Fine hand embroidery is still seen as a gentle pastime for more “mature” women. But the image is far from the reality. English embroidery is flourishing, not only because of current fashion trends but also thanks to an annual competition - the Hand and Lock Prize. Students from around the world are invited to submit samples of embroidery that can be used on clothes, accessories, or in interior design. The judges' brief this year was rather enigmatic – “old and new” and “chaos into order”. Sylvia Smith went along to look at the entries...
