Challenges and Education

New work table

Each year there are local and national challenges, with the entries displayed at exhibitions or online.

AEG Challenges for the 2027 Display

  • Elizabeth Ellett Award 2027 … This year’s challenge is to present an embroidery of your own design to represent your impression of Autumn, in keeping with the timing of next year’s annual display in May.
    Any style of embroidery accepted!
  • President’s Challenge for 2027
    To be completed by April 2027, ready for the annual AEG display in May.
    The designs presented are from the book ‘A Garden of Curiosities’ by EvanLewis.
    There are 5 ‘Elizabethan Jewel’ designs.
    Please choose one or more to embroider in any style of your choosing. The designs may be altered in size to suit and presented as 2D, 3D, large or small.
  • You can download the challenges including the ‘Elizabethan Jewel’ designs, here.

Embroiderers’ Great Escape Challenges 2027

The Great Escape Weekend of Stitch includes a general exhibition.  There are four categories of work:  The challenges are:

  • Traditional Work – Counted work of any kind.  This award, in memory of Elizabeth Ellett, recognises her passion and expertise in this style of embroidery.  Entries can be original, from a workshop or kit.
  • Innovative – Own design and work of any kind.
  • Theme for 2027 –  Pounamu (2027 is our 35th Great Escape) 
    Any kind of work in keeping with the Theme.
  • Each of these sections above will be eligible for an award of $50.00 selected by one of the weekend’s tutors.
  • General Display – any work that does not fit into the above categories. This section will not be judged but is included in the Viewers’ Choice award.

Please check out the Great Escape Exhibition page for more details and submission dates.

ANZEG Challenges

ANZEG 2028 Conference Challenge – Te Wero Tuia

Wai Stitch – Wai Knot, 13-18 July, 2028, in the Waikato.

Watch out for details of the conference exhibition categories, on the ANZEG website.

ANZEG Education – Embroidery Modules and Diploma programme

​ANZEG modules are designed to encourage the self-development of any stitcher, not only Guild members.  They provide a wide variety of embroidery techniques to explore.

The updated syllabus with detailed information about the modules is available through the ANZEG website shop, https://www.embroiderynz.co.nz/shop

For more information visit https://www.embroiderynz.co.nz/modules-diploma-courses, or contact the ANZEG Education Co-ordinator Sandra Hall  anzegeducation@gmail.com