Inspiration to stitch

​This course is the starting point for creating your own original work.  So if you can already sew and have mastered the basics but now wish to explore the links between design and stitch to develop your own style then this is the course for you!
Over the year you'll explore how to use your sketchbook, work book, a place for collecting ideas - call it what you will - to develop and record design ideas.  How you decide to ​use your sketchbook at the end of the year is up to you: you  may want to develop some of the designs further and use them to create a stitched textile, on your own or by joining the Stitching by Design ​course, or perhaps you may want the sketchbook to be a creative end in itself. The choice is yours!
Whichever route you take, InStitches will guide you through a range of techniques and methods to develop a creative approach.  And no, you don't need to be able to draw...we've plenty of crafty tricks to teach you!

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or come with some experience, because we'll be encouraging you to 'step outside your comfort zone', stretch your design skills and develop your ideas with support and enthusiasm. After learning the basics you'll  select a personal theme, which will help you develop an individual style and grow in confidence in your creative design skills.

Although on this course we won't be stitching as such, many of the ideas will be directly transferable from paper to fabric so you'll get chance to explore your ideas in fabric and form an expressive link between design and stitch.
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Throughout the course you'll be encouraged to collect and record inspirational visual material using techniques including painting, drawing, collage and printing.  Various design methods such as mark making using different media, colouring pages, creating texture and pattern making will mean that the plain white pages of your sketchbook evolve to make a unique personal resource for future work relating to your theme, or as a beautiful object in its own right.
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Inspiration to Stitch will be twice monthly on Wednesdays until​ Christmas and then monthly until July.

Course dates for 2018/19 can be found here
Provisional course dates for 2019/20 can be found here. These may be subject to minor changes.
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Please arrive at 9.15 am. for a prompt 9.30 am start; the day will end about 4 pm. We'll provide tea and coffee but you'll need to bring your own lunch.

Cost: £635 (includes some materials)
A £115 deposit will secure your place.
The balance can be paid in two instalments of £260
If you have any questions please contact us.