Embroidery School with Laura Tandeske
In-Person Classes in the San Francisco Bay Area
Classes offered in Surface Embroidery for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students.
Beginning Embroidery - Flower Mandala
Come and enjoy our beautiful Odd Fellows hall in Downtown Livermore and learn to embroider. This class is perfect for the beginner or experienced embroiderer who would like a refresher. We will go over in detail how to thread a needle, tie a knot in the thread, and tie off on the back. We will learn some basic stitches while making a beautiful flower mandala. Live classes are very rare so take this opportunity to discover if embroidery is right for you.
The stitches taught in this class are different from the others taught this fall at the Odd Fellows Hall. Taking all 3 classes as a series would be a very good education in surface embroidery!
Class fee $40, Kit fee $10. Kit includes fabric, needle, thread, printed instructions. This class is for adults 16 and over.
Hoops, scissors, design materials will be provided.
To register go here.
Embroidery Foundations - Back Stitches
Did you know there are 100’s of embroidery stitches? Come and enjoy our beautiful Odd Fellows hall in Downtown Livermore and learn to embroider. This class is perfect for the beginner or experienced embroiderer who would like a refresher. We will go over in detail how to thread a needle, tie a knot in the thread, and tie off on the back. We will learn the Back Stitches that are the foundation of surface embroidery. This class does not focus on a design. We focus on learning and practicing the stitches that you can apply to future designs.
The stitches taught in this class are different from the others taught this fall at the Odd Fellows Hall. Taking all 3 classes as a series would be a very good education in surface embroidery!
Class fee $40, Kit fee $5. Kit includes fabric, needle, thread, printed instructions. This class is for adults 16 and over.
Hoops, scissors, design materials will be provided.
To register go here.
Embroidery Foundations - Crossed, Looped, Woven Stitches
Did you know there are 100’s of embroidery stitches? Come and enjoy our beautiful Odd Fellows hall in Downtown Livermore and learn to embroider. This class is perfect for the beginner or experienced embroiderer who would like a refresher. We will go over in detail how to thread a needle, tie a knot in the thread, and tie off on the back. We will learn Crossed, Looped, and Woven stitches that are the foundation of surface embroidery. This class does not focus on a design. We focus on learning and practicing the stitches that you can apply to future designs.
The stitches taught in this class are different from the others taught this fall at the Odd Fellows Hall. Taking all 3 classes as a series would be a very good education in surface embroidery!
Class fee $40, Kit fee $5. Kit includes fabric, needle, thread, printed instructions. This class is for adults 16 and over.
Hoops, scissors, design materials will be provided.
To register go here.
5 day Winter Embroidery Retreat 2027
NOTE: We will be focusing on Foundations for this retreat meaning we will be learning a lot of different surface embroidery stitches with regards to stitch structure. If you want to work on your own project that’s no problem, juts know there will be a lot of instruction happening.
Let's have a stitch retreat in our home town! It'll be like you're on vacation but you get to sleep in your own bed! Is a stitch retreat right for you? You may be a beginner and want to practice stitches with an instructor and a supportive community. You may have taken several classes and want to move to the next level such as learning the basics of design and how to transfer designs onto fabric. Maybe you want to perfect embroidery lettering or bullions, or any other surface embroidery technique. You may be advanced and want to stitch in a wonderful environment with nice, like minded artists. There are so many reasons why you might want to sign up for an embroidery stitch retreat! Before the retreat we will communicate about goals to make sure you get the most out of the week.
A kit is optional and will be available to those who would like one: Kit includes Needle, Muslin fabric, Embroidery thread
Class is Monday through Friday 10AM to 3:30PM
Class fee $390, Optional kit fee $5 payable to instructor on day of class.
Registration is not open yet. Sign up for the mailing list at the bottom of this page to get first notice when registration opens.
Spring Freestyle Flowers Retreat Day 1
Come spend a day or the whole weekend at the beautiful O’hanlon Center for the Arts learning the ancient art of embroidery. These workshops will be good for the absolute beginner or experienced embroiderer who would like a refresher. We will go over surface embroidery stitches with an emphasis on stitches that are good for flowers. The stitches learned will be different for Saturday and Sunday so if you decide to take both days you will have a very good and thorough education in surface embroidery stitching. Each day is stand alone though so you could take one day if that is what works for you.
The morning will be spent learning and practicing the stitches. In the afternoon you could spend the day practicing the stitches or you are welcome to bring something to embroider on such as denim jeans or a jacket, shirt, dress, etc. I recommend not bringing anything stretchy as it makes embroidery more difficult. I will help with design transfer and any other issues you may have. You are welcome to bring your own embroidery floss if you have a project in mind. If you would like to discuss your project before the workshop please email me at the address on this website.
Class Fee: $145 non members, $120 members
Kit: $10 payable on day of class (cash, check, or Zelle) Kit includes muslin fabric, needle, embroidery thread, and printed stitch instructions.
Registration not available yet. To get first notice you can sign up to receive emails below.
Spring Freestyle Flowers Retreat Day 2
Come spend a weekend at the beautiful O’hanlon Center for the Arts learning the ancient art of embroidery. These workshops will be good for the absolute beginner or experienced embroiderer who would like a refresher. We will go over surface embroidery stitches with an emphasis on stitches that are good for flowers. The stitches learned will be different for Saturday and Sunday so if you decide to take both days you will have a very good and thorough education in surface embroidery stitching. Each day is stand alone though so you could take one day if that is what works for you.
The morning will be spent learning and practicing the stitches. In the afternoon you could spend the day practicing the stitches or you are welcome to bring something to embroider on such as denim jeans or a jacket, shirt, dress, etc. I recommend not bringing anything stretchy as it makes embroidery more difficult. I will help with design transfer and any other issues you may have. You are welcome to bring your own embroidery floss if you have a project in mind. If you would like to discuss your project before the workshop please email me at the address on this website.
Class Fee: $145 non members, $120 members
Kit: $10 payable on day of class (cash, check, or Zelle) Kit includes muslin fabric, needle, embroidery thread, and printed stitch instructions.
Registration not available yet. To get first notice you can sign up to receive emails below.
5 day Summer Embroidery Retreat 2027
Let's have a stitch retreat in our home town! It'll be like you're on vacation but you get to sleep in your own bed! Is a stitch retreat right for you? You may be a beginner and want to practice stitches with an instructor and a supportive community. You may have taken several classes and want to move to the next level such as learning the basics of design and how to transfer designs onto fabric. Maybe you want to perfect embroidery lettering or bullions, or any other surface embroidery technique. You may be advanced and want to stitch in a wonderful environment with nice, like minded artists. There are so many reasons why you might want to sign up for an embroidery stitch retreat! Before the retreat we will communicate about goals to make sure you get the most out of the week.
A kit is optional and will be available to those who would like one: Kit includes Needle, Muslin fabric, Embroidery thread
Class is Monday through Friday 10AM to 3:30PM
Class fee $390, Optional kit fee $5 payable to instructor on day of class.
Registration is not open yet. Sign up for the mailing list at the bottom of this page to get first notice when registration opens.
Beginning Embroidery - Embellishing Prints
**SOLD OUT** - This is a beginning Surface Embroidery class where we will learn how to embellish a printed fabric. Add some nice texture to an already exquisite piece of fabric! You will learn how to thread a needle, tie a knot, and perfect several foundational surface embroidery stitches. Did you know there are 100’s of surface embroidery stitches? This will be a fun way to be introduced to the vast world of surface embroidery!
Class fee $40. Kit $10 payable to instructor day of class (cash/zelle)
Registration open now. You can register here. There are only 8 spots for this class.