17th Century Style Purses – The Samode Purse

4 days: 11th-12th, 14th-15th August 2025   Fee: £495

In this workshop you will learn to create the embroidered front panel which will form the front of a small purse (panel measures 10.5cm x 8cm). The form of the purse is based on a 17th century piece in Jenny’s collection, with stiffened front and back panels and a gathered ‘bellows’ style interior, closing with a drawstring. 

You will be able to choose from two designs, The Samode Purse or The Lady Evelyn Purse (shown here). Both will be taught at the same four-day class.

This is a richly coloured design incorporating silk and metal thread techniques, worked on a ground of duchess satin. 

This design is based on two areas of inspiration reflecting mosaics – the bejewelled interior of the Samode Palace in Jaipur, India, and the floral mosaics of Gaudi in Barcelona. 

The front panel design depicts a central rose worked in fettuccini ribbon and silk gimp, surrounded by a yellow and silver cartouche of pleating and couching with pearls and spangles. The bag is finished with a tassel worked using a 17th century form of warp wrapping, over a wooden form. 

During the course, we will concentrate on the embroidery of the front panel of the bag and making the cord and tassel. You are unlikely to finish in class but we will cover the required techniques, and you will receive comprehensive instruction and video access to allow you to complete confidently at home. There will also be some time to begin some construction of the bag in class if you wish and we will discuss the techniques involved.

Class kit

You will be provided with a full working kit for this class containing all the materials required to work the embroidery and to construct the bag and tassel. This will include a comprehensive illustrated instruction book and all needles required in a presentation box.

• Samode Purse £220
  
• Optional needlebook kit £18