Recently I have been researching further into the phenomenal embroidery company, Hand & Lock London. The company create the world's finest embellished hand embroidery; specialising in couture techniques such as gold work, military design and couture embellishment- working with clients, fashion and interior based- for example The Royal Family, Mary Katrantzou and London Fashion Week clients.
Using my embroidery knowledge, I entered a writing competition via MasteredHQ (https://www.mastered.com/), and was chosen as the winner to work with Hand & Lock London in their Festival of Embroidery. With many courses to choose from, I decided upon Tambour Beading.
Tambour Beading, known as Broderie Chainette/ Broderie de Lunéville, is a French haute couture technique in which by using a tambour hook, the application of beads and sequins to fabrics is used. This technique is frequently used in many couture fashion houses- the technique, slow; the results, perfect. I have been interested in learning the art since my recent trip to NYC and seeing it applied by the American equivalent to the London company, Penn & Fletcher.
The course proved to be extremely enjoyable, not only for being able to learn a new skill, but also to be both in the Hand & Lock studio surrounded by so many years of embroidery beauty, and to be surrounded by professionals from the textiles industry.
The technique was extremely intricate, delicate and very very fiddly to grasp. Essentially, the technique involves using continuous chain stitch motions in order to attach each embellishment one at a time. Being the first time, I didn't get too far with my piece, and found out very quickly that one wrong stitch could result in pulling out every single bead (spent a while hunting for dropped sequins on the floor) but I slowly got the hang of it by the end of the course!
Tambour beading has been an invaluable skill to learn, something that many other students looking to go into the same textiles industry may not have as a skill, therefore boosting both my portfolio and cv applications. Hopefully I will be able to return to Hand & Lock London in the near future, whether this be for a placement experience or just another course, I'll have to wait and see! In the mean time I shall be practicing this art form and hopefully begin to incorporate the skill into my third year portfolio.
