Develop ambitious embroidery projects with access to our XL embroidery frame, professional equipment and a working digital embroidery studio.

These bespoke Creative Development Days are designed for artists, designers, makers and creative practitioners who want to explore the possibilities of large-scale machine embroidery and develop a specific project, idea or body of work.

Based in our working embroidery studio in Stockton-on-Tees, you'll gain exclusive insight into how a professional digital embroidery studio operates day-to-day, while receiving one-to-one support tailored to your individual creative goals. Rather than following a fixed curriculum, each session is built around your project, helping you move an idea forward, solve technical challenges, test concepts and develop embroidery outcomes that may not be possible on standard domestic equipment.

A particular focus of these sessions is access to our XL stitch bed frame measuring 120cm x 55cm, opening up opportunities for larger-scale embroidery, contemporary textile work, installation pieces, fashion development, surface design and experimental projects.

Whether you're developing artwork for exhibition, exploring embroidery as part of a wider creative practice, creating samples for a collection, or investigating how stitch can translate an idea into fabric, these sessions provide dedicated time, specialist equipment and expert guidance within a real production environment.

These development days are ideal for:

• Textile artists
• Contemporary artists
• Fashion designers
• Surface pattern designers
• Makers and craftspeople
• Creative practitioners
• Researchers and postgraduate students
• Curators and exhibition makers
• Anyone interested in exploring the creative potential of digital embroidery

Areas of exploration may include:

• Translating artwork into embroidery
• Working at larger scales
• Creative sampling and experimentation
• Stitch as a drawing or mark-making process
• Textile-based installation and exhibition work
• Material testing and fabric exploration
• Combining embroidery with other creative disciplines
• Design development and project planning
• Understanding embroidery processes and production methods
• Creative use of stitch, texture and surface
• Digitising support where required
• Technical problem-solving and project development

Each session is tailored to the individual, and projects vary greatly in scope and complexity. While we will work towards a clearly defined goal, some projects may require additional development beyond a single day. Where stitch-outs or production samples form part of the process, timings can only be estimated once final artwork and technical requirements have been reviewed.

Before confirming your booking, you'll be asked to complete a short project questionnaire so we can understand your ideas, objectives and any technical requirements. This allows us to shape the day around your project and ensure you get the maximum value from your time in the studio.

While these sessions are focused on creative development rather than formal software training, Wilcom E4 tuition can be incorporated where helpful as part of your project. If you'd like support with digitising, file preparation or understanding the software, simply let us know how we can help achieve your vision when completing the enquiry form, and we'll tailor the session accordingly.