Glamis Elephant - Online Festival Class

Phillipa Turnbull
Beginner

Explore the charm of Lady Helen's 17th century wall hangings in this one-day beginner class with Phillipa Turnbull. Inspired by the playful animals which adorn a wonderful set of 17th century bed hangings in King Malcolm’s Room, this crewel work project is perfect for those new to embroidery. Phillipa’s clear, friendly instruction will introduce you to classic stitches while sharing the fascinating stories behind the castle’s unique designs. Enjoy a creative day stitching a charming elephant and look forward to completing it by the end of the day!

23 February 2026 at 7am

1 day

Crewel Work

£180.00

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Glamis Elephant - Online Festival Class
About the Design

Glamis Elephant

This playful design is part of a series of animals inspired by an extraordinary set of hangings stitched by Helen, Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne (1645-1708) (pictured right), and her daughters, Grizel and Elizabeth.

Lady Helen Middleton married Patrick, 3rd Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1662. In his Book of Record (written between 1684 and 1689), Patrick expresses deep affection for his wife and describes her as a skilful housewife and manager of domestic affairs, a wise counsellor in times of difficulty, and a devoted mother who raised her family with discretion.

Helen was also a keen embroiderer and the hangings, which feature appliquéd needlepoint slips surrounded by a lively scatter of domestic and exotic animals, reveal a distinctly playful spirit. Completed in 1683, they are thought to have taken fourteen years to make.

Kit Includes

The materials in this kit have been sourced sustainably from suppliers we know and trust, and with whom Phillipa has built relationships over decades. Our linen twill is woven in Britain, to our precise historic specifications, by one of the few remaining mills in the country. Our wool is supplied by Appletons Wools, a thriving British family business we are proud to recommend as the maker of the finest quality crewel wools. Through the creation of our kits, we are proud to support and represent British artisan manufacturers, and every element has been carefully considered for its quality and longevity.

  • Pure Linen Twill with printed outline
  • Appletons Wool Skeins
  • 4 Needles (for double and single thread)
  • A4 Stitch Chart
  • Stitch Instructions
  • A4 Colour Poster
  • Post Cards of the Design
  • Beads

Meet Your Tutor

Phillipa Turnbull

Founder of Crewel Work Company

United Kingdom 🇬🇧

The founder of The Crewel Work Company, Phillipa has over 30 years of experience as an embroidery tutor. Phillipa's style of teaching is fun and relaxed and packed with Crewel Work tips and tricks to get you feeling confident with your needle.
Learn More About Phillipa Turnbull

Class Details

Class Dates

23 February 2026

This Glamis Elephant class will take place on:

23 Feb 2026: 7am-12pm UK time (1 hour break at 9am)

Joining from another timezone? Convert your time here.

What Else Will I Need?

Frames & Other Equipment

To take part in this class, you will also need:

A 6 inch ring frame with paddle base or barrel clamp
Cling Film or Saran Wrap
Embroidery scissors
Lamp and magnifier if needed

Purchase Accessories

What Happens Next?

Receiving Your Kit

On booking your class, you’ll receive a confirmation email. This will also give you access to your Crewel Work Company Dashboard, where you’ll see that you’re enrolled in the class.

In January, your embroidery kit will be dispatched to you. This will include all the materials you need to take part in the class (excluding tools) – threads, fabric, needles, charts, and full instructions.

During January, you’ll also gain access to your course space on our community platform (Circle), where your tutor will begin preparing you for the class. This is where you can ask questions, connect with fellow students, and get ready for your stitching day.

Please review the equipment list below and allow enough time to order and receive any items you don’t already have, such as a frame or scissors.
After the class, the recordings will be uploaded to your Dashboard on our website so you can revisit the lessons whenever you wish.

Are the classes recorded?

Lifetime Access

All the Zoom workshops will be recorded and offered to those booked on to the specific class as a backup for anything they have missed or would like to go over. These recordings will be accessible indefinitely.

To access your recordings, you will need to log in to your dashboard. If you do not yet have a log in or you are having trouble accessing your account, please contact us on admin@crewelwork.com.

Log in to Your Dashboard

How do I join the class?

Accessing Zoom

This class will take place online. You will be sent the Zoom link in good time for the session by email. The link will also be accessible through our community platform.

In order to make the most of your experience, we recommend:

- Use a desktop computer or laptop to connect to the Zoom session (we don’t recommend joining with a smart phone as you will struggle to see the stitch demonstrations on the small screen. Zoom controls can also be challenging to manage on a tablet so we recommend a larger device if you have one)
- Have the Zoom software ready downloaded on your device
- Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit with a stable place to rest your device.

Secure Your Place

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