Goldwork Personalisation Course

Location: Hand & Lock School for Embroidery & Creative Arts, 86 Margaret Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1W 8TE
Duration: 2 Day Workshop (10am - 4:30pm each day) 

Join our 2 day Goldwork Monogramming and Personalisation course and learn Hand and Lock’s specialist approach to this historic technique. You will begin by transferring your design onto fabric using the ancient prick and pounce method, a process once used by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo to map out their frescoes.

You will then move on to soft string padding, a method that raises embroidery from the surface to create sculptural relief. Using this technique you will craft your own goldwork letter and explore how padding can be shaped and tapered to form elegant lettering.

Throughout the course you will be introduced to the core techniques of goldwork. You will practise outlining, work with traditional materials and learn how to handle them with confidence. These methods form the foundation of goldwork embroidery and can be applied to many future projects.

By the end of the course you may not have completed your full monogram, but you will have all of the skills you need to finish it at home and to carry this knowledge into future work.

•  Please check your email address is correct before ordering.
• Please read all of the course description information above and the “How the Course Works” information below before booking.
• All courses are non-refundable. If you cannot attend, please let us know as soon as possible and we will try to move you to another course.
• If you have any questions, please check our FAQs page here.

This course was designed to celebrate the long tradition of monogramming and its place within Goldwork embroidery. From its origins as a mark of ownership and authority to its later role as a form of decoration and refinement, monogramming has always carried meaning. Across history, initials have appeared on garments, linens and personal items - from royal wardrobes to bridal trousseaux - transforming everyday objects into something personal and enduring. By combining this heritage with Goldwork, we wanted to create a course that shows how metallic threads, padding and texture can elevate lettering into something elegant and timeless. Whether used for small details on cuffs and collars or for larger statement pieces, these techniques give you the skills to create monograms that connect tradition with contemporary embroidery design.

Goldwork embroidery began in Byzantine and Middle Eastern traditions where shining metal threads were used to symbolise power and devotion. In the Byzantine Empire it was reserved for royalty, clergy and nobility, a clear mark of wealth and privilege.

In medieval England the craft developed into Opus Anglicanum, admired across Europe for its detail and refinement. These embroideries often included ornate lettering and inscriptions, worked in gold and enriched with pearls and silks to highlight status and meaning.

The Victorian era brought Goldwork back into fashion, with a taste for luxury and embellishment that extended to clothing, interiors and personal items. Decorative initials and ornate monograms became a popular way to personalise garments and accessories, combining fine lettering with metallic threads to create something unique and enduring.

Today Goldwork still plays an important role across the embroidery industry. At Hand & Lock we use it for military and ceremonial dress, couture fashion and bespoke commissions - including monogramming. The combination of lettering and Goldwork connects tradition with modern design, giving initials a richness and presence that makes them timeless.

• You will begin the course with an introduction to design transfer and learn the ancient embroidery technique of prick and pounce. This method predates the Renaissance and is still used in couture monogramming and personalisation embroidery today.

• Once you have accurately transferred your monogram using our template and under the guidance of our tutors, you will learn how to apply tapered soft string padding. You will practise shaping the padding under your monogram to create the most accurate and elegant relief.

• You will then be introduced to goldwork bullion purls, including smooth purl, rough purl and bright check. You will explore their properties and learn how to measure and apply them to achieve a seamless finish.

• You will also learn how to create a couture-style edging for your monogram using goldwork pearl purl. You will practise stretching the material to prepare it for use and applying it so that the finish is smooth and professional.

You will be given a full course kit with everything you need to take part. All materials and tools are provided, so you only need to bring yourself.

If you would prefer, you are welcome to bring your own mug for refreshments and your own embroidery kit. This is entirely optional and not required for the course.