The Royal School of Needlework will open a new embroidery exhibition at Hampton Court Palace on 29th April. Celebrating needlework from across the globe, Stitch is International will feature hand-stitched pieces from the school's own textiles collection. This will include works from Europe, Turkey, the Arab world, the Indian sub-continent, China, Japan, North and South America. Focusing on the use of embroidery as an expression of high art, folk art and cultural identity, the exhibition will include everything from Guatemalan Huipil designs to a Japanese kimono and Indian Goldwork.
"This exhibition will demonstrate the shared aspects of embroidery – the same stitches worked in different countries and in different patterns, but all part of a shared experience of embellishment," says Dr Susan Kay-Williams, chief executive of the Royal School of Needlework. "Teaching the diversity of needlework to new generations is at the heart of our core purpose. The exhibition may even trigger the introduction of lost or forgotten stitches to the RSN Stitch Bank – our new world directory resource of stitch that we are currently compiling online."
Stitch is International will run until 2nd December with a range of tour options available. Find out more at www.royal-needlework.org.uk