On board The Royal Yacht Britannia is a special piece of embroidery. It was commissioned by HM Queen Elizabeth II for the yacht when it was built in 1953.
In 2001 Cobweb Designs was asked to create a collection of cross stitch kits for the RYB gift shop. The talk will discuss the design process, choice of colour and project sizes. The collection is, to this day, a top selling range for the company.
The original embroidery is in satin stitch and we will discuss methods of designing satin stitch which will also lend themselves to crewel work design.
This course could be extended to be a 1 day course including a visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia.

Wm Morris (1834-1896 )
Sally has been privileged to be commissioned to create needlework kits based on designs by William Morris for his home at Kelmscott Manor in Gloucestershire and for The Indianapolis Museum of Art in the USA. This lecture will discuss the designs, colourways and give students the chance to see the background photography and project storyboards.
This talk can be extended to a 1 or 3 day course to include colour and design workshops and a visit to a Wm Morris heritage site.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"

Commissioned by The National Trust for Scotland Cobweb Designs recreated the design in a needlework sampler from one of the most fascinating samplers in Scotland. The original was stitched in 1746 when the Battle of Culloden was being fought and the legendary Bonnie Prince Charlie and his army defeated. Learn the story behind this special piece of work and discuss the choices and challenges in reproducing early embroideries.
Arrangements can be made to host this lecture at the Culloden Battlefield Centre where the original embroidery is in the care of The National Trust for Scotland.
This course could also be extended to a 
1day "Design Your Own Family Sampler" course.

During this lecture we will discuss how to decide what scale an embroidery can be – looking at a little cross stitch bookmark design through to a large patchwork wall hanging 
- each inspired by the same image.
Some designs are confined by their shape, some are 
defined by the embroiderer's preference in stitching.
There will be a display and chance for students to look at and try new fabrics and threads from international manufacturers.
We will also discuss the options of how to translate the image 
you like into the embroidery you would love to stitch.
Arrangements can be made to host this lecture at
Mackintosh's Hill House, Helensburgh or 
The House for an Artlover, Glasgow.
This course could also be extended to a 1or 3 day 
"Design Your Own Mackintosh Needlework" course.