The whole idea of escaping away to stitch is that you do just that. This is your ticket to freedom to get some of your unfinished projects worked on, with help and inspiration. There’ll be no cleaning or dinner making to do, so you can hunker down and sew, or just chat and spa and visit nice places. It’s your time!

It’ll be like the majority of my offerings – people will get all that time to sew their ufos (un finished objects) or they can set their mind to completing a project. There’s usually patchwork of course, bag making, some dressmaking, hand quilting, embroidery and all sorts of sewing projects. It’s up to you. Carie and I and all the other ladies will be there to help and motivate you. Carie and I will also have fabrics and haberdashery for sale for those unexpected needle breaks or realising that your rotary blade is blunt etc.

The photo above is of my sunset/sunrise mountain quilt (very apt considering the location) which can serve as an inspiration project, if people haven’t got any ufos or would like some new inspiration. You can use different fabrics of course, using the colourway to guide you and of course we can help before you get there too. I can do some demos in a corner of the room for all those interested. Actually I intend to have a corner table anyway, to give more ‘formal’ teaching on anything people come up with.

5 beginner sewists are invited to join us this year. They will have a minimum of 6 hours of direct teaching – 2 hours on Zoom and 4 hours at the retreat. If that’s you – don’t worry, you won’t be sitting alone, you’ll be sitting with the other beignners but with the help of everyone else in the room available to you too. They will inspire and motivate you as well. Your head will be bursting with ideas and that great feeling of belonging.

I usually have a rough plan and then adapt it to suit the needs of the day/hour/ projects being sewn.

We can visit Trefriw Woollen mill, which is very close. There’s a craft shop opposite the hotel too. How’s about some  zip wiring at the adventure centre on the other side of the lagoon? There’s Conwy for a visit one afternoon, for something more leisurely, if the weather is good – I’ve just learnt of a great yarn shop there called Ewe Felty Thing, for anyone who knits or weaves. There’s the spa at the hotel if that interests you – that used to be quite popular at my Thornton Hall retreats – it’s a nice refresher at the start of the day or just before dinner.

Carie and I will no doubt do some fun quizzes and games in the evenings. Prizes may be involved. Although don’t go expecting a speed boat like on Bull’s Eye!

There’s a nice lounge area directly outside the ‘sewing room’, which will be great for when you want a comfy chair to sit and have a natter with someone or do some knitting or crochet or ….

Breakfasts will be eaten in the main restaurant, lunches will be light and our evening meals will be eaten all together in a room opposite our sewing room. That means we can leave all our sewing stuff in the room for the whole 4 days. It’ll be very relaxed yet still have a group feel about it.