This course is for you if…
You’ve been creative for most of your life but have never formally studied your craft. You fit study around a full-time job, a family, or both. You want more than a hobby, you want real progression and a qualification that means something. You’re ready to be challenged, to develop your own creative voice, and to produce work you’re genuinely proud of. And you want to do it without having to relocate, attend fixed classes, or fit someone else’s schedule.
Most of our US students are women in their 40s and 60s, returning to creativity after years of putting it last. Some are complete beginners. Others have years of informal experience and want to formalise it. All of them find that the structure of a City & Guilds accredited course gives their creativity the framework it’s been waiting for.
If you haven’t come across City & Guilds before, you’re not alone. It’s a UK-based awarding body with over 140 years of history, and one of the most respected names in structured, skills-based education in the world. City & Guilds has international offices in the United States and its qualifications are recognised globally.
What this means for you as a student is straightforward: your qualification isn’t just a certificate. It’s a structured, assessed, quality-assured credential that demonstrates genuine creative and technical development. It carries real weight, whether your goal is professional, personal, or somewhere in between.
Because our courses are accredited by the professional body City and Guilds, they go through a strict validation process to ensure courses, materials, teaching and assessments meet the highest levels of quality.
Working toward something can be a great motivator. Many of our students report that the structure of the course kept them motivated as well as focused. Students can fit studies around other commitments because they are split into separate, manageable modules.
We’ve created courses that develop independent creative thinking. Instead of buying patterns or following tutorials, our courses give you the tools and knowledge required to create and develop your very own designs.
Our courses are taught by highly skilled leading textile tutors . Our tutors make it their sole aim to impart knowledge and facilitate creative success. Plus, they’ve all completed professional qualifications and degrees.
The aim of our group discussions and forums is to get students thinking about how they can do things better and develop ideas. This not only gets them thinking outside the box, it gives them the ability to self evaluate and develop their own diverse range of work.
Completing an accredited courses really empowers graduates to take the next step. Accredited courses not only give students the knowledge and skills they require, but also a huge confidence boost and belief in their own abilities. Many go on to pursue dream jobs or use their skills to develop their hobby further.
We offer 8 different textile subjects which are each divided into different skill stages (2-4). Our skill stage 2 courses are ideal for beginners while our Skill Stage 4 courses are perfect for advanced practitioners. These are delivered as part-time, distance learning courses with full support from a personal tutor.
Knitting
Skill Stages: 2, 3 and 4
Experience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Crochet
Skill Stages: 2 and 3
Experience: Beginner and Intermediate
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Patchwork & Quilting
Skill Stages: 2, 3 and 4
Experience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Hand Embroidery
Skill Stages: 2, 3 and 4
Experience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Machine Embroidery
Skill Stages: 2, 3 and 4
Experience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Textiles
Skill Stages: 2 and 3
Experience: Beginner and Intermediate
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Felt Making
Skill Stages: 2, 3 and 4
Experience: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Duration: Up to 1-2 years
Studying with us from the United States is simpler than you might think.
Everything is delivered digitally. There are no fixed class times, no requirement to match UK time zones, and no physical materials posted to you. You access your modules online, work at a pace that suits your life, and submit your work for personal tutor feedback. Most students study around four to six hours per week, fitting their course around work, family, and everything else.
Group support sessions are held at varying times and days to accommodate international students, and your tutor is available by email throughout your studies.
As soon as your place is confirmed, you can begin.
Holly joined us as a City & Guilds student and progressed all the way through to our Master Practitioner programme. In her Textile Talk podcast episode, she shares what that journey looked like, from her first course to building a body of work she could exhibit and sell.
“Before enrolling, I hadn’t come across City & Guilds before, but I quickly realised how structured and supportive the course was. It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done.” — Holly Jackson, USA
On enrolment day head to our enrolment portal. The ability to enrol onto courses will remain closed until 10am your local time. Once it opens you will be able to view or book directly onto your chosen courses. To ensure all students are supported by our tutors, we limit the number of students at each enrolment., but students may enrol onto as many courses as they want. Therefore, we recommend enrolling as soon as it opens to avoid disappointment, as places will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
You won’t receive a box of materials through the post. Instead, your tutor will guide you clearly on exactly what you need, and you’ll source everything locally in the US from suppliers you already know and trust. Most students find they already own many of the materials required. This approach gives you the freedom to work with what you love, and keeps things practical from the start.
Course fees are listed in GBP. As a guide, £1,895 is typically around $2,400 to $2,500 USD depending on the exchange rate at the time of enrolment. You can check the current rate at any time via Google or your bank.
We accept card payments, PayPal, Stripe, and bank-to-bank (IBAN) transfer. One practical note worth knowing: some US banks will flag international transactions. We’d recommend letting your card provider know in advance that you’ll be making a payment to the School of Stitched Textiles in the UK. It takes two minutes and makes enrolment day completely seamless.
We only take payment once we are able to confirm your place on the course.
Option 1: In full (4 Modules)
Option 2: Two instalments of 2 modules
Depending on exchange rate
What You Get
Option 1: In full (12 Modules)
Option 2: Four instalments of 3 modules
Depending on exchange rate
What You Get
Option 1: In full (12 Modules)
Option 2: Four instalments of 3 modules
Depending on exchange rate
What You Get
No. Everything is completed remotely, from wherever you are. When you submit work your personal tutor will review personal feedback.
Yes. Our courses are self-paced and designed around real life. Most students study around four to six hours per week.
City & Guilds is internationally recognised and has offices in the United States.
We have a Skill Stage Checker on our website to help guide you, and our team is always happy to advise before you enrol. If you’re unhappy with the discipline or skill stage after you’ve enrolled, we will support you in ,oving to a different course.
You have a two-week period after receiving your materials to change course or skill stage, and a full refund is available within this window. You can begin with complete confidence.
Card, PayPal, Stripe, and bank-to-bank transfer. See the payment section above for full details. When you enrol, payment will not be taken until we have confirmed your place on the course.
Enrolment opens 16th May. Register Your Interest today and we’ll send you a full course brochure, keep you updated on enrolment dates, and answer any questions you have before you commit to a thing.
Use our Skill Stage Checker to find out which course is right for you. It takes around 1 minute to complete and you’ll get instant results.