A Year in Stitches: From Hampton Court Palace to the Start of Summer
Completing my first year of the BA (Hons) Hand Embroidery course at the Royal School of Needlework feels like such a significant milestone, and I couldn't think of a better way to mark it than by sharing my final project and a little glimpse into what's coming next.
A King, a Palace, an Inspiration…
Our final brief invited us to find inspiration within the incredible surroundings of Hampton Court Palace, the historic home of the Royal School of Needlework. Over several weeks, we explored the palace and its gardens, sketchbooks in hand, capturing everything that caught our eye. From intricate ironwork and carved stone details to sweeping skylines, winding vines, and flourishing flowers, every corner seemed to offer another source of inspiration.
The challenge was to transform these observations into a headpiece or head adornment in collaboration with the iconic hat makers, Lock & Co. Hatters. It was a project that encouraged us to look beyond individual motifs and instead tell a story through embroidery, structure, and design.
For my piece, I was particularly drawn to the stained-glass windows throughout the palace, the delicate floral motifs hidden within the palace's ironwork, and the climbing vines and blooms that weave through the gardens. Alongside these architectural influences, I found inspiration in the 2018 Met Gala theme, Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, whose rich symbolism and ornate religious imagery beautifully complemented the grandeur of Hampton Court.
From these influences, I designed a diadem-style crown with a distinctly ecclesiastical feel. Vertical stained glass-inspired panels form the structure of the crown, while a palette of warm gold is accented with deep blues inspired by the colours found throughout the palace portraits and interiors. I wanted the piece to evoke the feeling of light filtering through stained glass, balanced with the richness and opulence that define both the palace and traditional ecclesiastical ornament.
Final Design for ‘Petals of the Chapel’
To bring the design to life, I combined Raised Work and Goldwork embroidery with beadwork, alongside handmade gold wire lanterns that add another layer of texture and detail. Every element was carefully considered, from the embroidery techniques to the final construction of the headpiece itself.
The finished piece, Petals of the Chapel, represents weeks of sketching, designing, sampling, refining, embroidering, and assembling. It has undoubtedly been one of the most ambitious projects I've undertaken so far, and I am incredibly proud of what I achieved. Looking back at those first sketchbook pages and comparing them with the finished headpiece reminds me just how much I have learned during my first year. It's a piece that challenged me creatively and technically, while allowing me to explore the storytelling potential of embroidery in a completely new way.
As I reflect on my first year, I'm incredibly grateful for everything I've learned, the skills I've developed, and the opportunities I've been given. It's been a year of challenge, discovery, and countless hours spent with needle and thread, and I can't wait to see what year two has in store.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout this first year. Your interest in my work means more than you know, and I'm looking forward to sharing the next chapter with you all.