East Anglia Quilting Retreat
This retreat includes 3 workshops with Karin as well as time learning about East Anglia’s textile background and archaeological sites. You’ll learn about the wool and silk heritage of Sudbury and see the costume demonstration at the archeological site of Sutton Hoo, watching the process of spinning, dyeing and weaving. We also journey to Warner Textile Archive, one of the largest publicly owned collections from a luxury textile manufacturer in the country, visit the personal quilt collection of Karin Hellaby and enjoy an evening talk with Pippa Moss. There will even be the opportunity to browse a gorgeous range of fabric at David Walters Mill Shop and to stock up on other crafting supplies at the Blake House Craft Centre.
Your Tour Includes
- 7 nights’ half board accommodation
- 3 full day workshops including kit and use of Bernina sewing machines and a private viewing of Karin Hellaby's quilts
- Talk from Pippa Moss on her quilt collection
- Entrance fees and excursions
- The services of an experienced Arena Travel Tour Manager
Karin Hellaby
Karin Hellaby is an internationally known quilt teacher and author of 11 quilting books and numerous patterns. She is a regular teacher at the Houston International Quilt Show and has also been invited to teach at quilting symposiums in New Zealand, Dubai, Paducah and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Oregon.
Her teaching travels have taken her all over North America, the Middle East and several European countries. Her style is very much multi technique always finding ways to make patchwork simple, quick and fun to learn. Karin started Quilters Haven in 1993. It became one of the largest quilt shops in the UK and she sold it in 2016. This has given her more time to teach and travel, especially in SE Asia where two of her sons are based.
Itinerary
Meet Karin and your Arena Travel tour manager this afternoon at your hotel. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel and get to know your fellow stitchers.
Includes Dinner
Today will be spent in a workshop with Karin at the hotel.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
This morning we will drive to Braintree to visit the Blake House Craft Centre, once a traditional farmyard. Explore this charming and rustic craft centre at leisure, home to a wide range of small and friendly local businesses. In the afternoon we will transfer to the Warner Textile Archive. Here, we will listen to an introductory talk on the history of Warner & Sons followed by a behind the scenes visit to the textile archive.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Not far from the hotel is the archaeological site of Sutton Hoo. This is the site of two early medieval cemeteries and archaeologists have been excavating the area since 1938. Enjoy time exploring the site and make sure to visit the main courtyard where they host a costume demonstration. You can learn the process of costume-making from spinning to dyeing to weaving as well as the techniques of tablet weaving and leatherworking. Before returning to the hotel for the evening, we will take a visit to Karin’s home to view her quilts.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Today you will continue with your project during a workshop. This evening, we will meet Pippa Moss who lives locally. She has a fantastic range of quilts and has won several awards at a number of shows. She will talk to us about her variety of quilts from Hawaiian to Amish.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
The market town of Sudbury is a major silk manufacturing centre, and with a guide we will weave through the streets steeped in wool and silk heritage. Additionally, we will visit David Walters Mill Shop, who sell a beautiful range of woven fabrics. In the shop there is lots of information about the mill on display as well as a working antique loom. An expert will give a talk on the mill and answer any questions you may have.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
Your final workshop day with Karin to finish off your project.
Includes Breakfast
Includes Dinner
Included Highlights
After breakfast, you will say goodbye to your fellow stitchers as your quilting retreat comes to an end.
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.
Single Room Supplement from £445.00 (8 days).
Crafted for Quilters
Specially designed for quilters, this Stitchtopia quilting holiday is the ideal opportunity to indulge in your favourite hobby and pick up some new crafty tips and tricks. Our talented quilting expert will be on hand throughout the holiday and host inspirational workshops with a beautifully designed project to spark your creativity.
Accommodation
You will stay for seven nights at the Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, Golf & Spa.