Creative Sewing Retreats

     CREATIVE SEWING WEEKENDS 2025

We have some great weekends this year. All will be held at the New Place Hotel, Shirrel Heath, Near Wickham, Hampshire.  We are also offering the option of extending the weekend by coming for additional tuition on the Friday 10am – 3.30pm (with those opting for Traditional weekend joining the class at 3.30 – 5.30pm).

Bags28 – 30th March

BAGS, BOXES, BITS & BRIDLINGTON!– Jennie Rayment

From assorted bags to boxes and other assorted paraphernalia including Bridlington – a perfectly pieceful hound! This is a class for all who just like to make and finish a series of artful artefacts. It’s fun, fabulous and oh sew fabric friendly! 

DRESSMAKING – GET SET FOR SPRING – Wendy Gardiner

Choose what you want to make and sew with soft jersey knits or lightweight silky fabrics. Wendy will be on hand to help you deal with these tricky fabrics, providing the tips and tricks to make it easy as well as helping with fit and finish of your chosen garment.  

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR OVERLOCKER – Lorna Knight

Are you making the most of your overlocker? As well as sewing seams and neatening edges you can create decorative edges and hems, make narrow ties and belts as well as ‘flat lock’ attractive surfaces. Bring your overlocker along and  either spend the weekend making a book of samples to refer and inspire you later or spend the weekend overlocking lots of garments, dipping in and out of the techniques being demonstrated. Either way, come and enjoy a wonderful few days of overlocking with like-minded people, entertainment and good food! If you have a cover stitch machine, bring it along too and see how this can complement your overlocking.

----

28 – 30th September

Quilts for allQUILTS for ALL – Jennie Rayment

Learn a wide variety of techniques or stay simple with a few strips. All four quilts will be demonstrated in class and you can have a go at which ever one you fancy, although you may not complete the one you choose but you will understand and have made up the various components ready to finish at home. The range of quilts have options suitable for all abilities.

GET TO GRIPS WITH YOUR SEWING MACHINE/DRESSMAKING - Wendy Gardiner:

 Do you have a number of different feet for your machine but not sure what to do with them? Have you explored your machine’s potential or do you stick to what you know?! Come along and find out what feet are for, how to use them and how else they can be used. Make samples for reference and then turn these into a tote bag, a door stop or use as part of a tactile quilt. OR of course, you can come and do any dressmaking – taking advantage of Wendy’s 40+ years experience of patterns.

 

The Venue

The weekends are held at the New Place Hotel, Shirrel Heath (near Wickham, Hampshire).  This splendid listed hotel has a purpose built conference centre, excellent leisure suite and well equipped bedrooms with en-suite facilities. The hotel is fabulously decorated and is the location of breakfast and dinner. Our workshops are held in the well equipped, light and roomy conference rooms. And to relax, there is a large leisure suite with pool, Jacuzzi, gym etc etc – oh and there’s a nice bar!

The price for the weekend is just £425 per person. We also offer day rates for those not wishing to stay, and partner rates for those who wish to bring a partner.  Great news is that the weekend starts at 2pm Friday – with arrival and settle in, then a 2 hour class from 3.30-5.30. We finish at 4pm Sunday.

 

What’s included:

  • What’s included:

  • 2 or 3 nights accommodation at the New Place Hotel, Shirrel Heath (near Wickham, Hampshire). This fabulous listed hotel has a purpose-built conference centre, excellent leisure suite and beautifully appointed rooms with en-suite, tea and coffee facilities, single occupancy (unless you choose to share)

  • Full board – (Ultimate weekend, 3 nights B&B with dinner, and lunch on Friday, Sat and Sunday, tuition Friday - Sunday; Enhanced weekend 2 nights Fri & Sat B&B with dinner and lunches; and extra tuition 10am – 5.30pm on Friday; Basic weekend - 2 nights Fri & Sat B&B with dinner and lunches Friday, Sat and Sunday. Tuition starting at 3.30pm on Friday.

  • Coffee/tea available throughout the day in a Coffee Lounge.

  • Mid morning and mid afternoon snacks

  • Tuition: Ultimate weekend – 3 days; Enhanced 3 days, Basic 2 ½ days of tuition with expert tutors Friday 3.30 - 5.30pm, Saturday 9 –5pm, Sunday 9 – 4pm.

  • Well-equipped roomy conference rooms with great lighting and plenty of power points!

  • Evening entertainment on Friday and Saturday

  • Free WiFi throughout the venue

  • Free parking

  • Free to use Leisure suite with pool, sauna and well-equipped gym (towels provided)

  • Beautiful grounds for walks

  •  
  • Package prices:
  • Ultimate weekend – £625 - arriving Thursday PM, settle in, have two course dinner and wake up to a full English or continental breakfast, tuition starting 10am Friday, then Saturday 9 – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm.
  •  
  • Enhanced Weekend – £525 - arriving Friday 9am to set up and tuition start at 10am – 5.30pm, Sat 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm. 2 nights full board and lunches as above.
  •  
  • Basic Weekend – £445 - arriving after 2pm on Friday for intro to the class starting at 3.30 on Friday – 5.30pm, Sat 9am – 5pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm 2 nights full board and lunches as above.
  •  
  • Your hosts
  • The event is hosted by Wendy Gardiner and Jennie Rayment, who are on hand throughout the weekend to ensure you have a relaxing, trouble-free weekend. Spaces are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.  (Subject to usual terms and conditions)
  •  
  • Contact Wendy on: Tel: 07890 850353 or Jennie on 01243 374860 respectively. Email: wagardiner@ntlworld.com
  • Post: Creative Sewing Weekends, 7 Lockerley Road, Havant, PO9 2HD

  •  

  • BOOKING FORM

  • 26 – 28th March 2025                  Jennie....                          Wendy....               Lorna....

  •  

  • 28 – 30th September 2025          Jennie....                          Wendy....            

  •  

  • Ultimate Weekend @ £625 for each weekend   £_______     Enhanced Weekend, £525 for each weekend £_______

  •  

  • Basic Weekend @ £445 each weekend            £_______     Day Delegate at £300 per weekend (includes all meals)  £______

  •  

  • Accompanying partners @ £320 (includes all meals) £________

  •  

  • I enclose £________ as payment. £50 deposit per person secures a place. 

  • BACS to: Jenifer A Rayment  A/C 43560938, Sort code 52 41 20

  • (Cheques payable to J Rayment)

  •  

  • I am coming with .................................................................. I/we have special dietary needs: .............................................................................

  •  

  • I/we have special mobility needs: ............................................................................................................................................................................

  •  

  • Name: ............................................................................................................. Mobile number: ................................................................................

  •  

  • Email: ..............................................................................................................

  •  

  • Address: .........................................................................................................................................................................................