Embroidery for Beginners - Retford Library - Adult Learning

Retford Library, Retford

Date	3 November - 8 December 2025
Sessions	Mondays: 1pm - 3pm
No. sessions	6
Venue	Retford Library, Retford View venue details
For ages	19+
Group size	5 - 15
Cost	FREE - £48

About this course

Explore embroidery techniques in this six-week course. Each week you’ll tackle a small-scale project, experimenting with a variety of stitches (such as stem stitch, French knots and rose stitch) and embellishment methods.

You’ll also learn how to add texture and interest using fabric scraps, beads, or sequins. We then move onto combining stitching with fabric appliqué and layering to create nature-inspired motifs. Mid-course we’ll add surface embellishments—beads, sequins or similar—for extra interest.

In the final weeks, you will plan and complete a personalised composition, drawing on the stitches and techniques you’ve practised throughout the course. This course is perfect for complete beginners looking to learn hands-on skills in a relaxed, supportive environment.

What you will need to bring to the course:

Light-coloured cotton fabric (a plain old or spare pillowcase that you are happy to cut up will be suitable)

An embroidery hoop

Embroidery needles

Embroidery thread/floss in a few colours of your choice

Small scissors

Friction pen or pencil

Booking your place and fee information

If you receive certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course, please visit our funding page for further information.

Residency in England

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must be living in England permanently and live outside of the devolved areas listed below or live within the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) devolved area (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire).

Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Greater London
Greater Manchester
Liverpool City Region
Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
Tees Valley
West of England
West Midlands
West Yorkshire

Residency Eligibility – other criteria

If you are living in the UK on a visa we will require evidence of this in order to be funded for the course, you can upload this evidence when you apply for the course. (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

Some exceptions may apply for example

Your visa expiry date must be beyond the end of your course
Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer while their claim is being considered by the Home Office
You are receiving local authority support under section 23C or section 23CA of the Children Act 1989 or the Care Act 2014

Any learner who is not funded full cost fees would apply to these courses.

West Midlands West Yorkshire