Could a Sewing Retreat be the Answer to Reignite your Sew-Jo?
above MAGGIE MARILYN
Is your sewing practice in a bit of a rut? Are you afraid that any more time spent inside your dank and airless sewing dungeon is going to lead to a full Yellow Wallpaper situation? Well, your sewing machine has a handle on top for a reason! It might be time to try shaking things up by taking yourself (and your sewing) out on the town to a sewing retreat or getaway.
There is a great deal of variety on offer within the wonderful world of sewing retreats in terms of format, location and organisers – from local weekend events to extravagant international experiences. At their heart though, they’re all about having some creative fun with like-minded individuals and getting out of your comfort zone, both figuratively and literally! Sewing retreats are a great way to learn new things, make new friends (or connect with old ones) and experience the childlike euphoria of a school camp with the adult experience of being in charge of your own holiday plans.
above SEW WE CAN EVENT BY THINKING OF YOU GIFT, PHOTO BY KELLEY SHEENAN
START LOCAL
If you are interested in investigating if sewing retreats are for you, it may be smart to start small. Check out if any local sewing shops or groups are holding weekend workshops or events. These can be a good way to try out the experience of sewing in a secondary location alongside others without spending huge amounts of money or travel time. Plus the more structured format of these events can make it easier to interact with new people than in more freeform styles if you’re feeling nervous. Sew Quirky, Thinking of You Gift, Sewing Adventures and Ministry of Handmade all run a variety of workshops and events throughout the year in Brisbane centred on various projects.
above SEWING ADVENTURES VIA FACEBOOK
above REBECCA MAE DESIGNS’ ITALIAN SEWING RETREAT
DESTINATION SEWING
Once you’ve found your groove in the social scene, you can focus on what some might call the most important part of a getaway – location, location, location! Many sewing retreats offer the opportunity to treat yourself to a little luxury alongside your stitching whether that’s soaking up the seaside rays in Shoalwater Bay, lounging in a luxury farmhouse or even jet-setting to Italy to stitch under the Tuscan sun. Wherever you can go, you can sew!
above DORSET VIA THE AVID SEAMSTRESS
above CREATE RETREATS WARBURTON
DO IT YOURSELF
If you can’t find any retreats that tickle your fancy, there’s always the possibility of organising your own! Sewing retreats can be large-scale, logistically complex affairs, but they can also be as easy as getting together some crafty friends, booking a cosy cottage and bringing along your UFOs (that’s unfinished objects). In fact, there are even accommodation spaces specifically set up for creative retreats like Craftaways, Create Retreats and the Old Laravale School, which feature everything you need from centralised workspaces with lots of room to spread out, to excess powerpoints for plugging in multiple machines.
