In this inspiring graduate story, Victoria Vinten shares her transformative journey through our Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 4 course. From dabbling in evening classes to curating work for public exhibitions, Victoria’s story is one of creative rediscovery, personal growth, and finding purpose through stitching.
Having reignited her passion for textiles when her child started school, Victoria soon realised basic classes weren’t satisfying her curiosity or ambition. Determined to take her skills to the next level, she joined our accredited programme and never looked back.
Discover how the course challenged Victoria to push creative boundaries, explore the global history of embroidery, and gain the confidence to present her work publicly. Learn how the business module helped her take practical steps towards exhibiting and eventually launching her own website.
If you’ve ever considered taking your embroidery further or are curious about what a City & Guilds accredited course involves, Victoria’s story will give you a real taste of what’s possible.
“I wanted to branch out and experiment with new techniques and really push myself, which I probably wouldn’t have done left to my own devices.”
Victoria Vinten
I did have some experience prior to this course. I completed the Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 3 course which gave me a great grounding in the basics of hand embroidery and an understanding of what was expected of me in the skill stage 4 course.
Prior to that, like a lot of people, I started with cross stitch at a young age, then life got in the way! When I had my child and they started school I started to dabble in textiles; embroidery, sewing, quilting and other textile crafts. I found I enjoyed hand embroidery the most and I enrolled on a couple of local evening classes. However, I found they didn’t really give me what I was after because they were quite basic. I had reached a level where I wanted to be a bit more challenged and learn new things. Through chatting to people on the courses I learnt about the School of Stitched Textiles, looked into them and liked what I saw.
Pushing the creative boundaries
When I finished the Skill Stage 3 course I wanted to continue learning more and expand my skills. The Skill Stage 4 course gave me the opportunity to do that.
I wanted to branch out and experiment with new techniques and really push myself which I probably wouldn’t have done left to my own devices. This course also allowed me to delve deeper into topics only touched upon in the Skill Stage 3 course, I learnt more about the history of embroidery and different styles from around the world. This added to my wunderlust and, no doubt, to the annoyance of my family after dragging them round various exhibitions on the pretense of doing something else!
Studying with SST
I wanted to choose an accredited course as I wanted a qualification at the end. I knew it would help me in the future with what I finally settle on doing. Because City & Guilds is a recognised qualification, I felt it gave a bit more of a solid background to my work and, I think, appears more professional.
Having already completed a course with SST I knew what I was letting myself in for! I knew that I could work at my own pace and for me this was a big plus. Once I get the bit between my teeth I can become a little bit obsessed with it all and just work on something all the time. Working remotely also meant that I could fit the course around my job which an “in person” course wouldn’t necessarily allow.
I think one of the most beneficial things I covered in the course – although it didn’t feel it at the time – was the business side. Exploring product design and exhibiting my work was really helpful. So much so I have submitted a piece of my work for a forthcoming local exhibition at one of the galleries I researched.
Next steps
At the moment I am taking a little break to catch up on things that I’d been putting off during my course! It won’t be long though before I pick up my needle and thread though as I can’t stop getting ideas for potential works. I’m also planning to finally hone my website and get that up and running properly.
Advice for new students
I would recommend the course to others but I do think you need to have a good grounding in hand embroidery before enrolling on the skill stage 4 course. It definitely assumes a certain level of knowledge. This level also involves a lot of research, which I like but maybe isn’t for everyone.
My main nuggets of advice to new students is to always read the modules closely and plan your time well especially if you have other commitments! The tutors are always on hand for advice but sometimes just re-reading the module notes answers your question! Most of all just enjoy the process, hand embroidery is a wonderful thing to do!
