Retreats


2026 Retreats …

New Year Retreat

with Helen Kent

Friday 16th to Sunday 18th January 2026

Hillscourt Hotel, Rose Hill, Lickey, Birmingham B45 8RS

We are coming into our fourth year of retreats and this time we are looking at Dresden inspired ideas. The project is a Dresden Village clock for your sewing room where each of the houses can be personalised.

This retreat includes the clock mechanism so you can take home a working clock ready to hang and works well with scraps so is ideal for using up your stash.

The weekend includes:

  • Friday arrival, set up and sewing from 12:00, hotel room check in from 14:00.  Afternoon refreshments and 2 course evening meal.
  • Saturday: Full English or Continental breakfast, morning refreshments, sandwich buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments, 2 course evening meal.
  • Sunday: Full English or Continental breakfast, morning refreshments, sandwich buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments.
  • 2 nights overnight accommodation in single, en-suite rooms equipped with:
    • Freeview TV                
    • Wi-Fi                         
    • Combination safe
    • Hairdryer                    
    • Tea/coffee facilities       
    • Free parking on site
  • Unrestricted use of the sewing room from 9:00 until 21:00.
  • Support an experienced Tutor during daytime sessions. (9:00 to 17:00)
  • Dresden Village clock project plus explore Dresden Plates in different forms.
  • Bring your own projects to work on or join in with our retreat project.
  • Ironing boards and irons will be available in the sewing room.
  • Strictly Quilting mini-shop.
  • Retreat closes at 15.00 Sunday afternoon.

The cost of the retreat is £475.  £50 deposit (non-refundable) secures your place, with two further payments of £200 by 1st September 2025 and £225 by 1st November 2025. 

For the Full Information and Booking Form New Year Retreat please, click here.

Autumn Retreat

with Helen Kent

Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd November 2026

Hillscourt Hotel, Rose Hill, Lickey, Birmingham B45 8RS

We all know never to ask a quilter about their stash, but what to do with the smaller scraps that we just can’t part with? You are not alone in the quilting world when keeping 2 1/2” squares (because we might just need it one day!) But for this retreat, we are looking at ideas to use up those scraps. From orphan blocks to quilt left overs, we’ll look at how to organise them and use them in future projects. Techniques will cover lots of different Improv ideas along with some ideas on storing those smaller pieces. 

The weekend includes:

  • Friday arrival, set up and sewing from 12:00, hotel room check in from 14:00.  Afternoon refreshments and 2 course evening meal.
  • Saturday: Full English or Continental breakfast, morning refreshments, sandwich buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments, 2 course evening meal.
  • Sunday: Full English or Continental breakfast, morning refreshments, sandwich buffet lunch, afternoon refreshments.
  • 2 nights overnight accommodation in single, en-suite rooms equipped with:
    • Freeview TV                
    • Wi-Fi                         
    • Combination safe
    • Hairdryer                    
    • Tea/coffee facilities       
    • Free parking on site
  • Unrestricted use of the sewing room from 9:00 until 21:00.
  • Support an experienced Tutor during daytime sessions. (9:00 to 17:00)
  • Talks and demonstrations on scrap busting, Improv and storage.
  • Bring your own projects to work on or join in with our retreat project.
  • Ironing boards and irons will be available in the sewing room.
  • Strictly Quilting mini-shop.
  • Retreat closes at 15.00 Sunday afternoon.

The cost of the retreat is £475.  £50 deposit (non-refundable) secures your place, with two further payments of £200 by 31st July 2026 and £225 by 30th September 2026. 

For the Full Information and Booking Form Autumn Retreat please, click here.