Hand & Lock Diploma Testimonials

'Let me seize the occasion to extol Lucy’s teaching and her exceptional ability to create a community out of a Zoom class. Lucy’s  willingness to teach us whatever we wanted and her encouragement built my confidence and made me stretch my imagination. I’m happily looking forward to refining my design — previously the most daunting aspect of the course. The class critiques were exceptionally useful, both as giver and as recipient, and I am grateful that there will be zoom meetups for us to stay in touch with our classmates.  Thank you for the opportunities you bring us. I loved the fast pace of the tutoring! It allowed Lucy to teach a huge number of techniques. Her encouragement to refine and adapt to a given technique spurred me to be more playful and spontaneous in my stitching'

'I found this unit to be challenging in terms of the embroidery techniques, and I learnt a great deal - far more than I could ever have imagined! The tutoring was supportive, clear, well paced, and inclusive. The resources were excellent and the communication and teamwork from the whole group made each session fun and lively. The WhatsApp group is a brilliant idea and an easy way to share ideas and thoughts as well as feedback. It most definitely supports well being and I cannot wait to realise my final piece. Thank you Hand and Lock for a beautifully contemporary and well designed Diploma Unit!'

'The weekly presentations by Charlotte were thought provoking, educational and creatively inspiring.  I loved the historical perspectives provided as much as the contemporary applicability. Lucy's expertise as the course creator and expert embroidery-technique tutor, combined with her encouragement for us to "have fun" and "go for it" was inspiring and educational, yet filled with sound criteria of what is expected and achievable.  Thank you for all of your hard work and time sharing the love of embroidery and beyond. This course greatly exceeded my expectations, not only by the quality of the instruction, but also by the overall content and expertise included.  The amount of preparation and attention to every detail was simply exceptional!  Thank you for an amazing course!'

'The tutoring was excellent and the feedback given was thorough and personalised to support each student's ideas and level of skill. The preparation for each session was also excellent and was delivered at the correct pace so that everybody made progress. A very enjoyable 10 weeks, can't wait for the next module!'

'The design process was very good, making it more specific for the theme of the unit helped enormously.Lucy is a wonderful teacher, giving practical tips besides very technical information. Her own mastery of embroidery is amazing to watch and also inspiring. listening to the other embroiderers was also a great help, we could commiserate together if they didn't go as planned!'

'The unit was absolutely incredible - I cannot believe how much we covered in 10 weeks, but it didn’t in any way feel rushed! We tackled a huge number of technical skills which is so wonderful to learn in their own right and so helpful when considering my final piece. The design teaching was also great - Lucy gave really helpful feedback and it was great to see not only my design but also other people’s evolve over the ten weeks. The whole unit was incredible and inspirational and I can’t wait to start my final design!'

'At any given time I felt that Lucy was going above and beyond to really support me in my personal learning journey. She listened and supported me in what I set out to achieve. There was never a "one fits all" approach - on the contrary. She also challenged me to stretch my creativity and I couldn't be happier with my results. The online tuition was well structured and there was always enough time for each and everyone's questions. The high streaming quality of the camera equipment is also worth mentioning. I was always able to see exactly what Lucy was demonstrating which is important when you receive online tuition. What I didn't expect was how industry relevant the tuition would be. I really appreciated this aspect of the course. I totally loved being part of this ultra creative supportive course / group. I learned so much and this was only the first module! I am already looking forward to my next module in September. Thank you for this amazing experience, I love being on this creative journey with you!'

'The teaching, instruction, demonstrations and resources are all of an exceptionally high quality. Lucy created an environment where everyone contributed, were encouraged to explore their own unique designs, were inspired to try new things and learn new techniques as well as feeling a new belonging to a community of like - minded people. The embroidery is superb and the social connections within this group have been outstanding and I feel will continue after this 10 weeks. The WhatsApp group is an inspired idea and is a lovely way to share ideas and communicate with each other as well as with Lucy - who always responds and makes time for everyone. A huge thank you for a brilliant experience! I am already looking forward to my next Hand and Lock experience with Lucy and the tutors on this Diploma. The course has traditional roots which are taught brilliantly, and then these are taken further with a contemporary twist. It is clear that the planning, thinking, and content of this course has been thoroughly thought through and expertly delivered - to allow people of all backgrounds and starting points to succeed and feel valued. Thank you'

'When you only have one life to live and need to juggle between your job and your passion, online courses can be a real lifesaver. I've sampled a wide array of courses in various languages, but none have impressed me quite like the Hand & Lock London School.
They have a unique touch that I find nowhere else. Hand & Lock mix professionalism with an interactive online experience, making learning enjoyable and engaging. Explaining the complex details of embroidery techniques while ensuring that even the shyest students feel comfortable participating is no easy performance, but they manage it admirably!
I am so thrilled with their courses that I've taken the plunge and enrolled in their new “Diploma” program. And guess what? I am already loving every moment of it! If you're on the lookout for something new and exciting to learn, I highly recommend giving Hand & Lock London School a try. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!'

'This is the third unit I have taken part in this year. I have found Lucy to be helpful and very knowledgeable about each part of this unit. I am going to miss the zoom calls in the next few weeks. Roll on September when my next two units start. Thank you to Lucy and the staff at hand and lock for the prompt service and the support and advice given to all students on the diploma course.'

'Lucy is an excellent tutor, everything was explained and demonstrated in great detail and nothing was too much trouble. I would thoroughly recommend this course, it is the first diploma unit I have completed and I feel it has already taken my embroidery and design skills to a new level'

'Lucy, Freya and Charlotte were absolutely brilliant!  They made sure that we have all the help and guidance possible and made the diploma so enjoyable. I loved every part of it and even though I have taken many classes before there were still techniques that were new to me. The design element was very enjoyable and taught me a lot about how I approach things and the style I like. Overall I was very impressed. Looking forward to the remaining units!'

'Just a very happy thank you. Not just for Lucy’s many stitching and design skills but for her communication skills, her kindness and her positivity.'

'It is a cleverly built-up program. The combination of enhancing the design and technical/stitching skills has landed us in a place where we could learn faster by doing and by observing/researching. The length of the program is sufficient to get the hang of design thinking.'

'The experience was inspiring. Even though in Australia the teaching is at 3am I do not feel disadvantaged as the recordings are excellent.'

'Lucy was fantastic throughout. This is my third Diploma module and all three have been wonderful. The demonstrations work well, and Lucy is always willing to repeat things, talk through anything that's not working or show us alternatives if relevant. I also think it's great that the second half of the course has such scope for adaptation to suit the projects the group has designed - I learned a huge amount from demos and inspiration put into the group that linked to others' projects and think Lucy does a great job of balancing teaching the excellent course she and Freya and other members of the school have designed with keeping things flexible enough to enable everyone to succeed at whatever they have imagined. The teaching is absolutely top-notch, in my opinion!'

'I enrolled in the Hand & Lock Diploma online course, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. This online format is an excellent opportunity - as I don’t live in the UK, I can finally benefit from Hand & Lock’s exceptional teaching from afar. The beautiful embroidery materials arrived in advance, carefully packaged in a lovely box, making the experience even more special. I have already completed four sessions of the Goldwork Module with Lucy Martin, who not only shares her incredible expertise but also her enthusiasm, creativity, and deep passion for embroidery. She is attentive to our questions, explains techniques with clarity, and motivates us every step of the way. The live video sessions are well-structured - the close-ups make it easy to follow every stitch and gesture. Plus, each session is recorded, allowing us to review and absorb the techniques at our own pace. Each module comes with comprehensive and well-crafted pedagogical documentation, which enriches the learning experience. This Diploma Course is beautifully designed, intense, and truly inspiring - I highly recommend it to anyone passionate about embroidery!'

'Lucy is outstanding not only at teaching difficult techniques but at creating an environment that builds the individual student’s confidence and encourages the exchange of ideas and support. Lucy has unlocked something in me — I had never designed anything before and have come away from the course excited to do more. Embroidery has become even more pleasurable and vibrant and full of possibility. Finally, thank you for offering this course. I have learned more than I could have imagined, and I love embroidery even more than I did before'

'It is such a great experience for me to be part of this adventure, kind of mind blowing. In Germany it’s difficult to find an inspiring and knowledgeable environment for embroidery, textiles craftsmanship, textile arts. I learned so much form your wonderful teaching, Lucy, how the diploma is constructed, so challenging and engaging, and I want to thank all of you for sharing your ideas and thoughts, its inspiring!'

'I found Lucy very helpful and nothing was too much trouble. Her answers were alway helpful and informative. She always had time to share her knowledge with us all. Lucy was very good at getting the best out of us all with her enthusiasm and encouragement. I have enjoyed this unit very much. I have learned a lot. I am looking forward very much to my next unit. I would like to thank you all at Hand and Lock for this great diploma'

'I am on the new Hand and Lock Diploma course - it is amazing! Learning new knowledge and so many new skills, as well as meeting incredible people from all over the world. Lucy and Freya are wonderful. The whole experience is remarkable - thank you. I would highly recommend any embroidery class….and particularly the new Diploma! Brilliant'

'An excellent Diploma Module, with a well-constructed structure between technical demonstrations, the creative process and discussions. Above all, a committed and passionate teacher. This course taught me a lot and gave me more confidence'

'Clear, enthusiastic, confidence building, absolutely faultless. A stunning course, planned and executed so professionally, with inspired teaching by Lucy. We also had confidence building support and feedback both during and between sessions. I am already signed up to another module and plan to do the full set'

'Lucy Martin and Hand & Lock have developed a wonderful diploma opportunity. I’ve learnt so much about Goldwork, techniques, design processes, and development of final pieces. I’m very grateful to have participated in this Diploma unit.  Kudos to Lucy and H & L!!'

'That was quite simply the best choice I ever made. Charlotte's flexible teaching of mark making and design and Lucy's steadfast belief that we could all succeed have actually banished all my earlier feelings of inadequacy - unbelievably, I am now acquiring a 6ft embroidery frame and gearing up to make a 2 x 3m 6-panelled silk screen featuring silk painting, flock, foil and many different embroidery techniques, and I no longer care that some of the lines in my drawings wobble. I am INCREDIBLY grateful to you both and all my fellow students for forming such an encouraging and creatively inspiring group and facilitating what feels like an intensely meaningful transformation for me, and look forward to the Diploma 'Sip and Stitch' sessions and - in a sentence I never thought I'd say - to submitting my work for feedback in a few weeks so I can continue to benefit from Lucy and Charlotte's advice and support to finalise my screen. Thank you again for putting together such a fantastic module and course!!'

'Thank you so much Lucy and Charlotte! It was such a great experience and I learnt so much. I really loved challenging myself with learning the painting and colour mixing skills, which I had thought I was no good at and so had stopped trying! It was so exciting to see that I can do it with the right instruction. It has given me much more confidence in being able to design original interior pieces and in choosing the different types of embroidery embellishment to go with it. Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful course combining so many varied and useful skills. It's been a joy!'

'As a visual artist and bespoke tailor, I wasn't an expert in embroidery - but that's exactly what made the diploma so exciting for me! It was a wonderful challenge to immerse myself in this world: learning stitch by stitch, working with a wide variety of materials and creatively exploring a theme. This intensive exploration of needlework really inspired me - and I enjoyed every minute of it. My interest in exploring different textile handicrafts, learning from the best and combining the learnt with my own expression was perfectly fulfilled. Lucy’s guidance was incredibly inspiring—both technically and creatively. Her demonstrations fostered such a warm, collaborative atmosphere, and our exchanges were always lively and fun. I’m really looking forward to continuing this process, refining my work, and seeing everything come together for the final submission'

'Currently I am halfway through the Interiors course for the Hand and Lock Diploma and I am loving every second of it! First of all: I think it’s amazing they offer the course online, so while I live in the Netherlands I am still able to attend school and learn new things! Secondly the teachers from the course (Lucy and Charlotte) are very kind and bubbly. And besides being always very inspired by them, I am also feeling very welcomed! They really try to get the best out of everyone and get you out of your comfort zone (in regards to embroidery). Overall: I really hope to do more courses in the future!'

'I have recently started the diploma and my experience has been nothing but positive, Charlotte was an amazing guest tutor and Lucy and Freya are brilliant. The quality of tuition is high, these ladies are very talented. The class sizes are nice and it’s lovely to experience this with people from all over the world. Online classes are so well done you don’t feel like you’re missing out because you’re not face to face. The kits for the classes come early so you have everything ready before your course starts. They are always nicely presented and made up of quality materials and the pdf resources are great. When I have purchased supplies, again the range of materials are fabulous - a little treasure trove. It’s good to know whatever you buy from the shop will be of good quality. They arrive at a good time too. Hand and Lock are a rare institute that encourages a positive, creative community and continuously keeps a high standard. Students are worldwide, which is really lovely.'

'I wanted to let you know how empowering this module has been for me on a personal level. I used to voraciously design and make art (including using textiles, but mostly via drawing, watercolours, oils etc.) continuously throughout my teens and twenties, but had thought I'd lost the ability after a serious bout of illness left me with shaky hands and struggling to create things I felt proud of. I signed up for this Diploma having seen the beautiful sample pieces at a time when my work had pushed me into burnout, hoping that I'd enjoy making samples and learning new techniques even if I never really mastered them and intending to try to use the modules to try to build something arty/crafty back into my life.'

'I have loved all of the courses I’ve taken with Hand & Lock so far. Lucy, Freya and Charlotte are all so encouraging and uplifting to be around and have been really inspiring tutors to learn from. Their teaching has helped me to develop my skills in various forms of hand embroidery, as well as flocking and foiling. Each course has been full of different techniques and their kits include a range of exciting materials to experiment with. I can’t wait to finish the Hand & Lock Diploma and take more courses in the future!!'

'I've recently started the Embroidery diploma with Hand and Lock and am thoroughly impressed by the course so far. All lessons are taught via Zoom, with clear instruction from the lovely friendly tutors Lucy and Freya. We are shown close ups of how to work each stitch in detail and have plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions. Lucy and Freya are brilliantly encouraging and positive in their teaching methods and feedback to students and the creation of WhatsApp groups enable all students to share photos of their work and discuss materials etc.Each module of the course comes with its own beautifully packaged kit of supplies needed which are a delight to use.Communication is excellent, right from enrolling on the course some months ago, to regular email and WhatsApp updates each week. I would thoroughly recommend this course.'

'I recently started the new Diploma course being run by the Lucy & Freya of the Hand & Lock School and it is FANTASTIC! I am learning so much - and the teaching is well-paced and really focuses on supporting everyone as well as developing each person’s skill, accuracy and technique. I also love the focus on design - I can already see myself moving towards making my own bespoke pieces, which not so long ago would have been a fairly far-off dream. Thank you so much Lucy and Freya - and of course it wouldn’t do to forget Charlotte’s fab teaching of flocking, foiling and silk painting for interiors!'

'Lucy has provided (always does :) ) an empowering atmosphere where I could see the “design” part doable and fun. She supported every design idea and pointed out the strengths of my work, giving me enough “fuel” for the next weeks. It was again an amazing experience learning from Lucy! Thank you so much!'

'I’ve taken many classes from Hand and Lock and am now in their diploma program. Nothing in the US is even remotely close in quality and content. Lucy and Freya teach the classes for all levels of experience in a kind and gentle manner. After having taken so many classes I was beginning to get a little bored, but wham! They upped the ante by starting the diploma program, the most challenging embroidery classes I have encountered.'

'I’m currently on the diploma course and I’m absolutely loving it. Hand and Lock are a fantastic company who have some of the best tutors I’ve come across. Lucy, Freya and guest tutor Charlotte are all amazing. Would highly recommend the courses.'

'I’ve taken a few Hand & Lock courses and been to the studio for a tour. I really can’t recommend their school and shop enough - knowledgeable staff and tutors, accompanying kits for classes are generous and exquisitely presented and the tutors’ knowledge is second to none. I’m doing another Embroidery school’s diploma at the moment and I will be signing up when I’m finished to do a second diploma at Hand & Lock - their experimental teaching style is exemplary and their generosity of sharing their knowledge and experiences is their strength. In a modern world - they are flying the flag for age old embroidery and embellishment techniques but bringing them squarely into the 21st century. What are you waiting for? Sign up today and begin your creative journey today - you won’t regret it!'

'This unit has been absolutely fantastic! I loved the community Lucy and Charlotte so skillfully created amongst our group, and I learned a huge amount both about the technical aspects of embroidery and design/embellishment techniques for interiors. My favourite techniques were probably the 'shiny' ones, as I'm a bit of a magpie at heart - so I have just loved learning about the various ways to use bullions and metal threads, couching, crushed metals, beading and foiling as ways to realise a design in thread, fabric and paint.'

'Lucy's Jewellery and Wearable Art module was perfectly designed and the teaching was great - consistently patient, encouraging and effective, and with opportunities later on to request demos on particular topics and get tailored, step-by-step support with things you'd found difficult or wanted to add into your final piece. I went from barely being able to work on organza without pulling too hard and making holes to being confidently able to stitch my piece despite the small scale of many of the parts. I've always wondered how embroidered jewellery and stumpwork flowers (among other things) were made, and now I can do it too! I have enrolled on all five Diploma units this year, and am very much looking forward to working on the next one (Goldwork) and continuing to work on my final pieces for the first two in the coming months. Thank you Lucy for a fabulous unit!'

'I’ve recently started the Hand and Lock Diploma. I am so impressed with the quality of the kit, which contains a large quantity of beautiful supplies. The online teaching by Lucy and Freya is highly professional and helpful. The creation of WhatsApp groups for each module means that I can interact with other students, and we are sharing ideas, progress with homework and problems there too. I have studied with other hand embroidery schools, both online and in person. My experience with Hand and Lock is in a class of its own; it’s relaxed, encouraging and supportive at the same time as being challenging. It’s also great value for money. I’m looking forward to other Diploma modules.'

'I can’t recommend Hand and Lock highly enough! From their gorgeous shop of high quality products to their incredible teaching that’s helped me rediscover myself as an artist over the years. I’m currently doing the diploma and loving it. The tutors are so supportive and encouraging, you can ask questions without judgement and bond with other students throughout the process'

'I’ve just recently discovered Hand & Lock’s wonderful online courses. I’ve had the pleasure of having Lucy Martin as my tutor and I am in awe of the talents that this girl has. When I learned how young she was, I was further in awe. The versatility of things that she does, and she does extremely well is just amazing. And to top it off, she is incredibly calm, confident and very funny. I can’t say enough about how well the courses are run, the content is just incredible and the quality of the products is second to none.'

'I come from a different creative background to embroidery and I wanted a challenge in the Diploma, whilst being supported as I learn the different techniques. I get that in abundance in enjoyable classes. The tutors are great fun but at the same time so professional.'

'Thoroughly enjoyed 3D hand beading and learnt a great deal about beading - the origins of the art form and how it developed through history to more contemporary uses today. Great to learn from others in the group from a huge range of backgrounds - from all over the world. Superb content, delivery and challenge as well as support speaks to the needs of the individual. Thank you for a wonderful 10 weeks of design and embroidery. Lucy’s knowledge of embroidery - techniques, resources, equipment and supplies - and the intricacies of shipping in the UK and internationally - is incredible and inspiring. You are truly hearing and learning from an expert'