The Double-Sided Art: Chinese Silk Shading in the Su Embroidery Tradition with Joni Zhou

£550.00 GBP

Location: Hampton Court Palace
Techniques: Su Embroidery, Silk Shading
Duration: 5 days. 10am - 4pm

Date & Time

Monday 1st - Friday 5th March 2027

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Course Description

Discover the ancient art of Chinese double-sided silk shading through this beginner-friendly workshop, designed for those new to hand embroidery or silk shading. This delicate technique uses fine silk threads to create realistic botanical designs, with a distinctive double-sided finish that means the embroidery can be viewed from either side, a characteristic of fine Su embroidery. Led by Joni Zhou (Zhou Xueqing), a Suzhou-born embroidery artist with over thirty years of experience in Su and Cantonese embroidery, who has presented work in more than ninety exhibitions worldwide and delivered a lecture at the Royal School of Needlework in October 2025, the workshop will introduce you to the materials, techniques and processes behind this traditional craft. You will begin with an introduction to silk thread, exploring its origins and composition before learning the essential technique of thread splitting. You will learn how to work with thread as fine as one-sixteenth of a strand, developing the skills needed to separate, comb and handle silk with precision. From there, you will explore the relationship between needle and thread, learning four fundamental processes: taking the needle, starting a stitch, placing a stitch and finishing a stitch. Building on these foundations, you will learn three versatile embroidery stitches: Long & Short Stitch for seamless shading, Stem Stitch for elegant outlines and Snowflake Stitch for textured detail. Each technique will be introduced through demonstration and practical stitching, with particular attention paid to thread paths and achieving a clean finish on both sides of the embroidery. By the end of the workshop, you will have begun your own botanical silk embroidery and developed the skills and confidence to continue working on the design at home. All materials, including a pre-printed botanical design on natural silk, hand-dyed silk threads and traditional needles, are included in the workshop kit.

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

Joni Zhou (Zhou Xueqing)

Joni Zhou (Zhou Xueqing) was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, in 1972, and learned embroidery from childhood under the guidance of her mother and grandmother, both accomplished embroidery artists. She completed her first independent work at the age of ten and her first large-scale composition, Flowers of Spring, during her university years (1993–1995).Her practice encompasses both Suzhou and Cantonese embroidery, and she has developed original stitch techniques — including the snowflake stitch (xue hua zhen) — that extend the classical vocabulary of both traditions. She works in silk thread split to as fine as one-sixteenth of astrand, and has completed large-scale works requiring up to eight months of continuous work.A four-time recipient of the gold medal in the Chinese Hundred Flowers Craft award, she has exhibited in East Asia, Canada, and the UK, and has embroidered multiple costumes for China's first lady. In her role as an art college professor, Joni has trained over two thousand embroidery students, encouraging each to work with empathy towards their craft.Her work has been presented in more than ninety exhibitions worldwide, including over thirty solo shows — among them her debut at the Guangdong Zhongshan Academy of Calligraphy and Painting (2006), STITCHES: Suzhou Fast Forward in Toronto (2011), and The Past and Present of Su Embroidery in London (2019). In October 2025, she delivered a lecture at the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace. She is also a cofounder of Royal Chou, a heritage craft brand that bridges Chinese Su embroidery with UK institutional partnerships.Since 2006, Joni has run her own studio in China, where shehas dedicated two decades to teaching embroidery. Her approach combines rigorous technical instruction with attention to the cultural and conceptual contexts of the work.She has taught students of all levels, from children encountering embroidery for the first time to practising artists seeking to develop advanced technique.She is the embroiderer of Self-Portrait (2025), a collaborative silk embroidery work created with artist Rachel Liang (her daughter), invited to exhibit in the forthcoming Fragile Threads exhibition at Bankside Gallery,London (February–March 2027), an RSN-led programme focused on climate change and species loss.

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: HCP27026

The Double-Sided Art: Chinese Silk Shading in the Su Embroidery Tradition with Joni Zhou

£550.00 GBP

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