Embroidery certificates

NZ Certificates of Embroidery

The aim of the Embroidery Certificate is to encourage the study of the many aspects of embroidery in depth and to provide a system of assessment which will give recognition to the results achieved by the individual student.

The aim of a certificate assessment is to set a standard to which candidates work. There are 18 specific subjects to choose from and a time span of three years is allowed for completion of a folio for the chosen subject (s). Candidates need not be a member of any Guild.

Briefly candidates are asked to show they understand the specific character of the technique being studied, to be able to evolve good designs, to experiment with stitch, to apply work to a finished article. Within each subject there is a requirement for a historical study and a modern critique. All work must be original and design and an understanding of colour is an important part of the folio work

With the completion of four certificates (one of which is Design) you may progress to a Diploma of Teaching.

GENERAL INFORMATION FROM CERTIFICATE BOOK

Assessments are held in October each year in eighteen subjects. Certificates will be awarded to successful candidates.

Assessments will be in five grades.

FAIL - Work not up to standard. Advice will be offered on how to start again.
REFERRED PASS - Work not quite up to standard and advice will be offered on how to improve for resubmission
MERIT PASS - Work being assessed as a good PASS but not quite sufficient for a PASS WITH RECOMMENDATION
PASS WITH RECOMMENDATION – Work of an excellent standard

Certificates may be assessed with a selection of the above grades, e.g. a folder may be awarded a PASS but an individual completed article may get a FAIL or a PASS WITH RECOMMENDATION. In the case of FAIL and REFERRED PASS it is expected that additional work will be submitted again within 12 months with no additional Entry Fee

The presentation of the work will be assessed as an integral part of all aspects of the work submitted.

OCTOBER 2011 UPDATE

It has been cold and wet with just a few lovely days in between so there's been plenty of time to explore books and sit down to stitch.  I have two books on colour I enjoy exploring - a vital part of every embroiderers' work !

One came from Scorpio Books in Christchurch.  Don't leave Christchurch without a visit to this wonderful store.  I do hope they are still there.  This is 'ColoWorks: the crafter's guide to color' by Deb Menz.  This book describes colour, values of colour, contrasts, harmonies, choosing colour and design.

The other I found in a second hand store 'Exploring color' by Nita Leland (ISBN 0-89134-846-8).  This book explores the history, science, and theory of colour, the language of colour, colour contrasts, harmony with light and shade and compatible colours.

Today I found a third book in the library about natural dyeing and I would encourage embroiderers to be more adventurous and perhaps try this to enhance their work.  This book  is 'Wild Colour' by Jenny Dean (ISBN 978 1 84533 569 4).

All these books would add to your understanding of colour as they are well illustrated and described.  There is also a list of books on colour in the back of your Certificate book which are well worth investigating.

A lot of meaningful discussion has been had on the whole issue of Certificates since conference 2010 and I can assure you work is in progress in answer to your concerns.

In the meantime Certificate work continues as before.  Don't forget that help is always at hand.  No question is 'too silly.'  If you need to ak it is important you get an answer.

Noeline Becker
Contact - t.becker@slingshot.co.nz.

CERTIFICATE SUBJECT TITLES

01 Appliqué
02 Blackwork
03 Canvas Work (including Florentine)
04 Counted Thread Embroidery (Cross Stitch, Double Running, Geometric Satin, Assisi)
05 Drawn Thread Embroidery I (Hardanger, Hemstitching, Needleweaving)
06 Drawn Thread Embroidery II (Filet, Russian Drawn Ground, Hedebo)
07 Machine Embroidery
08 Metal Thread Embroidery
09 Patchwork
10 Pulled Work
11 Quilting
12 Surface Stitchery
13 Cut Work
14 Design for Embroidery
15 Church Embroidery
16 Needlelace
17 Decorated Nets
18 Smocking and Fabric Manipulation

Click here to download an order form.

For more information contact Noeline Becker
76 Papanui Street
Tokoroa 3420
07 886 8347
t.becker@slingshot.co.nz