Our graduates have stories to tell. Read through our Graduate Stories and discover how our courses have enabled them to begin new textiles careers, gain creative confidence and become more focused. Through these stories we aim to help prospective students decide what courses to study and demonstrate how they can benefit so many people.
Our graduates are shaping the world of textiles. They’re designers/makers who supply clients and stores in all corners of the globe, they’re authors for magazines and books, and business start-ups. Some even go on to work in TV/ theatre, teach or simply take pleasure in evolving their textile skills to a new level.
We are frequently asked about the direction that our students take after they have graduated from their courses at School of Stitched Textiles. So we ask our graduates to tell their stories.
We have combined their narratives with images of their work to showcase their very individual styles in our graduate stories publication. We hope their accounts inspire you to undertake a course yourself and see where it can take you.
Vanessa Rush didn’t set out to become a patchwork and quilting student. In fact, she wasn’t even looking for a course at all! She was looking for “something to fill a void” she’d only half-noticed in her busy life as a tax advisor. But one accidental click led her to
Lorraine Duff’s journey into hand embroidery didn’t begin with years of creative confidence. In fact, she often said she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. Yet during lockdown, while completely housebound and searching for connection, she picked up a needle and thread and discovered a new world of
Lyn White’s journey into patchwork and quilting proves that it is never too late to unlock your creative potential. Having retired a few years ago, Lyn wanted to upskill and explore her artistic and stitching capabilities. With just a basic skirt made at school and no formal art background, she
When Do Adams first discovered quilting in the mid-90s, she was immediately drawn to the creativity and calm it offered. Over the years, her passion for fabric and design grew from following patterns to developing her own distinctive style, inspired by artists such as Gloria Loughman and Ricky Tims. Yet
For Laurel Roberts, embroidery began as a way to find calm after years of working in a demanding and stressful role. What started with a simple kit quickly grew into a passion for colour, texture and the meditative rhythm of hand stitching. Newly retired, Laurel was ready to dedicate time
For Tracy Culley, crochet has always been more than a pastime. But it was the desire to push beyond the basics that set her on a new creative path. With plenty of self-taught experience behind her, she reached a stage where she wanted to deepen her knowledge, refine her techniques
When life tilted, Diana Feroze picked up her knitting needles at her mother’s bedside and began knitting simple squares together. It was an intimate act that quietly re-ignited a lifelong love of making. Hungry to stretch herself, she enrolled on our City & Guilds Knitting Skill Stage 3 course for
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
When Elizabeth Hill signed up for our accredited Patchwork and Quilting course, she wasn’t chasing a qualification or working toward a defined career path. Instead, she was answering a quiet, persistent call. One rooted in a lifelong love for fabric, thread, and the gentle rhythm of making something beautiful by
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
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