I run workshops and talks for textile groups, galleries and educational groups around the UK. Talks for guilds & groups cost and £95 (for bookings in 2017) plus travel (45p per mile) for a fully-illustrated, lively one-hour talk. I provide laptop, projector and screen myself, so all you need is people. The most popular talk is Hidden Histories; Ruth Singer’s textile work, inspiration & influences but you can find other options here. A one-day textile workshop for guilds & groups start at £230 (£250 at weekends) plus travel (45p per mile) and materials. Discounts available for 2+ day workshops & courses. Bespoke talks and workshops for education and other organisations start at £100.

 

 

 

 

Workshops include:

 

Trapunto quilting (otherwise known as stuffed, corded or Italian quilting) is an interesting old technique which is little used today. It is my mission to bring it back to the prominence it deserves! In this workshop you will learn the basics of hand and machine sewn stuffed and corded quilting and have the opportunity to try some unusual variations and contemporary applications. This workshop can be extended over 2+ days and combined with other techniques in a workshop called Experimental Quilting Techniques (see below).

 

In the Shadows: Textiles and Transparency.  Discover the wealth of creative opportunities of using transparent fabrics such as silk organza, cotton organdie and silk chiffon. You will have the opportunity to study Ruth’s own work and historical collections in detail and then learn reverse appliqué, shadow quilting, kantha stitch on sheers and shadow embroidery as well as bonding & layering with fusibles. This can be a one-day  taster workshop but works best over 2 or more days as the techniques are slow and you need time to experiment.

 

 

Text and image – inspiration from the past. Using vintage photographs, old documents and letters as inspiration, we will combine the written word, images and history to create art textile pieces on vintage fabrics. We will cover how to print images onto fabric, how to embroider handwriting and ways to use old documents to create pieces with meaning and depth. We will use scraps of old textile, appliqué techniques, hand stitch, digital print and screen print to create the samplers, giving you the chance to try lots of techniques. This works best as a 2 day course.

 

 

 

 

 

Antique textile inspiration. Using textiles from Ruth’s personal collections and your own treasures, we will explore a variety of techniques and materials to create textile artworks. We will work with embroidery, appliqué, simple print and surface embellishment techniques to create a series of pieces using the colour palette, texture and materials of historic textiles as our source. Development of design ideas and sketchbook work is a key part of this course and you will leave with lots of new ideas to develop and explore. This is best as a 2-4 day course.

 

 

 

 

Wild dyes and hand stitch. Connect with your environment and create textiles inspired by nature. We will begin the day by foraging for locally-growing plants including leaves and flowers to be wrapped into fabric bundles for the exciting process of eco-printing, to create exciting abstract marks and patterns on cloth and thread. We will also look at simple ways to colour fabrics using food, drink and waste from your kitchen and garden. In the afternoon we will use your dyed fabrics and threads to layer, patchwork and embroider with hand stitch to create outlines, marks and textures on the cloth.

 

 

 

Surface Structure. This workshop gives you the chance to try some of the most exciting techniques in my book Fabric Manipulation including stuffed bobbles, pleated ribbon work and 3D appliqué. This is a great workshop for quilters and embroiderers who want to incorporate bold techniques into their work.

Surfaces for Stitch –  Texture. In this workshop you will learn lots of exciting fabric manipulation techniques to create backgrounds, texture and surfaces for hand or machine embroidery. Techniques include American smocking, gathering, shirring, layering, folding and pin tucks and include machine and hand sewing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surfaces for Stitch – Appliqué. Experiment with lots of unusual appliqué techniques to create exciting surfaces for hand or machine stitch. This workshop will include multi-layered reverse appliqué, using sheer fabrics and creating low-relief texture using scraps of precious fabrics.

 

 

 

Surfaces for Stitch – Patch and layer. Explore some traditional and contemporary methods for building up layers and patches to create a beautiful surface to stitch on. We will use darning techniques, sheer layers and kantha stitch to make beautiful surfaces to use for further stitch techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New approaches to hand embroidery.  This a relaxed and creative workshop where you get to design and play with simple stitches to create texture, pattern and line without the strict rules of traditional embroidery. You will start with some simple mark making and drawing (suitable and not scary for those who don’t do drawing) to create and develop your own stitching. You will then explore how to translate your squiggles and marks into fun, uncomplicated embroidery to create your own unique sampler and loads of ideas to take into your own work.

 

 

Tools of the Trade. For this workshop we take our inspiration from humble hand tools such as scissors, pliers, hammers or secateurs. We will work on a two-part framed work with vintage cloth using the outline of the tool in hand embroidery, appliqué or trapunto quilting. Alongside this we will also work on your choice of tool with wrapping and stitching techniques to turn the simple tool into a precious object.

 

 

 

 

 

Precious Objects Sampler. I love old curios, bits and pieces and things that might be considered rubbish. This workshop shows you how to transform your collections of bits into a beautiful sampler of precious objects. We will create a pieced background using special fabrics, appliqué and hand stitch, the explore ways to alter and revamp your treasures using cloth, thread and textile techniques of stitching, wrapping and binding. We will also add snippets of cloth, text, handwriting and any other special things you would like to include.

 

 

 

 

Hands. This workshop takes it’s inspiration from Ruth’s work Criminal Quilts which use the motif of hands from Victorian photographs of women criminals. The symbol of the hand has been used by many cultures and throughout history as far back as the oldest cave paintings. It is uniquely personal and also symbolic and your own hand silhouette makes a perfect template to experiment with creative techniques. We will try out the techniques of trapunto quilting, experimental hand embroidery, embellishment and textured fabric manipulation techniques to make samples. You can then develop one into a final piece, suitable for framing, incorporating into larger work or making into a finished object.

 

 

Experimental quilting techniques. Fresh approaches to traditional and modern quilting techniques with a focus on design and innovation. This course will cover trapunto or Italian quilting and new variations, corded quilting, shadow trapunto, reverse appliqué, cut-surface quilting and layering with transparent fabrics. We will use unusual materials including leather and lace and work by hand and machine to create striking and interesting textures and effects. This is a 2-4 day workshop.

 

 

Smocking – past and present. Learn the wonderful traditional technique of English smocking and a variety of classic stitch patterns, then add in some contemporary variations in unusual materials and new stitches to create highly original textile art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Textured and layered quilt blocks.Learn how to create subtle and unusual textures in cloth for building into quilts including ripples and folds, gathering and layered surfaces in both hand and machine stitch. We will also explore some simple hand and machine embroidery techniques to add details to your quilt blocks. Use the pieces made in the workshop to create a sampler quilt or add them into a larger composition of your choice.

 

Wrap up. Try out some original and exciting techniques for wrapping and binding in thread and fabric. Cover objects as varied as twigs and plastic toys to disguise, transform and enhance these foraged and found treasures. Create amulets and precious objects or make small sculptures using silk, linen and other fibres and frame them in vintage boxes.

My teaching background

I have 12 years of experience in freelance teaching ranging from museum education sessions to academic lecturing. I worked in museum education for 8 years and taught a huge range of audiences including children, teens, adults, family activities and community groups. As a freelance artist I have worked in primary and secondary schools, with museums and galleries and with community arts organisations.

I also run training events, give textile history talks and creative business lectures and mentor other makers. I also have extensive experience of managing arts and heritage projects and have carried out consultancy for museums and arts organisations. Please explore this section to find out more. If you have any other queries please don’t hesitate to contact me. If I can’t teach what you are after, I should be able to recommend someone else.