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.
Anna Hayward has always loved to stitch. From a young age she would make simple stitches, embellish her clothes as a teenager and today, loves to indulge her interest in hand embroidery. On discovering our Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 2 course she decided to take up the challenge and prove to herself
Deborah Collins took up quilting to make a bedspread, because she couldn’t find anything she liked. Realising her design process was ‘slapdash’ she embarked on our Patchwork and Quilting course for intermediates (skill stage 3), and has achieved so much. Not only has she developed an effective approach to design and unleashed
Like so many of our students, Stephanie Summerton had always been creative. Suffering with stress and anxiety she understood the benefits of immersing herself into a project, but always lacked the confidence to create her own pieces. Having completed our Beginner Hand Embroidery course (skill stage 2), Stephanie has already enrolled
Julie Cole studied our Machine Embroidery Skill Stage 3 course. After graduating a few months ago she was kind enough to share her experience with us. Having always loved art, Julie wanted to learn to new skills and stretch and her creative wings. This is her Stitch Journey. “The SST offered
Having made costumes for her daughter and later opening her own Embroidery and Patchwork business, Irene Harris came to us with a lot of ‘hands on’ experience. Although she was a skilled embroiderer, Irene wished to move beyond her comfort zone and challenge herself. She told us that she learned
Lynda Vidulich has recently completed our Skill Stage 4 Patchwork and Quilting course. As an avid crafter Lynda came to us with plenty of experience. However, she told us that she wanted to gain a City and Guilds accreditation to give her the confidence to design, make and teach during her
Tessa Box’s Stitch Journey began with us a few years ago. Back in 2020, Tessa Box applied for a bursary to Study Patchwork and Quilting. Tessa received the majority of votes for her beautiful patchwork pieces, becoming our overall winner and securing a place on a Skill Stage 2 course. Since then, Tessa
At the height of the Covid lockdown, Lis Stewart began dabbling with cross stitch again. After deciding to enrol onto our Hand Embroidery Skill Stage 2 course, she’s here today to tell future students about how much she learned and how much enjoyment she got from the course. Lis Stewart
Lynda Scoulding recently completed our Textiles Skill Stage 3 course and has kindly agreed to share her stitch journey. Throughout her course Lynda produced excellent work. She was even put forward by her tutor to be entered into our Student Excellence Awards Exhibition, in recognition for her amazing samples. Lynda went on to
Vanessa Thorpe wanted a course that would develop her skills and provide a focus. Having trained as a bespoke tailor she was keen to get stuck in and achieve a City and Guilds accreditation. Vanessa studied our Textile Skill Stage 2 course and this is her Stitch Journey. Vanessa Thorpe Like many
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