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.
Back in 2021 Tina Barnett won the chance to study our Beginner Hand Embroidery course (Skill Stage 2) which was awarded through our Joan Harrison Creative Textile Bursary Scheme. Having always loved Hand Embroidery for it’s therapeutic qualities, Tina told us that she regularly embroidered and had aspirations to sell
As a busy midwife and mum to young children and dogs, Helene Wackers was looking for a flexible, professional course that would develop the artsy side of her brain. Helene told us that our intermediate Knitting course (Skill Stage 3) has forced her to practice technical knitting skills that she previously believed
As an experienced embroiderer, Sara Lambert was initially unsure about studying with us. However, when the Pandemic struck she began to look for a different focus, a distraction. Having complete our Skill Stage 3 course, Sara told us that she hadn’t expected to learn such a large variety of techniques.
Melanie Giddings had always had an interest in stitch textiles. As a little girl she would sew, knit and loved needlework at school. Like so many of our students, busy careers, family and friends left little room for her passion. However, as retirement loomed Melanie decided that now was the
After completing our Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 2 Course, Heather Bielby went on to enrol onto our Skill Stage 3 course. She told us that although she had always loved art and self expression she had little confidence in showing off her work. Having graduated earlier this year, Heather has
Claire Harvey very bravely told us that one of her motivations for studying with us was to improve her mental health. As a result of studying our Machine Embroidery course (Skill Stage 3) Claire has learnt so much about herself and gained so much confidence. In 2022 she was put
Lois Stapleton grew up loving Art and Design. As a economics graduate and working full-time, Lois decided to study with us to gain a better work-life balance and pursue her interest in Hand Embroidery. She knew that to get the most enjoyment from her craft she need to nurture her
Dubai-based graduate, Saba Asim is testament to the fact that our courses can be studied from anywhere in the world. Saba starting studying with us because she really wanted to create her own Patchwork and Quilt designs, instead of simply working to patterns found on the internet. Having recently completed Patchwork
Before completing our Skill Stage 3 Patchwork and Quilting course, Giuseppina Aleo was a self-taught, self professed ‘beginner’. She wanted to complete our course to gain enough confidence to share her quilted creations with other quilters. Giuseppina tell us that she has learnt so much. She has grown in confidence, had one
Juliet West enrolled with us back in February 2021. She chose to study our Skill Stage 3 Textiles course because she wanted to study machine embroidery and patchwork & quilting. For Juliet, our textiles course was an ideal choice as it combines the two. Having completed her course Juliet was
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