Sewing Retreat September 2019

It was a perfect day for the beginning of our sewing retreat. As I approached the house via a long leafy drive, the sun was shining, the trees were beginning to turn a golden colour and the house was bathed in a golden glow from the mid afternoon sun.

The first couple of hours are always a bit hectic…lots of table moving, cupboard and fridge filling (to bursting point), bedroom organising and copious tea drinking to get us through!! However, a couple of hours later we were all set up and ready to go…Handmade treat bags were placed on the beds, all individually labelled with names and filled with some sewing goodies and a handmade card. But, most importantly, the kettle was on awaiting our first arrival!!

We didn’t have to wait long before our first smiley, excited guest arrived, shortly followed our other enthusiastic sewers. We were then making tea and tucking into the first of many, many cakes. Conversation flowed and the volume increased!! It was amazing, despite the fact that we had all only just met, it was as though we’d all been friends for a LONG time. Having our love of sewing as a common theme made chatting easy and it wasn’t long before we were all talking about our projects for the weekend, sharing ideas and our life stories.

The sewing room began to fill with machines and piles of fabrics…I mean…you really can’t leave any behind can you…you might just need them!!! Suitcases were unpacked and work/ life was soon forgotten about!

As always, we begin the retreat by sharing a glass of something bubbly and some delicious canapés together…this is soon followed by a delicious supper, lots of happy chatter and thoughts turning to plans for the next day. As the evening stretched out some of us ended the day with a soak in the hot tub, star gazing and chatting, meanwhile others headed for the sitting room to relax in a squishy sofa and others took the opportunity for an early night.

Sewing started in earnest after a delicious breakfast on Saturday morning. Fabrics were revealed, patterns ooooohed and ahhhed over and the Great Devon Sewing Bee began!

On the cutting table today were cushions, a jump suit, a pair of dungarees, a pair of linen trousers, leggings, cushions, pj bottoms, rope coasters and bowls curtains and a footstool cover…phew!

Some patterns were easier than others…

The day was punctuated by coffee, cake, lunch, walks to Totnes to find the fabric shop, chatting and laughing, resting and sewing!

We were all ready to stop sewing for dinner..another 3 courses of deliciousness and riotous conversations!!!! Followed by more star gazing in the hot tub, chatting and drinking, sewing and sleeping!

Sunday morning and we have a birthday in the house..Happy Birthday Lynn….

Today, the dungarees, a jump suit, a jersey top, cushions, curtains, a skirt, a pattern made from an existing dress, a t-shirt, some rope coasters and two children dresses were all finished…!! Good work everyone…and of course we were fuelled by cake, coffee, tea and lunch!

At 4pm we gathered in the sitting room, where the wood burning stove had been lit, to share afternoon tea together. We had a delicious “full cream ahead” cake from Boho Cakes to which we added candles and sang a rapturous “Happy Birthday to Lynn. Once replete, it was back to the sewing room to finish off our projects before our special Sunday Evening meal..tablecloths and all!! Mum you did us proud!!

The hardest part of the weekend is when it’s time to go home. There was lots of hugging and promises to keep in touch and as the ladies slowly departed it was time to collect our belongings and bid a fond farewell to a place we have come to know as our Sewing home…until the next time!