This class is part of the seven-part virtual World Embroidery Series IV. Classes may be purchased à la carte at $75 or as a six-part package for a discounted price of $450. 

In this class, we will learn about the stitches used in embroidery from Ourfa, a region of historic Western Armenia. Ourfa embroidery is famed for its floral motifs and its pale and delicate color palette. Originally, it would have been done on coarse fabric, though finer fabrics like silks are now used. Ourfa embroidery uses a filling stitch, which is then outlined with a darker or golden thread to give the motif prominence. during our time together, we will learn about the history of Ourfa embroidery as well as the primary stitches, including filling stitches and outlines.

Date + Time

Thursday, November 6th, 2025, 12-2:30 pm ET

Location

Zoom, a link will be emailed to participants the day before class.

Cost

$75 for the individual class
$450 for the series

Materials

• Medium weight light colored plain weave fabric

• Embroidery hoop

• Pencil or erasable fabric pen

• Needle

• Silk or DMC threads (brown, green, dark pink, light pink and gold)

Scholarships

We have two scholarships available for this experience. To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out the scholarship application form.

Our Teacher 

Lizzy Vartanian (b. 1993, London) is an embroidery artist based in Yerevan, Armenia. She is the founder of the brand “Armenian Embroidery” and is passionate about passing the history and skills of historical Armenian embroidery to the next generation. Much of her work is inspired by roots in Armenia, Lebanon and Syria, transforming twentieth-century family photographs into embroidered works of art. She has been fortunate to spend time with female practitioners in Armenia and Jordan, learning about traditional stitches from Armenia and the Levant. Her work has been exhibited in the UK, Armenia and Jordan, including at the Royal Academy of Art in London. She has also given workshops internationally, including at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

*This class session will be recorded. A link to the recording will be emailed to all those who register following the live session. This link is live for one month for you to watch at your convenience.