Tree of Life Hand Embroidery with Artist Ruth Parkinson-Johns

Course aim

Provide opportunities for students to practise a variety of Hand Embroidery stitches, and to use these to produce a Tree of Life inspired Artwork.

Do I need any particular skills or experience?

• You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
• This course is for improvers

By the end of the course I should be able to:

• Hand Embroider onto a sample of cloth a variety of stitch techniques to include Back Stitch, Whipped Stitch, Fishbone Stitch and colonial Knots.
• Discover and use upcycled materials found in the home for creative stitch.
• Look at Tree of Life Symbols and draw out your own design inspired by this.
• Transfer your design onto cloth.
• Use a variety of hand stitch patterns and techniques on the design to create your decorative Stitched Art.

How will I be taught?

• The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
• You may be asked to undertake additional work in your own time to support your learning

What kind of feedback can I expect?

• You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
• You will be encouraged to share your work with the group and discuss your learning
• You will be encouraged to consider other students work and give your opinions and suggestions

What else do I need to know?

• You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
• You will need a sewing kit for this course to include fabric, embroidery needles, small scissors and erasable pen. An embroidery hoop and a variety of different coloured embroidery threads, stranded cotton or pearl and gold or bronze metallic standard sewing thread. A notebook will be useful and pen

Pre-course work, reading and information sources

• No pre reading is required but research on the subject on the internet or in the library may be helpful

What can I do next?

• Progress to another WEA course