Work of King’s Ely designers to feature in Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition

Photo credit: Keith Heppell.

Skilful Fashion and Textiles students from King’s Ely are excited to be showcasing their designs at the Embroiderers’ Guild exhibition, The Beautiful Stitch.

The eagerly anticipated exhibition at Ely Cathedral is the Guild’s first travelling exhibition since its move to new premises at Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury. The event is running until Thursday, February 28th.

The Embroiderers' Guild Collection is full of stories behind the techniques and styles of embroidery on display. The Guild hopes that the exhibition will inform and, in some cases, offer surprises in the perceived conception of embroidery.

The Beautiful Stitch represents the variety and scope of the collection, including textiles from the 16th century to the present day with examples of many techniques and from many countries. For the exhibition, five themes were chosen: Embroidery as Art, Embroidery in Education, Embroidery as Fashion, Embroidery as Industry, and Embroidery as Status.

The Director of Art at King’s Ely, Alison Rhodes, said: ‘We are thrilled to be part of The Beautiful Stitch exhibition at Ely Cathedral and our students have some stunning examples of Fashion Design on display. We cannot wait to celebrate all things embroidery with the thousands of people who are expected to visit the exhibition throughout February.’

The Guild was formed in September 1906 at a meeting of 16 ex-students of the Royal School of Art Needlework, under the name The Society of Certificated Embroideresses of the Royal School of Art Needlework.

Today, the Guild works to celebrate and preserve embroidery's rich heritage, and to secure its living future as contemporary art and craft. The Guild has 175 adult branches and Young Embroiderers Groups in the UK, organised in 10 regions, with a sundry range of educational and social programmes. Many of the branches and regions contribute to local activities, celebrations and educational programmes for the public benefit.

For more information about the exhibition, including opening times and ticket prices, go to: www.elycathedral.org. To find out more about opportunities at King’s Ely, please visit: www.kingsely.org.