Winchester Machine Quilting Retreat

Winchester City Centre cropped square

2nd – 9th March 2025

Join Carolyn Forster in charming Winchester for workshops on Bernina machines and visits to Whitchurch Silk Mill and Jane Austen’s House.

Winchester is a charming city in the heart of Hampshire. As the former capital of Anglo-Saxon England, the city is steeped in heritage, which we’ll explore on our guided walking tour. Our other included excursions are to Whitchurch Silk Mill, the oldest working silk mill in the UK, and Jane Austen’s House, the writer’s former home, which offers a charming and intimate look at her life and works. We’ll also enjoy one half and three full-day workshops with Carolyn Forster using Bernina machines.

Accommodation

You will stay for seven nights at the Winchester Royal Hotel.
The 4-star Winchester Royal Hotel offers 81 beautifully designed bedrooms, each the perfect blend of modern and traditional, as well as an award-winning restaurant and stunning walled garden.

Workshop Information

We will base our project on the Japanese Komebukuro (rice bags). Using the sewing machines provided we will play with combining applique and quilting in Quilt as you Go techniques. You will have fun exploring the various stitches on the machine in combination with quilting your bag panels. The panels will then be sewn into a bag with the option of eight different finishings/toppings depending on your preference.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival
Check in to the Winchester Royal Hotel from 3pm. Meet Carolyn Forster, your Tour Manager and fellow guests for dinner in the hotel this evening.

Day 2 Winchester Guided Tour and Workshop
This morning, we’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Winchester. Highlights of the city include King Alfred’s statue, the ancient city walls, Winchester College, Jane Austen’s house, Kingsgate Arch, and Cathedral Close. This afternoon, we enjoy our first workshop with Carolyn.

Day 3 Workshop
A full-day workshop with Carolyn.

Day 4 Whitchurch Silk Mill Guided Visit
Whitchurch Silk Mill was built in 1813, on land owned by the Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral. Originally it was a fulling mill (part of the finishing process of cloth weaving). In 1817, it was bought by William Madick who changed its operation to throw silk. By 1846 the mill employed 108 staff.

During our guided visit of the mill, we’ll learn about its history and see the recently refurbished waterwheel and the Victorian machinery used to produce silk today. There will also be a chance to purchase items made from the mill’s exclusive silks in the shop. A light lunch is included today. Return to Winchester mid afternoon for free time.

Day 5 Workshop
A full-day workshop with Carolyn.

Day 6 Jane Austen’s House
Jane Austen’s 17th-century house in nearby Chawton, where Jane lived from 1809 to 1817, is now a museum dedicated to her life. At the time of moving, the author had already written three of her novels in draft form, but it was here that she readied them for publication as well as writing a further three novels. The house contains an unparalleled collection of Austen treasures. Highlights include Jane’s jewellery, letters, first editions of her novels, and the table at which she wrote her much loved novels.

Enjoy free time for lunch before returning to Winchester mid afternoon. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 7 Workshop
Your final full-day workshop with Carolyn.
Join Carolyn, your Tour Manager and fellow guests for dinner in the hotel this evening.

Day 8 Depart
Today you will depart after breakfast.