Stitch - embroidery secrets revealed
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Techniques and tricks of royal haute couture will be revealed at a special free event at York Gardens Library, Battersea, on Wednesday 2 December 2009, from 10am to 1130am. An embroiderer who has worked on many of the Queen’s robes and dresses will give a unique demonstration of the highly skilled techniques used.
Miss Maureen Markham, who did a similar demonstration at Buckingham Palace as part of the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s wedding, trained with Norman Hartnell, one of the Queen’s favourite couturiers.
The presentation is being staged by Bridging Arts with Wandsworth Library and Heritage Service as part of a major project – Stitch Wandsworth. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and run in partnership with the Royal School of Needlework, the project is working on embroidery with groups of Muslim and non Muslim women in the area. Keep up to date with our
blog .
Unveiled on Wednesday will be traditional embroidery and new work by the women at an exhibition which will be staged for three weeks at the library. Certificates will be presented to the women taking part.
“The aim of Stitch is to encourage cultural exchange through embroidery,” says Bridging Arts director Susan Roberts. “It brings very different groups together through a shared interest in sewing and needlework.Through the study of motifs inspired by traditional British embroidery and Islamic patterns and informal discussion, we hope to increase understanding of the ways cultures interact and histories intertwine. “
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Women taking part in the project were from Restart 50+, the Asian Women’s Group and the Katherine Lowe Settlement. For more information, please call Susan Roberts on 0794 12 52 444 or read a blog on the project on http://patternsandplace.blogspot.com
2. The exhibition will run until Thursday 17th December 2009 at York Gardens Library, Lavender Rd, London SW11 2UG Tel: 020 8871 7471. Admission free. Opening times at York Gardens: Mon-Tues 12 noon – 7pm; Wed-Thurs 930am-7pm; Friday 12 noon-7pm and Sat 12noon-5pm.
3. Bridging Arts tackles difficult issues in society through art and art-related activities. Visit http://www.bridging-arts.com for more information.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the women involved in the project at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, last month
PHOTO CREDIT: Bridging Arts