‘we are very busy making Edward’s shirts and I am proud to say that I am the neatest worker of the party’.
Jane Austen, September 1796

Join specialist hand embroiderer Jenny Adin-Christie for an exclusive embroidery course, creating a unique needle case design inspired by Jane Austen’s life, works and legacy – and the beautiful house where she lived and wrote.

About the design:
Jenny has created a bespoke design for a needle case, inspired by Jane Austen and the collection at Jane Austen’s House.

Over the week-long course, students will have the chance to work on site at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton – Jane Austen’s home for the last eight years of her life – and to learn all the key embroidery and construction techniques required to create this very special heirloom project. Find out more about the design..

Class kit:
To create the design, the ticket cost includes a project kit containing all fabrics, threads, construction materials and needles required, plus fully illustrated instruction manual (value £240).

Jane Austen’s House exclusives:
The course will take place in the Learning Centre at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, where Jane Austen wrote or revised and had published her six beloved novels. Situated in the pretty cottage garden, just a stone’s throw from the House itself, you will enjoy privileged access to the House throughout the course. Each day will include a talk or tour from specialist House staff, focusing on an aspect of Jane Austen’s life, works or the museum collection.

Draft itinerary (subject to change):
Monday: Guided tour of Jane Austen’s House
Tuesday: Objects up close
Wednesday: Guided Chawton village walk
Thursday: Day off – sewing area open but no tuition
Friday: Garden tour with Head Gardener
Saturday: Farewell afternoon tea

Refreshments:

Each day we will provide tea, coffee, biscuits and cakes for attendees to help themselves to. We will also provide a buffet-style lunch of sandwiches, quiches etc which can be enjoyed in the Learning Centre or in the museum garden. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know after booking. There are also catering options available in the village for those that would prefer.

Details:
Dates: Monday 27 July – Saturday 1 August 2026 (no tuition on Thursday 30^th)
Times: 10.00 – 16.00 daily
Location: This event will take place at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton. Find us.
Tickets: £995

What is included?

• The ticket cost includes tuition each day. The class size will be limited to 12 people, to allow everyone to receive Jenny’s attention and expertise.
• The course kit is included, containing everything you need to make the design, and full printed instructions. You will need to provide your own basic embroidery equipment, and we will provide a list closer to the time. If you prefer to borrow equipment, this can also be arranged.
• Daily refreshments are included, consisting of morning tea, coffee and biscuits; lunch; afternoon tea or coffee and cake. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know after booking.
• Travel and accommodation are not included in the course ticket. Please arrange your own transport to Jane Austen’s House each day, and book local accommodation.

Find out more about the embroidery course…

About the Tutor:

Jenny Adin-Christie is a specialist hand embroiderer.

Jenny’s career stemmed from a rich family heritage of craftsmanship, being taught to stitch and make from an early age by her mother, a teacher specialising in textiles, and her father, a master gunsmith and fishing rod builder.

Fine hand embroidery became her true passion and Jenny was encouraged to apply for a sought-after place on the rigorous three-year Apprenticeship course then offered at the Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court. Here she learnt to work a hugely diverse range of traditional and more contemporary techniques to a professional standard, training simultaneously in art and design.

Jenny graduated from the Apprenticeship in 1996 with distinction and awards in goldwork and silk shading, before being honoured with full-time employment at the RSN. This role allowed her the enviable opportunity to practice her skills on the enormously varied commissions of the commercial studio, and as a tutor on the broad range of courses. Jenny thus became widely recognised as a specialist in the fields of whitework, metal thread, raised embroidery/stumpwork and embroidery design.

Ten years of invaluable experience as a senior tutor and studio embroiderer, eventually becoming Assistant Head of the Studio at the RSN, allowed Jenny to branch out as a freelance embroiderer when her daughter was born in 2008. Jenny now works full time as a professional hand embroiderer, running her own business from her home studio in Surrey.

 ‘If you are not familiar with Jenny’s work, she is one of the most talented needlework artisans of the modern era, with her projects and classes in such high demand, any opportunity to see her teach or admire her work, is a must.’ – Inspirations magazine

Terms and conditions:

• Your booking is non-refundable. If for any reason you cannot attend the course after booking, please contact us in the first instance and we will see if we can re-sell your place. If we are able to do so, we will refund you the full cost minus an admin fee of £25. If we are not able to do so, no refund will be offered. If you cancel your place within 14 days of the course starting, no refund will be issued.
• If in the unlikely event that we are forced to alter or cancel the course, we will notify you as soon as possible and offer you one of the following options.

1. To accept the new arrangements
2. To cancel your booking and receive a full refund for the cost of the course.

• We will not be liable for refunding any expenses, including, but not limited to, travel and accommodation costs, which have been occurred as a result of the booking.
• We require a minimum number of participants to book a workshop in order to be able to run it. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone the workshop in case the minimum number has not been achieved.