In-Person Classes

World-class needlework instruction has come to Chicago! Whether you’re looking for the gentlest possible introduction to embroidery or an in-depth technique intensive, chances are you’ll find it at our flagship Ravenswood location. Maydel hosts teachers from all over, as well as beloved locals Lauren Yeager, Stephanie Rohr, Shannon Downey, Connie Toebe and Jean Ogilvie.

Coming up next:

an embroidery sampler showing different stitches filling in triangular areas of red fabric

Stitch Builders: Fill Stitches with Lauren Yeager—SOLD OUT (please get in touch to be notified when we run the next session)

Saturday, May 3rd from 10am–3:30pm (with a break for lunch)

In this beginner- and intermediate-friendly class, students will spend the day practicing 8 different embroidery stitches as they create a sampler to showcase what they’ve learned. This session will cover a group of stitches used for filling in areas of a design, including:

Battlements couching
Padded satin stitch
Herringbone
Herringbone filling
Van Dyke stitch
Pekinese stitch
Chevron filling
Cretin stitch

The Stitch Builders series will also introduce you to foundational embroidery skills such as how to thread the needle, how to start and end your threads, and how to use an embroidery hoop.

An image of the solar system rendered in needlepoint using primary colors

May the Fourth Be With You – Intro to Needlepoint with Lauren Yeager

Sunday, May 4th (obviously) from 10am–3:30pm (with a break for lunch)

Celebrate May the 4th with a space-themed intro to needlepoint!

Learn how to create your very own solar system in wool! This course will teach students how to start and stop threads utilizing a counted canvas ground, along with principles of tent-stitch shading in wool threads, by blending colors in the needle with stitching.

Registration fee includes all materials, including pre-drawn needlepoint canvas, wool threads, needle, and printed instruction booklet.

A white canvas sneaker embroidered with layered multicolored clouds

Colorful Clouds Shoe Embroidery with Melissa Galbraith — SOLD OUT

Saturday, May 10th from 10am–12pm

Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn with visiting Seattle artist and author of DIY Embroidered Shoes, Melissa Galbraith of MCreativeJ!

Do your shoes need some pizazz? Want to jazz them up with embroidery? Learn how to embroider your canvas shoes with colorful clouds in a hands-on class with all materials included.

In this two-hour shoe embroidery workshop, you’ll learn how to get started with shoe embroidery, transfer your design onto shoes, prep your thread, and what tools and stitches are helpful for embroidering on shoes. During the workshop, you’ll be able to choose your own color assortment to create a unique colorful cloud design as well as the satin stitch, long and short satin stitch, and stem stitch.

a vintage postcard of a floral bouquet embellished with embroidered details

Embroider a Vintage Postcard with Connie Toebe

Saturday, May 10th from 1–3pm

Spend time with your favorite caregiver or make them a fabulous handmade gift!

In this class you’ll learn how to embroider on a (reproduction) vintage postcard. You’ll learn how to prep the postcard for embroidery and then practice three embroidery stitches: straight stitch, stem stitch and lazy daisy—all different than the stitches taught in our previous embroidered postcard class. By the end of the session you’ll have a beautiful, textured picture to frame or give as a gift.

Class fee includes all materials, including reproduction vintage postcard, wood handled awl, embroidery floss and needle.

**Note: Are you a left-handed stitcher? Connie is, too! She can demonstrate all of the techniques covered for both right-and left-handed stitchers.

Linen notebook cover embroidered with an Arts and crafts style floral motif

Mother’s Day silk stitching workshop

Sunday, May 11th from 10am–4pm

Treat your favorite caregiver to a special Mother’s Day embroidery event, featuring a limited-edition design with an exclusive English heritage silk floss! Snacks will also be provided as a part of this special event.

This May Morris-inspired embroidery will allow students to make an embellished small-format notebook cover. Students will learn how to handle silk threads, Japanese gold threads and how to stitch them on a linen ground.

Techniques include:

Setting up a hoop
Couching
Stem Stitch
Laid Work
Simple Form Darning Stitch
French Knots
Monogram
Construction of the Notebook cover

Registration fee includes all materials, printed instructions, and light snacks. This class is recommended for those with some prior hand-sewing or embroidery experience. All are welcome, whether you bring a companion or not.

warm colored stitches embroidery sampler on dark gray striped fabric in a hoop

Introduction to Embroidery with Lauren Yeager

Saturday, May 17th from 10am–3:30pm

Students will spend the day practicing several of the most commonly used embroidery stitches as they create a sampler to showcase what they’ve learned. The January 26th session will cover all of the following:

Satin stitch
Buttonhole stitch
French knots
Backstitch
Whipped backstitch
Chain stitch
Whipped chain stitch
Trellis stitch
Stem stitch

This class will also introduce you to foundational embroidery skills such as how to thread the needle, how to start and end your threads, and how to stretch fabric in an embroidery hoop.

Great for absolute beginners as well as stitchers who want to brush up on their skills.

Price includes all materials, including silk and cotton fabrics, needles, embroidery floss, perle cotton thread, gum paste wires, and full-color printed instruction booklet.

cross-stitch of the Chicago flag with four red hearts instead of stars shown inside a wood embroidery hoop

Cross-Stitch for Beginners with Stephanie Rohr

Sunday, June 8th from 2–4pm

Learn the basics of cross-stitch with Stephanie Rohr, cross-stitch artist and author of Feminist Cross-Stitch and Self-Care Cross-Stitch.

This class will teach you everything you need to know to create your first cross-stitch project, from threading a needle to reading a pattern.

Registration fee includes all materials, including canvas, thread, a needle, a hoop, plus a printed pattern and instructions.

Private classes and tutoring

To book a private embroidery class in our studio (many levels and techniques available), please get in touch. Private classes require a $150 non-refundable deposit and a minimum of 4 students. Private embroidery tutoring is also available, with pricing set individually by teachers.