Learn Floral Embellishment

Selvedge’s 2020 workshops are now available to book. In June, multidisciplinary artist Lora Avedian will host a one-day embroidery workshop in London: Mixed-Media Floral Embellishment. Here we introduce Lora and the techniques that she will be teaching.

Lora graduated with a Masters in Mixed Media Textiles from the Royal College of Art in 2017. In her work she depicts elements of narrative through textile and craft processes. Lora uses traditional embroidery and embellishment techniques to make modern artefacts, both to be worn and displayed. She favours slow processes, focusing on short run and bespoke projects.

Photo credit: Alun Callendar

Lora’s work is inspired by antique textiles and folk costume and she often uses scrap and vintage materials to create her work. Lora has made couture textiles for interiors and fashion, through collaborations with companies such as The New Craftsmen, Barbican Centre and Howe. She has showcased her work at London Craft week and London Design Festival, she also runs workshops through-out the year in various locations in a variety of craft techniques.

During the Selvedge workshop, participants will learn how to create a floral composition using a combination of flat embroidery and relief flower making. They will first learn two of Lora’s signature hand embellishment techniques, ‘couching’, which is a hand embroidery technique and pleating, using a pleating machine to create 3D petals. The petals can then be stitched onto fabric to create a flower. They will use these techniques to create their own mixed media floral composition.

At the end of the workshop everyone will have a sampler of the techniques to keep as a reference, and a small composition on linen to take home, which can be used for a number of things, for example as a cushion cover, part of a quilt or a wall hanging.

Find out more about Selvedge’s Workshops.