We share the inspiring journey of Hand Embroidery SS3 graduate Maia O’Neill. During lockdown, Maia developed her passion for embroidery, finding peace in creating her own designs. After facing redundancy in 2021, she enrolled in SST’s Skill Stage 3 Hand Embroidery course, drawn by its comprehensive curriculum and creative freedom.
Having recently been featured in our Student Excellence Awards, Maia now plans to turn her passion into a profession. She plans to establish an Etsy store and embark on a mobile lifestyle to create embroidery inspired by her travels. She credits SST for giving her the skills and confidence to pursue this dream. This is her amazing #MyStitchJourney.
Maia O'Neill
“The thing I appreciated most was how the modules pushed me into learning types of embroidery I’d been too intimidated to try: Drawn thread! Goldwork!! I was surprised to discover a new favourite in hardanger. It’s so satisfying and meditative to work. I based one of my final projects on it – a sampler of Quaker quotes for my beloved grandma, Edna.”
Motivation to Study
I’ve always found embroidery relaxing, but when I graduated from kits to trying my own designs during lockdown, I knew I’d found my crafting home. Learning new stitches and experimenting with materials kept me centred through the chaos of 2020. I was offered redundancy from the Coroner’s service in 2021 and I seized the chance to immerse myself in a subject I loved.
I looked at the courses available and it came down to a choice between the School of Stitched Textiles (SST) and the Royal School of Needlework. I opted for Skill Stage 3 Hand Embroidery with SST because it included a foundation in many techniques, versus the RSN’s highly specialised modules. Previous students’ work was so varied that I knew I’d have freedom to play a little and find my own approaches. Gaining a qualification was less important to me, but now I’ve completed the course, I’m very glad to have something formal to show for my time.
Biggest takeaways
The thing I appreciated most was how the modules pushed me into learning types of embroidery I’d been too intimidated to try: Drawn thread! Goldwork!! I was surprised to discover a new favourite in hardanger. It’s so satisfying and meditative to work. I based one of my final projects on it – a sampler of Quaker quotes for my beloved grandma, Edna.
Around halfway through the course, I started to consider making embroidery more than a hobby. I’ve started out making a few commissions and I’m planning an Etsy store with designs for all sorts of counted thread work and slow stitch projects. Then my plans got bolder, and now I’m going to be moving into a motorhome, working remotely and making embroidery inspired by land I pass through. It’s scary but exciting, and it’s only a possibility because of the course. Once I’m accustomed to the mobile life, I’d love to take Skill Stage 4 and develop my ability to stitch expressively and artistically.
Advice for new students
I would absolutely recommend SST courses to anyone who can make the time commitment. My advice to students would be to give everything a go with an open mind, then base your final projects around what you really enjoy. The briefs are lovely and broad so you can follow your interests. Find an online stitch guide that suits you and invest in a few good textile art sourcebooks. And splurge on some silk thread – it’s amazing!
