The talented embroiderer, designer, and teacher Kathy Andrews, of The Unbroken Thread, joins us for a thoroughly enjoyable conversation about embroidery, crewel work, needlework in Europe, the Royal School of Needlework, her new studio in Iowa, teaching embroidery, and a ton of other stitching topics. Don’t miss this one.–Gary and Christine
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Learn more about Kathy Andrews at the links below:
- The Unbroken Thread website
- With Threaded Needle website
- Not One More Thing website
- Kathy Andrews on Facebook
- Kathy Andrews on Instagram
We hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Kathy Andrews. We’re always looking for guests, so let us know if there is someone you’d like us to have on the show.–Gary and Christine
Gary, the shop Needle In A Haystack in California offers 3 sizes of slate frames for sale. Go to assessories and then to the frame section. The slate frames are the last listed.
Helen,
Has anyone ever called you an enabler? If not, they should. Now I have to go look. Thanks. 😉
Gary
What a great discussion! I thoroughly enjoyed it – Kathy has had such an interesting time! It’s going to be wonderful to follow her progress especially when she is hosting students at her home.
Can I suggest that you may enjoy chatting with Lucy Barter at the San Francisco School of Needlework and Design? She’s a graduate of the RSN Apprenticeship Program – my goodness what an experience! Also, if you are looking for a slate frame, the little shop at SNAD sells them.
I’ll put Lucy on the list. And you’re an enabler for suggesting a place to purchase slate frames! 😉
Gary
What a lovely show Gary and Christine! And it was good to hear that Kathy made the same observations and experiences while in Germany as I do regarding the popularity of surface embroidery and needlepoint!
Yes, it’s always fun talking with European stitchers. Opens the mind.
Gary
I would like to counter some of Kathy’s comments about the Royal School. I just completed my 1st Certificate module. They offered the 14 day intensive in Williamsburg twice at year – April and October – under the supervision of Tutors flown in from England at the Williamsburg School of Needlework.
The very first thing required Before you arrive is you must create your own design! Your own color plan and a preliminary stitch guide! There is a lot of emphasis on design and the interplay of design, texture and color.
You work via email with your assigned tutor to refine your selections – a process that continues as you study.
For anyone thinking of the Certificate program – it is not for beginners. There is a presumption you know your technique basics and that you are there to correct bad habits and refine your technique. It is more self directed studies where you work one on one with your tutor. You need to drive the process and ask lots of questions as well as listen to what is being said to other students. No lectures – lots of learning by doing and correcting.
It is intense work and very very long hours if you are to finish your piece if it’s to be mounted and taken to London for review by the senior tutors. While challenging, irritating and very technique focused, I am glad I took the course and will go on to the second module in October. I have a small notebook filled with tips and nuances I learned from my class.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Since you’re going back for more, it was clearly worth all of the effort. Also, thanks for listening.
Gary
Thanks for your interesting comments Darcy! As a student of the Royal School and a former RSN tutor, I also think that the RSN is about designing your own piece. That said, I can see where Kathy’s remarks come from as the briefs have become more and more detailed. For some people this might be restrictive. On your other remark that the RSN is not for beginners, I don’t agree. As tutors we liked them green the best. No bad habits and no attitude either :). When I started, I had only ever done cross-stitch and I was fine. I think it is now strongly adviced that you start your Certificate with the crewel module. In my opinion, this is a perfect module for beginners. Just be guided by your tutor and be willing to work hard. That’s all it takes for a satisfying result! Good luck with the rest of your modules!
I know the tutors enjoy beginners but I offer the following observations:
1) Most American classes have a lecture instructional section explaining things to the group as well as group demonstrations
2) the more one on one, self directed with Tutor assistance at the RSN Certificate was very frustrating to the two technique novices in my class
3) Tutors teach 10-4 with one hour for lunch. That amounts to about 45 minutes a day per student for 1to1.
4) Beginners lose a lot of time on their design and stitch plans because they don’t know any of the stitches and what it takes to execute.
5) Frustration builds as they try to finish within the seminar timeframe
At the very least, I would advise potential students to read the RSN technique book and work a sampler of all the stitches shown before arriving at class.
This is very interesting to read Darcy and I recommend that you put your observations forward to the RSN as well. Living in the Netherlands for most of the time I did my RSN Certificate and Diploma, I did many modules as an semi-intensive (10-12 days in the UK, with 8 days tuition) and only once had a problem finishing on time: the box module. When people work a module as an intensive, tutors usually take care that the design is slightly less ambitious. However, if a student insists, there is little a tutor can do.
Being Dutch, I had never encountered or heard of Jacobean crewelwork, but was fine when I got the brief on my first day in class (there was no such thing as conversing with your tutor over email; so that’s probably a concession the RSN has made recently especially for intensives). Even though I had to cope with another language than my own with a whole new set of expressions regarding needlework.
I can see that the RSN way of teaching needlework might be quite different from a typical American class. So, if you are a complete beginner, you will probably be fine as you don’t ‘know any better’. When I taught a RSN intensive in San Francisco, complete beginners were absolutely fine! However, some people who were new to the RSN, but had done needlework classes elsewhere, struggled. Even though they were mostly seasoned stitchers. Correcting bad habits gets harder the older you get :).
I always warn my students that they will probably not stitch during their first day in class. That day is for designing and talking. It is indeed true that on the first day of an intensive, we as tutors also have a lot on our plate. That’s why the group of students is relatively small. I think I had 8 students in San Francisco. Students should also reserve the last day for mounting. And with bigger pieces like crewelwork or blackwork, it is best to cut and cover the mount board the day before. This leaves just short of 6 days of tuition to stitch your piece. When I did my own modules, this often meant stitching till 1 or 2 in the morning. Thank goodness for BBC late-night documentaries!
And then there is one very important thing I also always tell my students. Although we as tutors are looking for the RSN-standard in their stitching, they are given good marks when we can see that they progressed during the project. It is very much learning by doing. And that’s what a student needs to demonstrate.
Being open-minded and flexible is very important in any learning process. Children are good at that, but the older we get, the harder it gets. After all, we are adults, we already know so much. I love it when I am able to create a tutor-student relationship where I can tickle the best out of the student. After all, I love to see it make ‘click’ in the student’s head and hands. That’s what passionate tutors get a kick out of!