Belfast Quilt Fayre Retreat
Join Janet Clare on this quilting retreat to Belfast. This holiday is a combination of quilting workshops on our Bernina sewing machines, visiting Belfast Quilt Fayre and discovering some of Northern Irelands textile history. Explore Belfast on a walking tour, visit the well-renowned Titanic Belfast and enjoy excursions to the Ulster Folk Museum and the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum.
Your Tour Includes
- Two half day and 2 full-day workshops with Janet Clare
- Services of an Arena Travel Tour Manager throughout
- Tea and coffee during workshops
- 7 nights in a 4-star hotel on bed and breakfast
- 2 dinners
- Return flights from London to Belfast with checked luggage (flight option only)
- Coach transport as described in the itinerary (flight option only)
Janet Clare
Janet Clare is an artist, textile designer, teacher, author, quilter and all-round creative thinker. She is inspired by words, sayings and lovely phrases that she comes across and also by children and the joy they find in the mundane.
Janet has created a range of quilt and stitchery patterns, written five books and designed eight fabric collections in collaboration with Moda. Her products retail in quilt shops across the UK and in her online ETSY store, as well as featuring on Create and Craft TV, where Janet presents a live show once a month. Her work features frequently in patchwork and quilting publications and as an experienced speaker and teacher, she regularly hosts talks and workshops at quilt shops, guilds and in her own studio focusing on the design process and the creative techniques she uses.
Itinerary
To use our NEW itinerary, simply click a day below and a detailed overview will appear.
Overview
Meet Janet and your Arena Travel Tour Manager at Heathrow airport for your flight to Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital. Upon arrival you will take a short transfer to your hotel. This afternoon we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Belfast, capturing the city’s main attractions and discovering its hidden treasures. This evening’s welcome dinner is a chance to get to know Janet and your fellow stitchers.
Includes Dinner
Overview
Today we will enjoy a full day workshop with Janet at the hotel. Enjoy starting your applique and pieced quilt.
This evening, there will be free time for an early dinner before being picked up and transferred to the Stormont Hotel, where the quilt festival is being held. Here, we will meet Yvonne McAtamney who owns Village Fabrics, patchwork and quilting shop in England and has a special interest in all things Japanese. Yvonne McAtamney together with Margaret Lee is one of the founder members of the Quilt Fayre event we will be visiting later this week.
This evening we will enjoy her talk ‘Design and Colour in my Japanese Quilts’ and see some samples of her work.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
We will start the day with a half day workshop at the hotel with Janet. After lunch we will be picked up and driven to the Titanic Belfast for the afternoon. During your time at Titanic Belfast, you will discover the world’s most authentic retelling of the iconic story through multiple interactive galleries.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
Today we have a full day at Belfast’s annual quilt fayre at the Stormont Hotel. Spend the day at leisure browsing stands, shopping for fabrics, demonstrations, and workshops as well as talks from crafting experts.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
The Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum originally focused on the local history of Lisburn and in 1994 is expanded with the opening of the Irish Linen Centre. On our visit this morning we will enjoy a guided tour called ‘Flax to Fabric’ an exhibition on the history of Irish Linen. You will be guided through the history of linen and its manufacturer and how it has developed. Capture the sense of the lives of workers in Ulster’s domestic linen industry before industrialisation. Learn about weaving, spinning and see staff operating a series of looms, including two Jacquard looms.
This afternoon, we will return to the Quilt Fayre.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
Today we will visit Ulster Folk Museum and enjoy a guided tour around the open-air museum where original quilts are displayed in authentic historic settings. The museum also has skilled craft workers who provide regular demonstrations of traditional craft skills including patchwork, weaving, embroidery, lacemaking, hand spinning and dress making – all in the setting of early 1900’s in Ulster.
We will return to the hotel in the afternoon for another workshop with Janet.
Includes Breakfast
Included Highlights
Overview
A full day workshop with Janet at the hotel is on the itinerary today.
You will also enjoy your last evening with your fellow stitchers and Janet at dinner.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Overview
This morning enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the hotel and taking a transfer to the airport for your flight back to London.
Includes Breakfast
Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers.
Perfect for Textile Lovers
Uniquely created for textile lovers, this Stitchtopia textile holiday is the perfect way to discover fascinating fabrics and cultures, whilst travelling to some of the world’s most inspiring places. Our talented stitching expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host creative workshops with beautifully designed projects inspired by your travels.
Accommodation
You will be staying at the 4-star Maldron Hotel Belfast City for seven nights.
Maldron Hotel Belfast
Located in Belfast city centre this 4-star hotel is in the perfect location for exploring the beautiful sites of Northern Ireland. The hotel is minutes away from the city’s main attractions including the Belfast City Hall, Victoria Square and the famous Titanic Belfast, as well as restaurants, shops and bars. The deluxe double rooms are stylish and comfortable and if you don’t fancy venturing out for dinner you can eat at the hotel’s restaurant.
Hotel Facilities
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General
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
Room
- TV
- Hairdryer
- Air Conditioning
- Telephone
Service
- Room Service Available
- 24 Hour Front Desk
Hotel
- English Speaking Staff
- Guest Lounge
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Lift
