Build a capsule wardrobe with Christine in the English countryside
Join us for an 8 night / 9 day retreat in London & the English countryside, September 22-30, 2025
Second retreat added! October 14-22, 2025
*both retreats are sold out! to get on the waitlist, in case of cancellation, click here*
Join Christine in London & the English countryside for an incredible 8 night / 9 day retreat, from September 22-30, 2025 (or the newly added second dates: October 14-22, 2025). Christine has designed a three-piece Capsule Collection, exclusively for this retreat, comprising of a pant, a knit tee, & a shirt / shirt dress. The garments are designed with sewers of all levels in mind, & Christine will help guide you, based on your needs. Limited to 18 guests, you will be sure to get ample one-on-one attention.
Bring your fabric & notions with you to the retreat & work on your garments in a light and airy studio at Goodnestone Park in the gorgeous English countryside. You are welcome to work on as many or as few projects as you prefer. If you focus on one pattern, you can anticipate that will leave with at least one completed garment. Your patterns will also come with a full set of instructions, so you can complete your unfinished projects at home.
We will have 2 days in London with first class lodging & one-of-a-kind excursions. Next will be 6 days at Goodnestone Park for 4 days of sewing, plus the day we arrive, & an excursion day to Rye (& Merchant & Mills)! Then on our final day we will have more excursions & our return to London. Nearly everything is supplied, including most meals, luxurious rooms, transportation to incredible outings, the use of sewing machines, printed patterns, & more. Join us!
The retreat schedule
First stop: London
The retreat begins in London with three days of visits guaranteed to excite & inspire you. We’re planning a visit to the Fashion and Textile Museum for a curator-led tour of their vintage couture collection, a visit to the studio of legendary British designer Zandra Rhodes, who recently celebrated fifty years in the fashion business, & to the studio of embroiderer Karen Nicol where you’ll have the chance to study the techniques she uses to embellish the couture & catwalk garments for some of the world’s top designers.
We’re also planning to pay a visit to Joel & Sons, suppliers of quality fabrics to the Royal household, where you’ll find their array of fine fabrics a feast for the eyes. Your accommodation when we are in London is the 4-star Petersham hotel in Richmond-upon-Thames in southwest London, ideally situated close by Heathrow airport & with good underground & train links to the city. Please note that final confirmation on excursions in London will be confirmed closer to the retreat date.
Second stop: Goodnestone Park
On day three we travel by coach to Kent & to Goodnestone Park, the former home of Jane Austen’s brother Edward. This beautiful house dating from 1704 is surrounded by Goodnestone Park’s exceptionally beautiful 15-acre gardens, which are known for their ancient woodland, parterre gardens & classical English planting. Described as one of the top three gardens in Kent, we will have access to the gardens during our stay, including the recently restored Serpentine Walk, a favorite of Jane Austen.
Goodnestone Park underwent a large-scale renovation in 2016 when modern comforts were interwoven into the original design, resulting in a brilliant fusion of classical elegance with a sleek 21st century accent. It is here that we will stay for 6 nights of sewing, meals, garden strolls, & so much inspiration. The bedrooms are large & spacious, so if you choose a double-occupancy twin room, there will be more than enough room for you & your new friend to share. There is a cafe & gift shop on-site as well.
Day trip: Rye
After a couple days of sewing at Goodnestone Park, we will take a break & visit the medieval town of Rye, home to Merchant & Mills. With its timber buildings & cobbled streets, this charming town has an artistic vibe & lovely independent shops.
Here you can pick up fabric, patterns, notions, & tools for future projects, plus anything you've discovered you need for the projects you’re working on at Goodnestone Park.
Final stops: Knole & London
On the final day of the retreat we will visit 15th century Knole, one of England’s largest country houses. A calendar house, it is reputed to have 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances, & 7 courtyards. We arrive back in London by late afternoon when the retreat ends.
Retreat details
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£4900-£5300 per person, for single occupancy
£4600 per person, for double occupancy
£1950 per person, for a non-participating partner (someone that is joining you on the trip but is not participating in the sewing, like a partner, parent, or friend)
£700 deposit on booking
30% due on February 15, 2025
Full balance May 15, 2025Please note that registration happens on the Textile Retreats website, not mine.
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2 nights in a Classic room at the Petersham hotel, London
6 nights at Goodnestone Park, Kent
Meals include: 8 breakfasts, 5 two-course lunches, & 7 three-course dinners with wine. Snacks, soft drinks, & unlimited tea & coffee are also included.
Printed paper patterns & instructions for capsule wardrobe, comprising 3 garments exclusively designed by Christine Haynes
4 days full-time tuition, plus the use of sewing machines & accessories
Group Zoom call with Christine for personal styling, fabric & wardrobe planning advice
Excursions to Joel & Sons fabric store, Alexander McQueen, Zandra Rhodes studio tour, curator-led tour at Fashion and Textile Museum, visit to embroiderer Karen Nicol’s studio, visit to Knole House, & day trip to Rye & Merchant & Mills (please note that final confirmation on excursions in London will be confirmed closer to the retreat date)
Coach transport to & from Goodnestone, plus local transport & underground travel during excursions in London
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Airfare & airport transfers
Fabric, thread, & notions
1 dinner & 4 lunches on excursions
Travel and health insurance
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Find our tentative itinerary here. Please note that final confirmation on excursions in London will be confirmed closer to the retreat date.
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Our host, Lizzie Hulme founded Chateau Dumas near Toulouse in 2005 as a centre for residential creative workshops in southwest France. More than a decade later people come from all over the world to learn from leading artists & craftspeople and share a creative experience with other like-minded souls.
A love of all things creative and a lifelong obsession with textiles has brought Lizzie to where she is today & the journey continues in her home country where she has formed The Textile Retreat Company to offer curated textile-themed Tours and Retreats in Britain where there is a rich textile heritage to discover & enjoy.
Both Chateau Dumas & The Textile Retreat Company work in tandem offering the creatively curious an opportunity to enjoy a great learning experience, delicious food, lovely accommodation & some very special touches.
