Gawthorpe Bed Hanging

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We are excited to announce our first limited edition release of the long-awaited Gawthorpe Bed Hanging kit. Rachel Kay Shuttleworth was inspired by the motifs, colours and techniques of the 17th century and created this colourful tree of life design and embroidered a full set of bed hangings and pelmets for her 16th Century four-poster bed.

 

This is a pre-order purchase for dispatch in Autumn 2025. A payment plan is available by contacting admin@crewelwork.com.

Community Support Sessions for 1 year

Autumn 2025 Dispatch. Payment plan available

Crewel Work

R 95,384.00
Gawthorpe Bed Hanging
About the Gawthorpe Bed Hanging

Embroider Your Legacy

We are thrilled to bring you a new and spectacular Special Edition Crewel Work Kit - The Gawthorpe Bed Hanging, a spectacular example of ‘Jacobean’ style crewel work.

This remarkable work of art is the jewel in the crown of the Gawthorpe Textile Collection along with a complete set of crewel work bedroom furnishings including a companion bed hanging, a large bedspread, a complete bed pelmet, two window pelmets, and four chair covers. These beautiful crewel work embroideries were stitched by The Honorable Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth and they took her over 10 years to complete.

This ambitious yet delightful design will take you deep into the wonderful world of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth and her home Gawthorpe Hall, and with it into the many familiar motifs seen in 17th century embroideries.

What truly sets these bed hangings apart is the skill and creativity of Miss Rachel, as she is affectionately know, displayed in the combination of colours and stitching techniques that she used to create her masterpiece.

About This Special Edition Kit

This Special Edition design offers embroiderers the chance to recreate a rare textile masterpiece, an early-20th century bed hanging embroidered by the renowned embroiderer and textile collector Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth.

  • Create your own heirloom you can treasure forever.

  • Enjoy a group experience and develop friendships with like-minded stitchers

  • Gain a profound sense of freedom with your needle

  • Feel supported by our Master Stitcher's guidance with our support sessions

  • Develop a new perspective on colour and stitch combinations.

Advanced

Prior Embroidery Experience is Recommended

The scale of this design and the breadth of techniques involved is ideal for those who have experience in embroidery and who are able to invest time in a significant project.

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What to Expect

The Highest Quality Materials

We strive to provide only the most authentic and sustainable materials with quality and longevity in mind, and to enhance your creative experience - from our specially woven 'Jacobean' Linen Twill to our favourite Appleton’s 2 ply crewel embroidery wools, the same twill and wools as used by Miss Rachel over 100 years ago.

In your kit you will receive:

  • Our historically-accurate Jacobean Linen Twill pre-printed with the design outline
  • All of the wools & needles required to complete the design with a guarantee to supply more if needed
  • A full set of stitch and colour charts and instruction booklet
  • All materials and tuition needed for mounting onto a 63 inch slate frame
  • Free delivery throughout

You will need a 63 inch (or larger) slate frame and support trestles to complete this design. We do not recommend doing it on a hoop. If you have stitched one of our other special edition designs, The Muncaster Bed Hanging or Georgian Bouquet, the slate frame you already have will be suitable.

Payment Plan Available

For those who would like to purchase the bed hanging but prefer to pay in stages, we are happy to set up a payment plan according to your needs. Please contact Frankie at admin@crewelwork.com. Emailing her ensures that you have placed your order of a bed hanging and we will be in touch to set up the payment plan as soon as we can.

Please be patient as we work through enquiries.

Stitch With a Community

Undertaking an embroidery of this magnitude can be both exciting and daunting. For this reason, we are combining the purchase of the bed hanging, with a series of online support sessions with our Master Stitcher, Harriet.

Starting in September, Harriet will support the first group of students with bi-monthly online sessions. These sessions, while not formal tuition, will offer a chance for bed hanging stitchers to ask Harriet any questions as well as an opportunity to connect with and meet others undertaking the same project.

Staggered Delivery

Delivery of this first release of the Gawthorpe Bed Hanging will take place in two parts.

The first shipment, to be dispatched in September 2025, will include the whole printed linen, as well as stitch and colour charts, and all the wools you will need to complete the top half of the design.

We will ship the wools, a new set of needles and the remaining charts, for you to complete your project in June 2026.

Support The Gawthorpe Textile Collection

Now totalling over 30,000 items, The Gawthorpe Textile Collection is a registered charity with a team dedicated to fulfilling Rachel’s vision - to teach, to support creativity and wellbeing, to support employability, to preserve traditional craft skills, and to share knowledge, skills and expertise across cultures.

10% of your purchase goes directly to supporting the Trust and the vital work it does to preserve this incredible legacy.

Kit Includes

This kit will be delivered in two parts. The first shipment will contain everything you need to complete the first half of the design. The second delivery will contain the remaining materials and information to take your piece to completion.

  • Appletons Wool Hanks
  • Appletons Wool Skeins
  • Stitch Instructions
  • A3 Stitch Charts
  • Needles
  • Pure linen twill

Support Sessions

All support sessions will take place on Thursdays at 4-6pm UK time.

Session 1

25 Sept 2025

Session focussed on how to prepare for the arrival of your kit.

Session 2

23 Oct 2025

Session focussed on how to set up your frame and work space

Session 3

20 Nov 2025

Your questions about getting started!

Session 4

22 Jan 2026

Open Q&A style session.

Session 5

26 Mar 2026

Open Q&A style session

Session 6

21 May 2026

Open Q&A style session

Session 7

23 Jul 2026

Open Q&A style session

Session 8

24 Sep 2026

Open Q&A style session

Session 9

19 Nov 2026

Open Q&A style session

You might be wondering

What size is the design?

Design size: 183 H x 98cm W (72 x 38 ½ in).
Linen Size: 233 H x 160cm W (91 ½ x 62 ½ in).

What else will I need?

You will need a 63 inch (or larger) slate frame.

The linen you will receive will have an ample 31 cm (12 in.) border all around the design. We have chosen this width (which is the maximum our speciality linen is woven to) for two reasons: (a) the additional selvedge affords a superior area to apply the twill tape and (b) so stitchers have as much flexibility as possible when finishing their design.

You may choose cut some of the additional width off your linen, if for example you already own a smaller slate frame (NB. the design itself is 38 ½ inches wide). However, if you intend to leave it as it is, your full linen width will be 62 ½ inches and you will therefore need a 63 inch frame or larger.

How do I join the live classes?

Your live support sessions with Harriet will take place on Zoom. A link will be supplied to you before each session (most likely the same link throughout) and you will be able to chat with Harriet, and support each other, through our community platform Circle.

Delivery & Returns

Packages will be sent by express delivery and shipping is included.

Unfortunately we cannot offer a refund on this course once a deposit has been placed.