DUCHESS of Cambridge wedding dress embroiderer Olive Rowell is calling on people to take part in her 25-piece Textile Art Challenge to raise money for assistance dog charity Canine Partners in its 25th anniversary year.

Olive, who lives near Shottermill Ponds, was one of a team of 60 chosen to embroider Princess Kate Middleton’s wedding dress under strict confidentiality at the Royal School of Needlework in the lead up to the Royal wedding in 2011, is challenging people to buy a pack of 25 fabrics and use all of them, in whole or part, to create a finished piece.

All proceeds from the packs – which cost £10 – will go to Canine Partners, a charity based at Heyshott, near Midhurst, which trains assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities.

Olive has a degree in hand embroidery achieved at the Royal School of Needlework and is an exhibiting member of the Wey Valley Workshop of textile artists.

She said: “I thought the Textile Art Challenge would be a fun way for people to be creative while also supporting Canine Partners.”

Olive (right), who has a poodle named Sapphire, said she wanted to support a local charity which involves both humans and dogs.

She added: “I wanted to work with a small local charity, and it is now working with Help for Heroes, which I think is brilliant.”

The base of the project doesn’t have to be fabric so you could add wood, plastic or ceramics. Participants don’t have to sew but can glue, paint or even rivet to make the finished piece, the choice is yours.

Olive is planning an exhibition of all the finished in February, although the venue has still to be finalised.

Canine Partners, which was founded in 1990, trains dogs to help with everyday tasks people with disabilities would otherwise find difficult, painful or impossible including opening doors, undressing, pressing buttons, and fetching dropped items.

The dogs – which cost around £20,000 each to train, increase independence, confidence and provide loving companionship and the charity receives no government funding.

Canine Partners’ regional fund- raiser Kay Gilmore said: “This is a great way for people to show their creative side, no matter how old or young you are!

“We are grateful to Olive for donating the proceeds to Canine Partners and we can’t wait to see what pieces of art are made from the textile packs.”

To take part in the Textile Challenge and to buy a textile pack, call Olive on (01428) 642507.