Retreats

2023 will be our sixth year of offering sewing retreats.

In 2018 we held our first ever retreat, where attendees completed a number of small projects over the course of the weekend, in lovely surroundings and with good company.

In 2020, with impeccable timing, we scheduled our first “Spring Thing”, a more pared back version of the retreat, where delegates brought their own projects to work on. Due to circumstances, this was postponed until 2021, but last year and this year we have held retreats twice a year.

We are nothing if not ambitious, and in 2023 we are planning to hold FIVE retreats across the year.

Our May and October retreats will be done very much on the same basis as previously, but the three new retreats will all involve working on a specific project. We are currently working on the samples for these, so the photos below will be replaced by better ones once we have them, but it should be possible to get a pretty good idea of what we will be making.

The three new retreats will be offered on the same basis as the existing retreats. We have a number of options available, to allow flexibility. All retreats take place all day on the Saturday and Sunday, with the weekend rate including dinner, bed and breakfast on Saturday night / Sunday morning. You can also book the Friday night as an optional extra.

The Retreats take place at Wentworth Castle, which is a beautiful venue. They have recently refurbished their conference and event centre, and it really is lovely.

All materials are included in the price of retreats and you will be contacted nearer the time to choose your fabrics for July, September and December.

 

N.B. if you would like to attend in July, September or December, but do not want to participate in the planned project, you are welcome to bring your own projects to work on. If you would like to book on that basis, please let us know. Your attendance will be charged at the same rate as the "Spring Thing".

SPRING THING – 13TH / 14TH MAY 2023

Bring along your own projects to complete in a sociable environment.

ENGLISH PAPER PIECING – CIRCLING SWALLOWS RUNNER – 1ST / 2ND JULY 2023

This session involves making a runner 20” x 52” / 50cm x 135cm using English Paper Piecing (EPP).

EPP is a technique which involves tacking fabric to paper to give it a shape, then stitching these pieces together. It is done by hand, so is a really portable method of sewing.

This activity is suitable for people who have never done EPP before, as we will start the weekend with a basic tutorial for anyone who needs it. It is extremely unlikely that anyone will finish the runner in two days, due to the nature of the project, so you will need to know how to layer up and bind your project independently. We will aim to finish one of the “stars” and attach it to the backing fabric over the weekend.

Screenshot 2022-09-11 at 16.55.24

MIXED UP FAT QUARTER QUILT – 2ND / 3RD SEPTEMBER 2023

Take eight fat quarters, cut them up, swap them around, and put them back together, and you get this quilt. With a completed size of 44” x 65” / 110cm x 165cm, this is suitable for a cot quilt or lap quilt.

The pictured example has some applique on it. This is not included in the cost of the fabric provided, so if this is something you might want to do, please contact us to discuss.

Although the techniques used are fairly straightforward, you will need to be able to cut and sew accurately for the maths to work out. There is also a lot of sewing to get through, so this one is probably more suitable for an adventurous beginner / intermediate quilter than someone who has done no quilting at all.

Jpeg

OCTOBER RETREAT – 21ST / 22ND OCTOBER 2023

As usual, we will be providing up to four small projects, which will be quite loosely tutored. Alternatively, you are welcome to bring your own projects and take ours away to work on later.

TWISTED HELIX CHRISTMAS RUNNER – 9TH / 10TH DECEMBER 2023

Half square triangles are a really versatile technique, which can be used for so many designs. This one is known variously as twisted ribbon, twisted pole, twisted helix or twisted DNA. With a completed size of 72.5”x23” / 175cm x 55cm, this could be used either as a table runner or could be used across the bottom of a double bed.

You could choose to use Christmas fabrics for a seasonal table runner, or make something more neutral for use all year round.

If you would like to make a set of six matching table mats after the retreat, we are able to put together fabric bundles for that for an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss.

Again, although the techniques used are fairly straightforward, you will need to be able to cut and sew accurately, so this one is probably more suitable for an adventurous beginner / intermediate quilter than someone who has done no quilting at all.

Jpeg

If you are interested in attending any of our retreats, please contact us and we can discuss the options.

DetailsRate
MAY
Day delegate rate£125
Weekend delegate rate
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£200
JULY
Day delegate rate£195
Weekend delegate rate
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£275
SEPTEMBER
Day delegate rate£215
Weekend delegate rate
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£275
OCTOBER
Day delegate rate£175
Weekend delegate rate
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£275
DECEMBER
Day delegate rate£215
Weekend delegate rate
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£275
Sewing machine hire (all events)£25
Additional Friday night accommodation (all events)
(single room, dinner, bed and breakfast)
£70

Sunday can be added as an additional night on any retreat for an additional £70.00.

However, this is on bed and breakfast rate only, and delegates will be responsible for paying for their own evening meal.