A two-day residential course to develop your hand-stitchery skills in a quality hotel at Bristol. Your course starts with Friday dinner at 7 pm and runs through to Sunday afternoon tea, but you can check in from 3 pm and take advantage of the hotel’s facilities before you meet your fellow students. Fees include an en suite double room for single occupancy, tuition, use of course room, full board and refreshments, along with free wifi, and access to the fully equipped health club and indoor pool. Bedrooms have TV, tea and coffee making facilities, a desk and seating area for relaxing. The Hilton Bristol is by the junction of the M4 and M5 and close to Bristol Parkway Station.

Developed in Ireland during the 19th century, Mountmellick embroidery is a white on white technique used mainly for household and bed linen. Worked on cotton sateen fabric in thick matte threads, the designs are usually floral, with raised, padded and knotted stitches. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced embroiderer, here is your chance to get back to basics and learn the rules before being asked to bend them. Pat Trott will show you how to produce a range of helpful working samples while you gain a firm knowledge of this technique, which employs many varied and beautiful stitches. By the time you go home, you will have gained enough experience and knowledge to identify Mountmellick embroidery, know what materials and equipment are needed and be able to execute a great variety of stitches. Pat Trott’s main passion in life is embroidery and stitchery of all kinds. She holds City and Guilds Creative Studies – Embroidery – Parts I and II, and has had many pieces of her work selected for exhibitions, both at home and overseas. Pat has many years’ experience of teaching adults including at such prestigious locations as Hampton Court. She has written books on Mountmellick embroidery and three dimensional stitches.