When Hand & Lock first teamed up with the National Army Museum over four years ago, we knew it would be something special. As one of our earliest external partnerships, it holds an important place in our story - a chance to explore the rich and detailed world of military embroidery alongside an institution dedicated to preserving it.
It all started with a visit to the museum’s archive facility in Stevenage, kindly arranged by Belinda and the NAM team. Walking through rows of thousands of historic military artefacts was truly impressive. From tanks and war medals to a section of the Berlin Wall and objects from Oliver Cromwell’s funeral, the archive offers a sweeping look at military history.
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From History to Needle and Thread
During that visit, we were invited to explore their collection of military embroidery and regalia, carefully selecting pieces that would translate well into stitch. The result was a series of designs worked in metal threads, silk floss and traditional goldwork techniques, brought to life by the Hand & Lock team. These samples formed the basis of our first joint course in 2021 - and we’ve been running workshops there regularly ever since.
Today, we hold workshops at the museum every few months, designed for embroidery lovers and history fans alike. Each class is hosted in partnership with the museum’s curator Mel, who brings the objects to life with context, commentary and enthusiasm. The museum often arranges for original pieces from Stevenage to be on hand, making each session feel unique.
We’ve been lucky to work with some great people along the way - including Danny, the Museum’s Programmes & Community Engagement Producer, who has been a fantastic collaborator. Full of energy and ideas, he’s helped make the workshops run smoothly and feel special.
“When we first started working with Hand & Lock, we didn’t realise we’d build such a close partnership,” says Danny. “Over the past four years, their courses have brought our collection’s history to life. It’s been great to see so many people come back again and again to try new designs created by the Hand & Lock team.”
“The whole Hand & Lock team have been wonderful to work with, but I want to especially thank Lucy and Freya. Their passion and knowledge have made them brilliant partners, and we really appreciate how they’ve helped grow this partnership.”
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Where Embroidery and Archives Meet
The National Army Museum team continues to be generous with their time, expertise and archives - and we’re excited to find new ways to grow our collaboration.
Most recently, we joined forces for London Craft Week, running talks and demonstrations. Mel opened the evening with a fascinating lecture on the history of British military embroidery, followed by a talk from Hand & Lock exploring our company’s history back to 1767 and our roots in military embellishment and royal commissions.
To finish, Freya gave a live demonstration of goldwork and tambour beading - two techniques with strong ties to ceremonial dress. This partnership remains one of our most valued. It reflects our shared passion for heritage, storytelling and keeping the art of embroidery alive and relevant.
Keep an eye out for future workshop dates, and if you’re interested in military embroidery, we highly recommend visiting the National Army Museum.
| Learn more about the National Army Museum | See Hand & Lock's upcoming External Embroidery Courses |
Author: Lucy Martin
