Group sewing during the Sewcial Retreat with Carolyn Forster, held 25–27 September 2026 at the Holiday Inn Shepperton. A creative patchwork and quilting weekend hosted by Purple Stitches.

Sewcial Retreat with Carolyn Forster of Quilting on the Go - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026

Guests sewing and relaxing at a Purple Stitches Sewcial Retreat—a weekend getaway for quilters featuring expert-led workshops, modern hotel comfort, and creative inspiration in a welcoming sewing community.

Sewcial Retreat with Carolyn Forster of Quilting on the Go - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026

Name: Sewcial Retreat with Carolyn Forster of Quilting on the Go - Friday 25th to Sunday 27th September 2026
Brand: Purple Stitches
SKU: Retreat-Sept26-D1
Price: 150.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

£150.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Payment Option

£150 Deposit with final balance (£410) due 8 weeks before retreat

Payment in Full

Quantity

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✨ Need a creative reset? Dreaming of uninterrupted sewing time away from daily distractions? Want to spend a weekend with like-minded makers? This is your invitation to escape, relax, and sew to your heart’s content!

We are thrilled to welcome Carolyn Forster back to lead our 2026 Sewcial Retreat. Join us for a weekend of creative inspiration, practical learning, and great company in the beautiful Surrey countryside.

Carolyn’s warm and encouraging teaching style, paired with her unique approach to quilting, makes this a weekend not to miss!

Here are all the details:

🧵 Workshop Details:

Carolyn will be teaching on Saturday, sharing her signature approach to patchwork and quilting. The full workshop content is still being finalised, but you can expect engaging sessions focused on practical skills, inspiring ideas, and creative techniques suitable for all skill levels.

All workshops are beginner-friendly, with no previous experience required.

👉 Get a feel for Carolyn’s work on Instagram: @quiltingonthego

When:

Friday 25th – Sunday 27th September 2026

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

📍 Retreat Venue:

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

Nestled in peaceful parkland, this 4-star spa hotel is just 20 minutes from Heathrow and close to the M25 and M3. Guests can enjoy modern, spacious rooms, access to the health club, and the comfort of a full-service hotel all weekend.

🗓️ Retreat Schedule:

Friday:

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

8:30 pm: Evening talk and welcome session with Carolyn

Sewing room open up to midnight

Saturday:

7:30 am – Sewing room opens

9:30 am–5:00 pm – Workshop with Carolyn (optional – or work on your project)

Evening sewing until midnight

Sunday:

7:30 am – Sewing room opens

10:00 am – Round up of the workshop from Saturday, Q&A session

Sewing continues until 3:00 pm

Retreat ends at 4:00 pm

🛏️ What’s Included:

2 nights of luxury en-suite accommodation
All tutor-led sessions (optional attendance)
Your own dedicated sewing workstation
Full use of the sewing room during the retreat
Buffet breakfast (Saturday & Sunday)
Cold working lunch (Saturday & Sunday – drinks not included)
Buffet dinner (Friday & Saturday – drinks not included)
Refreshments during the day
Use of hotel facilities including the Health Club (pool, spa, sauna, gym)
Free on-site parking

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

💷 Pricing:

Single occupancy: £560 per person

🚨 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; however, materials are not included.

Retreat payments (deposit or full) are non-refundable but transferable. If you're unable to attend, you may send someone in your place.

🎉 We can’t wait to welcome you to another inspiring weekend of quilting, community, and creative joy with Carolyn Forster!

Once we receive your order and cleared payment, we aim to ship it within 2–3 working days.

We currently dispatch orders on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
If your order is urgent, please contact us before placing it.

UK Shipping

We offer the following delivery options within the UK:

Royal Mail 48 Tracked – £3.50 (approx. 2–3 working days)
Royal Mail 24 Tracked – £5.00 (approx. 1–2 working days)
Next Working Day Delivery – £9.00
- Orders must be placed by 10am on a shipping day
- Orders shipped on Friday will be delivered on Monday

🎁 Free standard shipping on all UK orders over £50

International Shipping

We ship worldwide using Royal Mail International Tracked service.

Please note:
Import taxes and duties are not included in our prices. These will be collected by your country’s customs or postal service on delivery. We do not charge or collect taxes on their behalf.

1) European Shipping

Up to 250g: £8.00
250g to 1kg: £12.00
1kg to 2kg: £16.00
Over 2kg: please contact us for a quote

🚚 Express courier delivery available — please contact us for pricing.

2) Rest of World

Up to 250g: £10.00
250g to 500g: £13.00
500g to 1kg: £15.00
1kg to 2kg: £20.00
Over 2kg: please contact us for a quote

🚚 Express courier delivery available — please contact us for pricing.

If you have any questions about shipping, or need help choosing the best option, feel free to contact us at hello@purple-stitches.com.

Last updated: 31th May 2025

📦 Shipping & Delivery

When will my order be dispatched?
We aim to dispatch orders within 2–3 working days after receiving cleared payment. Currently, we ship on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only.
If your order is time-sensitive, please contact us before placing it.

What are your UK shipping options?

Royal Mail 48 Tracked – £3.00 (2–3 working days)
Royal Mail 24 Tracked – £5.00 (1–2 working days)
Next Working Day Delivery – £9.00 (order by 10am on a shipping day)
Orders shipped on Friday will be delivered the following Monday.

Do you offer free shipping?
Yes! We offer free standard UK shipping on orders over £50.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide using Royal Mail International Tracked. Shipping costs vary by weight and destination.
Please note: Import taxes and duties are not included and are the responsibility of the buyer.

🔄 Returns & Refunds

Can I return an item?
Yes, you can return items in their original condition within 7 days of receipt for a full refund. Please contact us before sending any returns.

Are there items that cannot be returned?
Yes, we cannot accept returns on:

Cut lengths of fabric, trims, or haberdashery (unless faulty)
Gift cards

How do I initiate a return?
Email us at hello@purple-stitches.com with your order details. Make sure the items are unused and in original packaging.
We recommend using a tracked service, as we can’t be responsible for returns lost in the post.

🧵 Fabric Sizes & Cutting

How are fabrics sold?
You can choose the length you need when ordering.

For quilting cotton, a quarter metre can be cut as a Fat Quarter or a Long Quarter
For dressmaking fabrics, a quarter metre will be cut as a Long Quarter

Fabric measurement guide:

ONE Fat Quarter = approx. 50cm x 55cm
ONE Long Quarter = approx. 25cm x width of fabric
ONE Half metre = approx. 50cm x width of fabric
ONE 0.75 metre = approx. 75cm x width of fabric
ONE 1 metre = approx. 100cm x width of fabric

Can I get fabric in a continuous length?
Yes! Unless otherwise stated, all multiple units will be cut and sent in one continuous piece.

What is a Fat Quarter?
A Fat Quarter is a quarter metre of fabric cut to approximately 50cm x 55cm—wider and shorter than a standard long strip. It’s great for quilting and smaller craft projects.

🎟️ Retreats

Are retreat payments refundable?
Retreat payments are non-refundable. However, you can transfer your place to someone else — just let us know their details.

What if Purple Stitches cancels the retreat?
You’ll receive a full refund if we cancel the event.

Do I need travel insurance?
Yes — we strongly recommend that all retreat participants take out travel insurance to protect against unforeseen circumstances.

🛍️ Orders & Products

Can I modify or cancel my order?
If your order hasn’t been shipped, we’ll do our best to help. Email us as soon as possible at hello@purple-stitches.com.

Do you sell gift cards?
Yes! Digital gift cards are available in various amounts — perfect for fabric lovers.

Do you offer digital patterns?
We do! We stock a selection of downloadable sewing patterns that can be downloaded after purchase.

📞 Contact Us

How can I reach you?
📧 Email: hello@purple-stitches.com
📞 Phone: 01256 477 101

Where are you based?
Purple Stitches Limited
Unit 14, Hassocks Workshops
Stroudley Road
Basingstoke
RG24 8UQ
United Kingdom

Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays

Last updated: 4th May 2025

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