Free‑Motion Embroidery Masterclass: A Day of Creativity, Confidence and Play
There was a real buzz in the studio today as we held a full‑day Free‑Motion Embroidery Masterclass — my very first event of this kind, and what a joy it was. Free‑motion embroidery is one of my favourite techniques to teach because it’s wonderfully freeing. You don’t need to be able to draw, paint or have any formal art skills. Once the feed dogs are lowered and the fabric can move freely under the needle, it becomes all about simple movement, texture and expressive stitching.
This workshop was designed especially for people who want to explore textile art in a relaxed, supportive way — even if they don’t think they’re “creative”.
Learning the Basics: Making Marks With Thread
We began the morning by exploring how to set up the machine for free‑motion work and how to move the fabric smoothly. Instead of thinking about “drawing”, we focused on making marks, building textures, and getting comfortable with the flow of the machine.
Each student created a stitch sampler, experimenting with:
- wiggly lines
- loops
- shading effects
- tiny textures
- layered thread patterns
These samplers become a personal reference guide — a little library of stitches you can return to again and again.
Exploring Water‑Soluble Fabric: Creating Thread Lace
Next, we moved on to one of the most exciting techniques of the day: making lace from thread using water‑soluble fabric. It always feels a bit magical. Students stitched their designs into the stabiliser, then dissolved it away to reveal delicate lace made entirely of thread.
There were lots of delighted “Oh wow!” moments — my favourite part of any workshop.
Afternoon Project: A Woodland Scene in Textured Stitching
In the afternoon, we brought everything together in a woodland scene project. This included an introduction to my own version of drawn‑thread‑style stitching, which creates beautiful tree‑like textures without needing any drawing skills at all.
Students combined:
- free‑motion mark‑making
- textured threadwork
- lace elements
- soft shading
The results were stunning — each piece completely different, each one full of personality.
Students comments include:
“I loved the Free-motion embroidery class. Great fun and amazing what you can produce” -Fiona L.
“Thanks you Jen for your skills and patience. Had a fabulous day” -Sally L.”
” I had a fab time Jen. The pace was just right and I had lots to show my family…” -Carol D.
Their enthusiasm is exactly why I teach.
A Wonderful First Event — With Many More to Come
This masterclass was a milestone for me — my first full free‑motion embroidery event — and I couldn’t have asked for a better group. Watching students discover what their machines can really do, and seeing their confidence grow throughout the day, is always a privilege.
If you’d like to explore free‑motion embroidery yourself, keep an eye on my textile workshop calendar. I run regular sessions for beginners and improvers, and my Expressive Free‑Motion Techniques online course is available anytime if you prefer to learn at home.
