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At Golden Hinde, we host several in-person embroidery retreats throughout the year, offering a relaxing and inspiring space to focus on your craft. Each retreat features a dedicated project, carefully designed to help you develop your goldwork and embroidery skills step by step.
However, we also warmly welcome participants who prefer to work on their own projects or designs. Our experienced tutors will be there to guide and support you throughout your creative journey, ensuring you make the most of your time with us.
Whether you’re joining us to learn new techniques, refine your stitching, or simply enjoy a few peaceful days of creativity, our embroidery retreats provide the perfect blend of learning, inspiration, and community.
What to Expect
Your retreat package usually includes a private en-suite room, unless stated otherwise, along with delicious daily meals – breakfast, a two-course lunch, and a three-course evening dinner. From the moment you arrive, you’ll enjoy a warm, welcoming environment where creativity and connection flourish.
Each retreat focuses on a specific embroidery project, listed in the Retreats section of our website shop. However, many of our retreats also welcome guests who prefer to work on their own designs.
Our tutors will guide you through techniques, offer feedback, and share new ideas to help you grow. If a retreat requires everyone to follow the set project, you’ll find that clearly stated on the retreat page, along with details about included project packs.
During your stay, you’ll learn from Sarah Rakestraw, our in-house embroidery tutor with over 25 years of goldwork experience, assisted by Kate. Sarah’s expertise spans many styles and techniques, and her friendly, patient approach makes learning enjoyable for everyone.
At Golden Hinde, we encourage guests to work at their own pace in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. Our retreats are not only about stitching — they’re about friendship, creativity, and taking time for yourself.
So, why not join us for one of our stitching holidays and enjoy a beautiful escape from everyday life?
Retreat reviews
Where are our retreats held?
Still not sure? why not see what some of our previous attendees have said about our retreats
On the 8th of June 8 keen goldworkers gathered at Shallowford House between Stafford and Stone. Seven of us had been to a retreat before and the one newcomer was soon part of the group and became part of the wider retreat family. We were in a room which had windows on three sides making it very light and ideal for the work we were doing.
The topic for this retreat was ‘Flames’ and provided practise in felt padding and working with leather, plate and purl. We had a choice of three designs and freedom to choose the colours we wished to use. We had a demonstration of a technique we would need whenever it was necessary. Sarah is always ready to help and advise.
Although the retreat subject was Flames one member of the group was finishing a project she had started at a previous retreat. This is not unusual and ‘doing your own thing’ is permitted at some of the retreats. We all had an excellent time and all of us will be coming on another retreat. In fact, several of us have already booked another one.
Sue – Attended Fabulous flames retreat but has joined us several times before
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The White Rabbit course is inspired by the Lewis Carrol book Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. It was a busy but incredibly enjoyable few days, packed with learning new and refining existing skills. We covered many techniques including goldwork embroidery, wool felting to create the rabbit from scratch, ruffle making, needle lacing and many more, all brought together to produce a beautiful White Rabbit, adorned in a tabard of glittering goldwork. The finished rabbit is not only decorative but also practical, with the tabard opening at the back to reveal a handy needle case. It’s such a clever design and a project that I will treasure.
The week was made even more special we were treated to a wonderful Mad Hatter-themed tea party as well as a fascinating trip to visit Lewis Carroll’s home and museum, which really added to the experience and inspiration behind the project. Everything was so well organised. The full kit was provided and all meals were included, plus we had unlimited access to the sewing room, making it easy to make the most of every minute. It was a varied, inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable course. I came away with a beautiful finished piece, lots of new techniques, and many happy memories. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys embroidery and textile art.
Caroline who attended our White Rabbit course in May 2024 but has been on several more since
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Many of our guests return to our retreats year after year, and we believe that’s because of the friendly, welcoming, and relaxed atmosphere we’ve created.
Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another retreat, you’ll be made to feel at home. Our regular attendees are always happy to welcome new stitchers, share tips and advice, and help everyone settle in.
We’re proud to be building a wonderful community of people who share a love of stitching, creativity, and good company.
Why not join us on your first retreat and become part of our stitching family? We’d love to welcome you.
Where are our retreats held?
We currently use 3 different retreat venues.
Stone in Staffordshire – Shallowford House which is an old house in 9 acres of land
Crewe Cheshire – Wistaston Hall
Whalley Lancashire – Whalley Abbey – New for 2027
We have hand picked all of these venues due to their lovely welcoming home from home feeling
Venue reviews
Shallowford House:
The venue in Stone, Staffordshire is a lovely old house with good facilities. Breakfast was buffet style (cereals and toast) and two course meals for lunch and dinner, with generous portions. Because they cater for small groups, there wasn’t a choice of meal but they will also cater for dietary requirements. Bedrooms are en suite and plenty of room, although the layout varies and plug sockets are not always in the best place so I would recommend taking an extension lead. – Colleen attended our Fabulous Flames retreat June 2026
The venue, Shallowford House, is an old house set in 9 acres of grounds in lovely countryside. As well as gardens and meadows to wander around there are several permanent residents to see – a llama, 2 goats, a rather fat pig, some rabbits, plus 2 peacocks, 1 peahen and 2 adorable peachicks. The peacocks gave us a daily show of their magnificent tail feathers. Because the house is old it has some unusual features such as plug sockets on the opposite side of the room to where they could be useful and many different corridors to the rooms. The workroom that we were in was well lit and roomy enough for all of us to spread out as well as Sarah’s space for giving her demonstrations – Mary F attended both Apples and Pears and Fabulous Flames retreat
Wistaston Hall:
The venue itself was impressive. Set in a beautiful historic house in peaceful surroundings, it was only a short walk into town yet offered lovely grounds to wander around whenever you wanted to rest your eyes from sewing. The bedrooms were spacious and comfortable, with 24-hour drinks stations always available. The staff were warm, friendly and approachable, and the delicious home-cooked meals prepared by qualified chefs were excellent throughout the week.
There was always something to enjoy outside the classroom too. Sarah was a wonderful host, organising daytime walks and evening chats, while there was also a comfortable communal lounge and a small bar for relaxing with fellow students. – Caroline attended our Pin Cushion retreat
Previous Retreats
2026
March 2026 – Apples and Pears
April 2026 – Pin Cushion
June 2026 – Fabulous Flames
September 2026 – Oval Flowers
2025
March 2025 – Chrysanthemum and Lupins
May 2025 – Goldwork Notebook
September 2025 – Basket weave and Goldwork Techniques
2024 retreats
March 2024 – Beautiful Butterflies
April 2024 – The White Rabbit
September 2024 – Illuminated Letters
2023 Retreats
March 2023 – Your Picture in a letter
May 2023 – Peacock and Techniques
September 2023 – Goldwork Box
