RSN Graduate Degree Show at Hampton Court Palace: A Day of Creative Connection

Stepping into Hampton Court Palace for the Royal School of Needlework Graduate Degree Show felt like entering a dialogue between history and the future of stitch. A group of us from IDC were invited to attend, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary.

The palace itself set the tone - centuries of craftsmanship, artistry, and architectural precision - but it was the graduates who brought the space alive. Their work filled the rooms with bold ideas, meticulous technique, and the kind of creative courage that defines contemporary textile practice.

What made the day truly special was the conversations.
We spoke with every student - not just about their final pieces, but about their journeys, their processes, and the paths they’re carving next. These weren’t surface-level chats; they were rich, thoughtful exchanges about materiality, identity, storytelling, and the evolving role of hand embroidery in modern craft.

Each graduate had a distinct voice.
Some pushed scale and structure.
Some leaned into narrative and symbolism.
Some explored technical mastery with breathtaking precision.
All of them demonstrated a clarity of intention that was inspiring to witness.

For us at IDC, the visit was a reminder of why creative education matters. It reaffirmed the importance of nurturing curiosity, supporting emerging artists, and championing the power of stitch as a contemporary expressive medium. Being invited into that space - into their achievements, their ambitions, their next steps - was a privilege.

We left Hampton Court with full hearts, buzzing minds, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Beautiful Foxgloves

I've recently finished this foxglove piece, I admit it's taken me longer than it really should have. I was trying to work out how to get the right perspective. Ensuring that the foxglove flowers and leaves were the correct size, took more working out than I'd realised.

After dyeing the fabric background using sponges to create more of a depth rather than a flat colour I then went on to create a template for the flowers. I imagined the flower trumpets as if they were opened out and flattened and created a cardboard template.

I created four different sizes of template, some of which would be used for the base of the flower trumpets. I think I made in the region of 50 flowers of varying sizes. I created templates foe the leaves too, the leaves were created using velvet which I then free motion embroidered the details on each leaf.

I free motion embroidered the grass on the background, then felted green merino wool fibres to give the base some depth, I finished it off by hand embroidering some flower details.

I hand sewed the flower trumpets on by hand from the bottom up as I needed the trumpets to lay on top of each other.

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into this piece, let me know what you are all doing, I'd love to see your projects. You are welcome to email me Tony@themanbroiderer.co.uk