Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué: Beginners Workshop

What you'll learn

Learn the beautiful artform of contemporary beadwork with our Textile & Fashion short courses in Sydney!

Discover how to add texture, sparkle and dimension to your garments and designs in this hands-on beading and appliqué workshop, inspired by techniques used in contemporary fashion, millinery and textiles.

In this one-day course, you’ll create a baroque-style beadwork design using seed beads, sequins, crystals and fringing, stitched onto silk organza using a rotating embroidery frame. You’ll also learn how to apply your finished piece as an appliqué to a garment or textile, adding a professional touch to your work.

This workshop is ideal for beginners or anyone looking to explore embellishment techniques in a creative and supportive setting. All materials are provided, and you'll receive lifetime access to the online course.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué Workshop, you should be able to:

Use a beading needle and rotating embroidery frame to work with a variety of materials
Create decorative surface effects using sequins, crystals, seed beads and fringing
Design and stitch a small baroque-inspired beadwork sampler on silk organza
Apply your beadwork as an appliqué to fabric or garments
Understand the contemporary applications of beadwork in fashion and textiles

Course content

What will be covered in this Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué Workshop?

Introduction to contemporary beadwork and its use in fashion, textiles and millinery
Overview of materials: sequins, beads, threads, and crystals
Setting up silk organza on an embroidery frame
Stitching techniques for 3D effects and layered textures
Creating a baroque-style sampler with applied beadwork
How to professionally appliqué your work to a garment or textile surface

Intended audience

Who is this Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué Workshop for?

This workshop is suitable for anyone interested in fashion, textiles, or handcrafts — no prior beading experience needed. Join this class if you are:

A beginner keen to explore beadwork and appliqué techniques in a supportive setting
A sewist, fashion student or textile artist looking to expand your embellishment skills
A costume designer, milliner or maker wanting to add texture and sparkle to your work
Curious about incorporating modern embellishment techniques into your creative practice

Whether you're dreaming of runway-ready details or simply love the meditative nature of hand stitching, this one-day workshop offers a creative and inspiring introduction to contemporary beadwork.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

A basic sewing kit including:

Sewing needle
Thread
Pins
Pencil or Frixion pen
Scissors

All other materials are provided, including specialty threads, silk organza, cabochons and embellishments sourced from Europe.

Optional: 12" embroidery frame available for purchase on the day ($60).

This course has no current classes. Please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué: Beginners Workshop