The Embroiderers’ Guild of America offers so many opportunities for growing your knowledge of and love for the needle arts. From education like Online Studio Classes, Group Correspondence Courses, Virtual Education Courses, and Virtual Lectures to community-focused initiatives like Special Interest Groups and Growing Your Connection webinars, EGA continues to expand membership benefits to provide a diverse community and holistic educational experiences for needleworkers.
Master Craftsman Programs are an exclusive membership benefit available to all members providing opportunities to advance skills and with certification awarded in the area of study at the completion of the program. These unique programs offer EGA members a challenging environment for learning and stitching, quite unlike other courses and classes offered.
Curious what it takes to participate in a Master Craftsman Program? Let’s dig into it!
What are the Master Craftsman Programs?
The Master Craftsman Programs promote needlework excellence by challenging participants to research and demonstrate skills to prove their mastery in a chosen embroidery style or technique. Participating in a Master Craftsman Program endows needleworkers with advanced skills and an official certification status for completion of a program.
Who can take the Master Craftsman Programs?
The Master Craftsman Programs are open to all EGA members. It is important to note that this program is not meant for beginners to a particular skill or technique. The rigorous study, design, and stitching involved assumes participants hold advanced expertise in the technique.
What does participating in a Master Craftsman Program look like?
Each Master Craftsman Program involves 6 steps. Each step is an exercise that may involve research, writing, design work, or stitching. Steps vary slightly, depending on the program, but they generally include:
- Demonstrated mastery of a variety of techniques, stitches and/or materials
- Original or adapted needlework
- Research skills and historical knowledge demonstrated in essays
Master Craftsman participants work with the chair of their chosen program, who communicates the requirements for each step in the program and answers questions.
Judging of Master Craftsman work occurs twice a year, in the spring and fall. Participants must mail their work to the chair before the evaluation period to be eligible for judging. The Master Craftsman chair then communicates the evaluation results, which prompts either a rework of the step or continuation to the next step. Evaluations result in Pass, Not Pass, or Provisional Pass (in which the work requires minor revisions, but work on the next step may begin).
What is the timeframe for participating in a Master Craftsman Program?
The Master Craftsman Program certification takes a minimum of 3 years to complete. After enrollment, participants have up to 2 years to submit their first step to remain active in the program. After Step 1 is submitted, participants have 5 years between steps to submit the remaining 5 steps in the program.
The Master Craftsman Program should be considered a serious undertaking—it is one of the most intensive programs EGA offers its membership. Participants should be ready to dive into their chosen technique, conduct deep research, and demonstrate their expertise.
What happens if I can’t finish my program?
If you need to withdraw from the program, you may return to the program where you left off, if your previous steps were completed and verified, with a re-registration fee of $50. Extensions may also be issued at the chairman’s discretion.
How much does a Master Craftsman Program cost?
Each Master Craftsman Program includes an enrollment cost of $50.
Steps completed for evaluation cost $20; for each re-submission, $15; these fees may be paid through the EGA web site. In addition, candidates must provide a pre-paid mailing label for the return postage of their entry OR include return postage in a check made payable to the chair. Fees will be adjusted to cover extra postage for foreign candidates.
What Master Craftsman Programs does EGA offer?
EGA currently offers Master Craftsman Programs in:
- Beading
- Canvas Embroidery
- Color for Needlework
- Counted Thread
- Crewel Embroidery
- Design for Needlework
- Silk and Metal Threads
- Surface Embroidery
Download the flyer here to learn more about the steps and requirements involved in each program. Browsing the Master Craftsman Gallery will also help give a sense for each program’s requirements.
Is your favorite embroidery style or technique missing from our program? Contact the Master Craftsman chairman here (select Education: Master Craftsman from the topic dropdown menu) to suggest your favorite technique!
How many Master Craftsman Programs can EGA members participate in?
EGA members can participate in as many Master Craftsman Programs as they like! Just keep in mind that this is an intensive program that requires a lengthy time commitment, research, writing, and needlework.
Why would a needleworker participate in a Master Craftsman Program?
Aside from the Master Craftsman Certification, which demonstrates participants’ advanced knowledge and expertise in the chosen discipline, participants also receive a notice in Needle Arts Magazine!
The Master Craftsman Program is a challenge that will stretch participants’ knowledge and abilities. Participants in the Master Craftsman Program have expressed that the program has helped them produce some of their best work and enabled them to pursue greater involvement in the needlework community, whether as designers or teachers.
Are you ready to demonstrate your skills in your favorite embroidery technique? Explore EGA’s Master Craftsman Programs now!
