Sewcial Retreat

Needing a creativity reboot? Wanting to sew uninterrupted without the worry of the day-to-day chores? Longing to sew with like-minded people? Wait no further. Come and join us for a retreat in 2025.

We are very excited to announce our feature retreat with award-winning quilt designer Helen Creasey. Come and spend a weekend with Helen to learn about foundation paper piecing in the leafy Surrey countryside. Experience Helen's unique take on FPP along with full-on creature comforts and room to create, relax, and be inspired!

The retreat will take place at the Holiday Inn Shepperton, which is easily accessible to Heathrow Airport, motorways, and mainline train stations. Relax in the hotel’s spacious and modern setting, ready to be inspired by our renowned industry educators. Enjoy a weekend escape with the great company of like-minded people.

Here are all the details:

Tutor:  Helen Creasey

Workshop:

A skill-based workshop on foundation paper piecing based on the Simple Snowflake pattern (exact pattern subject to change if a new design is released). Participation in the workshop is optional—you are welcome to work on your own project if you prefer.

A workshop supply list will be provided closer to the retreat date. Materials are not included in the workshop, so attendees will need to bring their own supplies.

About Helen: 

Helen Creasey is an award-winning quilt designer.  In 2018, she became a mother and started quilting as a therapeutic hobby. However, it rapidly evolved into a passion for inspiring and sharing her work with others through social media. 

She specialises in Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP), loving the complex look and detail possible. The technique is a natural adaptation of her architectural training. Her work is graphic, modern, and bold. It can be both pictorial and pattern-based. She uses vibrant colours, black and white, and gradients to produce a three-dimensional look.

Helen’s work earned her the "Visitor’s Choice" Award in 2023, and in 2024, she won the “Excellence in Machine Quilting Overlay Award” and 3^rd place in the Contemporary category, all at The Festival of Quilts, Birmingham.

Helen has been published several times in Love Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. She writes & sells her own patterns, loving to see how others interpret the designs. She also teaches wherever possible, finding it rewarding to encourage others. 

Never one to be without a challenge , Helen is always pushing herself and her creativity, meaning she never knows what is coming next.

You can find out more about Helen here on instagram for here: https://www.instagram.com/and_sew_i

All workshops are beginners friendly, no previous experience

When:

Friday 26th Sept 2025 to Sunday 28th September 2025

Our retreat will run from Friday afternoon (approximately 3pm) through to Sunday afternoon (approximate 4pm).

Where:

Holiday Inn Shepperton, Felix Ln, Shepperton TW17 8NP.

Set in landscaped parkland, this 4-star Spa Hotel is only a short 20 minutes drive from Heathrow Airport. It is located close to M25 and M3.The Health club offers hotel guests the use of their heated swimming pool, sauna, spa pool and gym. 

Itinerary for the weekend:

Friday:

3pm:  Start setting up in the sewing room with your own workstation throughout the weekend.  Sewing can commence from 3:30pm once your machine has been PAT tested on site.

8:30pm: Short Talk and Trunk Show by Helen

Sewing room open up to midnight

Saturday: 

7:30am: Sewing Room open

9:30am - 5pm: Workshop with Helen (you don't have to join the workshop if you prefer to work on your own project)

More sewing after dinner to Midnight.

Sunday:

7:30am: Sewing Room open

10am:  Round up of the workshop from Saturday, Q&A session with Helen for trouble shooting about the workshop

More sewing to continue till 3pm and retreat finishes at 4pm.

What’s included in the retreat package:

1) 2 nights luxury en-suite accommodation

2) All tutor led sessions should you choose to attend

3) Full access to our sewing room

4) Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday

5) Cold Working lunch on Saturday and Sunday (excluding drinks, to be bought at the hotel bar)

6) Buffet Dinner on Friday and Saturday (excluding drinks, to be bought at the hotel bar)

7) Refreshments during the day

8) Use of hotel facilities, parking and use of the Health Club facilities, including heated swimming pool, sauna, spa and gym (excluding treatments) 

Please note: Workshop participation is optional. A supply list will be provided before the retreat, and materials are not included.

Cost:

Single occupancy: £550

PLEASE NOTE:

You'll need to bring your own sewing machines to the retreat.  But if you cannot, we can organise one for you.  Please do get in touch as we only have limited machines available.

Workshop participation is optional. A supply list will be provided before the retreat, and materials are not included.

The retreat deposit / retreat payments are non-refundable but transferable.  If you cannot attend for unforeseen reasons, you can assign another person to take your place at the retreat.