fabrics and or fibres, and textile design. I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn the fundamentals of quilting and appliqué, however if you’re more interested in other aspects of textile art, such as crochet, stump work, or felt making, then I would recommend one of the other courses the school offers.
Try not to get overwhelmed with the coursework, at first glance some instructions can read as complicated or confusing, but everything is quite simple once you get a good grasp on it. Be sure to keep in touch with your tutor, either when you want advice for creating your designs or when you have questions about the coursework and want some clarification of the instructions. At last, above all else, be sure to keep your seams straight.
