Mosaic Appliqué and String Patchwork Hand-Stitching Weekend

5th – 7th November 2027

Spend a relaxing and inspiring weekend exploring traditional hand stitching and patchwork techniques while giving new life to treasured fabric scraps. Perfect for anyone who enjoys slow stitching, quilting, and making by hand.

Over the course of the weekend, you’ll cover a range of techniques including hand appliqué, needle turn applique and hand quilting as a method for applique, all guided step-by-step by Carolyn. Drawing inspiration from historic quilt-making practices, you’ll discover how generations of makers transformed small scraps into decorative household textiles and create your own contemporary interpretations. By the end of the retreat, you’ll have a hand-stitched mosaic mini-quilt and a distinctive biscornu pincushion, along with new skills and ideas for using your fabric collection in creative and sustainable ways.

Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrival

Make your own way to the hotel and check in to your room from 3pm. Get to know your expert, Retreat Manager and fellow crafters over dinner this evening.

Included Meals; Dinner.

Day 2 Workshop

We’ll start with an introduction to the creative possibilities of using fabric scraps in quilt making, with a focus today on traditional mosaic or tile-style designs. We’ll look at how quilters through history have repurposed small pieces of fabric to create both practical household textiles and decorative works. We’ll start working on our own pieces; selecting and arranging fabric scraps, considering colour, pattern, and placement to design a small mosaic-inspired quilt panel. We’ll look at different hand appliqué techniques, such as needle-turn appliqué and broderie perse.

Once the design is assembled, we’ll assemble our mini quilts; layering and basting the top, wadding, and backing fabrics. The afternoon is dedicated to hand quilting the piece, allowing time to enjoy this slow, meditative process. Finally, we’ll look at how to bind our mini-quilt by turning over from the backing.

Included Meals; Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 3 Workshop and Departure

Today focuses on the versatile technique of string patchwork, starting with an exploration of traditional string patchwork methods and looking at a variety of design options for arranging your strips, or strings, to create your blocks. You’ll use the stitch-and-flip method to build your block directly onto the backing fabric, offering a practical and satisfying way to use even the smallest scraps.

Once the block is complete, you’ll turn it into a biscornu, a distinctive eight-sided pincushion, with Carolyn guiding you through the assembly of the shape, stuffing, and neatly sewing the final opening closed. By the end of the day, you’ll have a unique hand-finished pincushion created using traditional patchwork skills.

Following the workshop, depart the hotel and make your own way home.

Included Meals; Breakfast, Lunch.

Your Tour Includes

2 full days of tuition with Carolyn Forster, kit included
2 nights full-board accommodation,
from dinner on Friday to lunch on Sunday
Tea and coffee during workshops
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Services of an experienced Retreat Manager

Accommodation

You will stay for two nights at the 4-star Blunsdon House Hotel.

Set in 30 acres of beautiful countryside, the 4-star Blunsdon House Hotel is situated in the village of Broad Blunsdon. All the individually decorated bedrooms have flat-screen televisions, a safety deposit box, telephone, hairdryer and tea- and coffee-making facilities. There are two restaurants and three bars to relax in and enjoy a drink after a day of exploring. Alternatively, guests can take a swim in the indoor heated swimming pool (charge applies) or enjoy a walk around the beautiful hotel grounds.