Harmony with Nature Casket Online Class

Course Type, Length, and Start Date 

Project

24-months.  January 1st, 2025, Rolling admissions allowed. 

Subscription Payments

Paying in full is also a ~5% discount from installment plans.  The installment plans have changed to have a total of seven shipments vs 2-3 shipments when paying in full.  That is why there is a discount for paying in full.  Payment in full by button above.  If prefer paying by Installment - click the gold link to be taken to PayPal for a subscription.   Please send me your preferred email for lessons.

18-months USA Shipping ($205.33/month)

18-months Canada Shipping ($210.33/month)

18-months Rest of World Shipping ($215.85/month)

Kit Contents

Note, there are 20 caskets/kits left.

Ove 230 packages of silk and metal threads, silk purls, stumpwork glass eyes, stumpwork wire, stumpwork fruit forms, linen fabric, frames, casket box and lid inserts, and finishing materials (silk lining, lining papers, gilt edge papers, gilt woven edging ribbons (2 types), hardware, silk ribbon, mirror, glue, etc) for the entire project including 560 pages of instructions that are printed from pdf pages online, seven stitch animations and nine hours of details finishing videos (21 videos). 

Course Overview

If you’ve ever dreamed of working with the unique threads from the Cabinet of Curiosities Historic Colors Collection (and other collections on this site), this is the perfect project for you. This is your chance to create a stunning masterpiece with embroidered panels, using new techniques, threads, and challenges that will push your skills and help you become a true master embroiderer.

While you might love the design as it is, it was created with flexibility and creativity in mind. The design features oval and circular cartouches—these serve as vignettes within the surrounding floral elements. I love helping students explore new ideas for these vignettes, and many have taken the opportunity to make the design their own, whether by adding personal touches or changing elements.

For example, you can incorporate cross stitch or tent stitch into the ovals and circles, either as appliqué or worked directly on the ground fabric, which allows you to reduce the amount of needlelace required. Many students have chosen to add personal touches, such as incorporating depictions of their home, family, pets, or other beloved subjects. You can even swap the major flower heads for varieties indigenous to your area—customizing the colors and details to reflect your own style and surroundings.

Think of the design as a framework—a starting point to guide you in exploring how to use the threads creatively. I absolutely love seeing how students make the piece their own!

Course Structure and Details

• The course will be an 'all-in-one' course with everything provided.

• Casket is 11.5" wide x 8" deep and 6" high with feet

• There will be between 2-3 shipments for the course if paid in full.  The installment plan will have seven shipments.  The linen, frames and threads will be shipped first.  For installment payments, the first shipment is divided into five boxes vs 1 box.  A second shipment will include the finishing materials and the last box will include the wooden box.  The shipments are timed to correspond to payment milestones.  
• Orders paid in full will have access to all lessons if desired and materials shipped all at once.  Materials are only shipped after students have been given fair warning with an email so they can track the shipments and give notice of vacation holds.
  
• Customs duties are the responsibilities of the student. I can not ship marked "gift" or "educational materials".

If you are interested in taking the course or finding out more, email me at tricia@alum.mit.edu  

Course Flexibility

At Thistle Threads, we understand that life’s commitments can make it difficult to focus on a course every month. That’s why my courses are designed to be self-paced, allowing you to learn at your own rhythm. You can take breaks when needed, and the course material will remain available to you, often serving as a valuable reference for future projects once completed.

Course Access and Delivery

Upon the start date of the course, you’ll receive a username and password to access my teaching site on the Thinkific platform. Logging in will immediately give you access to the first lesson, ready for download. Course materials will primarily be provided in PDF format, but may also include additional resources like stitch diagram animations, and videos.

Once the course is completed, you’ll receive access to non-public YouTube playlists, where videos and animations will be available for future reference and continued learning.

Access Timeframe

Course materials must be downloaded within three months of the course's conclusion. During the course, all lessons—including new ones and previously released content—will be accessible. So, if you’re unable to log in during a month, you can always catch up by reviewing any missed lessons at your own pace.

Prerequisites

This course assumes a basic understanding of embroidery. While you don’t need to be a master of stumpwork already, a willingness to explore new techniques and challenge yourself is essential.

A major focus of the course will be the couching of unique threads, and detailed instructions for all the necessary stitches will be provided. You’ll receive step-by-step guidance, along with specific diagrams for the motifs, and animations showing how the stumpwork stitches are executed.

The course covers everything you need: from couching and needlelace, to working with different thread types, framing your linen, and tracing patterns. The stitching is divided into approximately 50% couching unusual threads, 25% satin stitch and French knots, and 25% needlelace. The main emphasis will be on working with the custom-made threads for this project, learning the intricacies of needlelace, and perfecting the finishing techniques—skills that will be new to many stitchers.

I’ve also posted a blog with comments and insights from previous students, so you can hear directly from others who've taken the course. 

One of the biggest challenges for students is achieving the proper tension with filament silk. This technique takes practice, but don’t worry—a video demonstrating the correct tension techniques is available in the Martha Edlin Mini-Course ($15). The best prerequisite is simply a willingness to try and explore new methods.