Sewing Retreat: Sew your Dream Dress

About

Escape with MAKE! The Lakes for a fabulous weekend of sewing in a stunning Stately Home.

Special guest, BBC Sewing Bee Champion, Charlotte Newland will guide you every step of the way in making a perfectly fitting dress.

Make yourself at home and spread out in our bright and beautiful sewing studio with your own workstation for the whole weekend – no need to tidy away between sessions, hooray!

Enjoy some Cumbrian home comforts while staying in the stunning Moresby Hall. With plenty of home cooking to keep you going throughout the weekend, what more could you want!

What is included:

*Sewing sessions led by expert Charlotte Newland to fit and make your dress. (Max. 8 students so lots of 1-2-1 attention).
*Dress Pattern.
*Two night stay at Moresby Hall Friday, 8th July 2022 – Sunday, 10th July 2022.
*All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and light refreshments throughout the weekend.
*Afternoon Tea Party to round off the retreat in style.
*Lots of laughs, sewing fun and relaxation in a beautiful stately home.

Bring a sewing (or non-sewing) buddy! Non-sewists tickets include everything except the sewing sessions, we can recommend adventures in the surrounding area for them whilst you are busy in the sewing studio.


Moresby Hall is a Grade I listed building, described by English Heritage "of special architectural and historic importance". Located just outside the Georgian Harbour town of Whitehaven, Moresby Hall is steeped in history and retains many original features. You will be extremely comfortable in the 5 star gold award accommodation, which includes charging points for Tesla and plug in electric cars. The spacious Fletcher Room (named after the family who lived there for 250 years and even sheltered Mary Queen of Scots prior to her imprisonment at Carlisle) will be our light and well-equipped sewing studio for the duration of the retreat.

You will need to bring your own sewing machine and the materials for your finished dress. All other materials and tools will be provided, however, do feel free to bring your own sewing kit if you prefer.

A shortlist of dress patterns to choose from will be sent out after booking. A copy of your chosen pattern is included and will be waiting for you in the sewing studio.

SKILL LEVEL: This is an advanced-beginners project. It is best if you already know how to use a commercial dressmaking pattern. You may progress more quickly with the project if you have some dressmaking knowledge and have completed a couple of projects already. All students must be comfortable with sewing machine basics: threading, seams, hems etc.
Please Note: The focus of the sewing sessions will be on creating a dress that will fit you perfectly. You may not 100% finish your dress in the sessions, depending on how quickly you sew. You will leave with a pattern that is customised to you which you can make over and over again, and all the knowledge to finish off any bits on your dress at home.


MAKE! The Lakes creative dressmaking retreats take place in the stunning surroundings of The Lake District, Cumbria.