Mallard Drake with Megan Zanewski

£275.00 GBP

Location: Hampton Court Palace
Techniques: Silk Shading, Threadwork
Duration: 3 days. 10am-4pm

Dates

Friday the 19th - Sunday the 21st of Feb (10am-4pm)

Course Description

In this three-day course, you will explore Thread Painting through a characterful Mallard drake, captured in a split-view design above and below the water. Throughout the course, you will focus on three key elements of Megan’s approach: colour, stitch technique and design.

You will begin with a short character study of the Mallard, looking at its distinctive features and behaviour and exploring how these characteristics have been translated into embroidery. After transferring the design, you will begin stitching the upper half of the Mallard as it appears in natural light, learning how to use colour, stitch direction and blending to recreate its markings, texture and form.

You will then move below the water, where the focus shifts to creating the illusion of movement and capturing the changes in colour, light and shadow seen through an underwater filter. Through live demonstrations, Megan will guide you through stitch direction, blending and layering, showing you how subtle changes in each can create depth, movement and a sense of realism.

There is no pressure to complete the embroidery during the three days. Your kit will include additional reference materials, including a full photographic and written step-by-step stitch guide, giving you everything you need to confidently continue and complete your Mallard at home.

What you will need to bring

All of the specialist materials and equipment required for the course will be provided for you. We recommend bringing a notebook and pen if you would like to make notes throughout the course. And if you have a favourite mug, feel free to bring it along for your refreshment breaks!

Tutor Biography

Megan Zanewski

Megan Zaniewski is a self-taught embroidery artist and author based in the United States. Working from her home studio in San Antonio, TX, Megan creates realistically detailed depictions of flora and fauna in stumpwork and thread painting techniques. Birds, especially ducks and other waterfowl, are among her favorite subjects to embroider, and her split-view water embroideries are some of her most recognizable designs. Her explorations in this style have led to many opportunities to teach, write, and exhibit worldwide. She has authored two bestselling titles with C&T Publishing, Stumpwork Studio &Thread Painting (2024) and Stumpwork Studio: Mastering 3D Embroidery (2026), with a third title to be published in summer of 2027. She also contributed to Embroidery Sampler Collective(2025) and served as Technical Editor on the book, Embroidery for Dummies (2026).Megan’s patterns and work have been featured in several online and print publicationsworldwide, including Love Embroidery Magazine, Embroidery Magazine, Textile Artist, Colossal,and Homespun Magazine. She has exhibited her work in several group shows, most notably at the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, Southeast Quilt & Textile Museum, and Paradigm Gallery. In 2023, she held her first solo exhibition at the Audubon Center in Pascagoula, where her sculptural embroideries of native coastal flora and fauna were on display to thousands during their annual hummingbird migration festival. Her second solo show at Poetic Tiger Gallery in 2025 featured a collection of smaller works focused on more commonly-overlooked subjects, such as lichen, twigs, and leaves. When not embroidering, Megan enjoys reading, hiking, and photography - hobbies that continuously inspire and inform her natural designs.

Important Venue Information

Please note this is an in-person class at Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU.

On Arrival

Access to Hampton Court Palace is security controlled. Access to the Palace grounds is only available via the main Palace gate (Trophy Gate) - this is the large gate closest to Hampton Court Bridge. Access is currently not available via other gates. On arrival, walk down the drive to the Palace itself and then around the left-hand (north) side of the building until you see the vehicle security barrier and the entrance to the Security Office.

There will be a member of staff to meet you outside the Security Office at 9.45am to escort you to the classroom. You will be issued a visitor pass - please make sure that you wear this and that it is visible at all times.

Accessibility

Hampton Court Palace dates back to the 14th Century. The main RSN classrooms are on the 3rd floor which can be accessed by the Chocolate Court Stairs in Fountain Court, whilst the other classroom has an additional six steps in order to access it. The palace is very old and the walk to our classrooms may have uneven surfaces, for example cobbles, worn steps, uneven steps and slopes. Please choose footwear that is comfortable and appropriate for the conditions. Some surfaces may be slippery, particularly if they are wet from rain. There is a lift available for acces from Fountain Court to the RSN apartments but access is prioritised for those with mobility issues.

Breaks and Lunchtime

Refreshments will be provided in the morning. You may take your lunch break in our break room or within the Palace gardens. Please bring a packed lunch and drink with you as there are only two sets of Palace facilities and there are likely to be lengthy queues at lunchtime. Please remember to wear your pass at all times.

Access to toilets

There two upstairs toilets will be available, Additional toilet facilities are available in Fountain Court.

Staff

The RSN Education Team are not onsite at the weekend so please do not expect to see any on your visit, if you need to speak with or contact a member of the team please email education@royal-needlework.co.uk in the first instance.

Materials

Your kit will be ready for you in the classroom. Any additional equipment will be available to purchase or borrow from the RSN on the day. It is useful to bring a notepad and pen, a thimble if you use one and a pair of sharp, favoured embroidery scissors.

RSN Shop

The shop is located on the ground floor next to the East Front Gate and will be open between 11am-4pm. We do have a 'click and collect' pickup service option if you wish to order anything from the shop in advance and pick it up when you attend for your class. This option is available at the Online Shop checkout. Please note that five working days notice must be given to use the shop pickup service.

Photography

You may take photographs of your own work in progress, or of other students’ work with their permission. Photography of work on the walls or any RSN collection pieces is not permitted in any area of the RSN. From time to time we may wish to take photographs of your class and work in progress for publicity material to be used on-line and in print. If you would prefer not to be included in these photographs please let us know.

Checklist BEFORE you Leave Home

[ ] HCP Pass – if you have one
[ ] Embroidery Scissors
[ ] Pen and paper
[ ] Drink and packed lunch

SKU: HCP27028

Mallard Drake with Megan Zanewski

£275.00 GBP

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