Craft Sanctuary Spring Embroidery Retreat

23 – 25 April 2021

3 days from £379pp

Everything you love about our Craft Sanctuary retreats but at a new venue! Based in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside, this winter retreat is the ideal opportunity to learn a new skill or indulge in your favourite hobby.

Embroidery workshops with Jessica Aldred
Learn the secrets of Silk Shading and goldwork
Full board 4* accommodation
Based in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside

Craft Sanctuary Spring Embroidery Retreat

Join Stitchtopia for a winter embroidery retreat based in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside. Our brand new venue for 2020, the De Vere Staverton Estate is the perfect location to unwind and enjoy a bit of ‘me’ time with a heated swimming pool, sauna and spa pool on site, and a fabulous workshop room for our embroidery sessions.

Our two-night retreat includes 12 hours of workshops with Royal School of Needlework graduate, Jessica Aldred during which we will be working on one of Jessica’s beautiful Goldwork embroidery designs.

Workshops with our expert, Jessica:

Our project is inspired by a floor mosaic at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Goldwork is the term used for all metal thread embroidery, a sumptuous technique which was once reserved for royalty. Silk Shading is also known as ‘painting with a needle’ and involves skilfully blending colours with cotton or silk thread. Historically these techniques have commonly been combined, often in ecclesiastical work, and always to striking effect. In this class you will learn basic padding, silk shading, couching with coloured thread and whipped stem stitch. - Jessica Aldred

DAY 1: Arrival
Make your own way to De Vere Staverton Estate, arriving from 3pm.

This evening is a chance to meet your fellow crafters for dinner which is served from 7pm.
DAY 2: Embroidery Workshops
After breakfast, enjoy a full day of workshops with Jessica. We will break for a buffet lunch at the hotel and enjoy a snack of tea, coffee, mineral water, biscuits and fruit during the day.

Dinner will be served in the hotel from 7pm.
DAY 3: Embroidery Workshops
After breakfast, enjoy a full day of workshops with Jessica. We will break for a buffet lunch at the hotel and enjoy a snack of tea, coffee, mineral water, biscuits and fruit during the day.

Our final workshop will come to end at 4pm, when you can depart at leisure.

Jessica Aldred

Jessica is a designer and embroiderer from West Yorkshire. She is a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework and has over 15 years experience teaching embroidery and carrying out commissions. She has worked in costume at the Royal Opera House, taught needlework to prison inmates for Fine Cell Work, co-authored a book called Adventures in Needlework and was a member of the team who embroidered the wedding dress and veil for HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

Jessica has always loved history, antiques and vintage fashion, and these elements often influence her work. Her business, House of Heyday, is where all of Jessica's skills, experiences and passions come together. As well as teaching embroidery and doing commissions she is also a vintage hair stylist and make-up artist and gives talks and presentations about vintage fashions. Alongside all of that she works for an arts organisation for adults with learning disabilities.

Jessica loves sharing her knowledge and prides herself on her classes being friendly and inclusive.

Dates:

23rd April 2021: 3 days

Prices:

All prices listed below are per person

Twin/double share: £379
Double room for sole use: from £459
Room upgrades: from £20 per room, per night
Non-crafter discount: £25
Deposit: £150

If you would like to extend your stay, please contact us to request prices for additional nights.

Our 'Stitch Together' Programme

Our ‘Stitch Together' Programme helps our guests with the costs of a single occupancy room. If you are a single traveller but would be willing to share a room with a fellow crafter, please let us know and we will get in touch if anyone else joins the programme for the same tour.

Overview

The De Vere Staverton Estate is a stylish and contemporary 4-star hotel, ideally located in the heart of the Northamptonshire countryside but easily accessible from the M1, M6 & M40 and just 6 miles from Long Buckby railway station.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

All rooms are equipped with the following:

Tea & coffee making facilities
Hair Dryer
TV

Room Facilities & Amenities

Free WiFi
Restaurant
Bar & coffee ship
Leisure club with gym
heated swimming pool, sauna and spa pool
18-hole golf course

Craft Sanctuary Spring Embroidery Retreat

23 – 25 April 2021

3 days from £379pp

Ideal for Embroiderers