May Morris: Maids of Honour

Deborah Wilding
Advanced
Coming soon to our online course offering. Step into the world of Arts and Crafts embroidery with this inspiring online course led by renowned textile tutor and artist Deborah Wilding.

Expected in 2028

Course Length TBC

Crewel Work

May Morris: Maids of Honour
About the Original Embroidery

May Morris: Maids of Honour

The “Maids of Honour” design was created by May Morris, the daughter of William Morris and a pioneering figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. May Morris was celebrated for her exceptional talent as a designer and embroiderer, and her work helped to redefine the role of women in the decorative arts.

This particular design, “Maids of Honour,” is notable for its graceful depiction of a central rose bush with corner swans, entwined by intricate floral motifs and flowing lines characteristic of the Arts and Crafts style. It embodies May’s signature approach—combining historical inspiration with a fresh, naturalistic sense of composition and colour.

“Maids of Honour” stands as a testament to May Morris’ enduring legacy and her contribution to the revival of traditional embroidery techniques.

About this course

During a series of classes, Deborah will guide you through creating your own interpretation of the exquisite May Morris: Maids of Honour, exploring the beauty of the original design while introducing a rich variety of traditional embroidery stitches.

  • Learn about May Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, and explore the history and design behind the original embroidery.

  • Expand your stitch repertoire by learning a variety of traditional embroidery techniques beyond the simple darning stitch used in the original.

  • Develop confidence in your embroidery as you explore texture, colour and stitch to bring this beautiful design to life.

  • Enjoy a group experience, forming friendships with like-minded stitchers from around the world.

  • Create your own embroidered heirloom, inspired by one of May Morris’s beautiful designs.

  • Enjoy the mindful, meditative process of embroidery while developing your skills and creativity.

Advanced

Suitable for students with advanced experience of embroidery

This advanced course is designed for experienced embroiderers with a good understanding of traditional embroidery techniques. Experience working with a slate frame is also required.

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Advanced

What's Included

Embroidery Tuition with Deborah

Deborah Wilding is a highly skilled embroidery tutor and designer, renowned for her expertise in traditional hand embroidery. With years of experience teaching a wide range of techniques, including crewelwork, goldwork and counted thread embroidery, Deborah brings a wealth of knowledge, patience and enthusiasm to her teaching.

For this course, Deborah has created her own taught interpretation of May Morris: Maids of Honour, exploring the beautiful Arts and Crafts design while introducing students to a wider range of embroidery techniques. The original embroidery is worked almost entirely in a simple darning stitch; Deborah’s interpretation brings the design to life through a rich variety of stitches, allowing students to explore texture, colour and dimension while remaining inspired by May Morris’s original composition.

Throughout the course, Deborah will guide you through the techniques and stitches needed to create your own interpretation of this historic design.

Between classes, you’ll have access to Deborah through our private community platform for questions, support and feedback as your work progresses.

The Kit

In your kit you will receive the materials you need to create your own embroidered interpretation of May Morris’s Maids of Honour. Each material has been carefully selected for its quality and suitability for the project.

  • A selection of La Nollin fine wools for stitching the design
  • Ulster Weavers printed linen
  • Stitch charts and supporting materials

A Shared Experience

A wonderful outcome of our long courses is the connection that evolves between students. During this course, you will have access to our new private community space, which is accessible directly from your dashboard.

On this platform, you will be able to:

  • Ask questions and troubleshoot with your tutor
  • Chat with fellow students and share progress
  • Access the live sessions and subsequent recordings
  • Check for updates from the tutor and the CWC team
“The quality of the materials and the live classes is astounding. Worth every penny. It feels like you are creating an heirloom.”
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Meet Your Tutor

Deborah Wilding

Professional Embroidery tutor and Fellow of the RSN

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

Deborah Wilding is a distinguished embroidery artist. With a background in fine arts, Deborah has developed a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for the natural world, which is reflected in her exquisite embroidery designs.
Learn More About Deborah Wilding

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Optional Extras

Optional finishing (as a fixed cover or a chemise) and Book Binding will be available towards the end of this course for an additional fee.

Shipping & Returns

Packages will be sent by tracked and signed delivery for a small fee of £12.95 (approx. USD$19). Please note that packages will be shipped a month before the start of this course.

You may cancel your place up to 6 months before the start of the course. Unfortunately after that time, we cannot refund your payment.