We are SO excited to invite our friend Christine Haynes back in for the ultimate garment sewing weekend!
A little more about Christine! She is a sewing author, teacher, and pattern designer. Christine has written four books, How to Speak Fluent Sewing (2015, C&T), Skirts & Dresses for First Time Sewers (2015, Barron’s), The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction (2014, CPI), and Chic & Simple Sewing (2009, Potter Craft), and has contributed to other books, such as One Yard Wonders (2009, Storey). Her articles have been published in Sewstylish, Sew News, Craftstylish, and Craft Zine magazines.
She teaches sewing classes in-person, as well as virtual & video workshops on-line, and has presented lectures and workshops at the American Sewing Guild Conference, Camp Stitchalot, 2016–2019 Camp Workroom Social retreats, the 2012–2016 Craftcation Conferences, and the 2016 QuiltCon West Conference.
Christine was a featured guest on seasons 2 and 8 of PBS’s Sew It All TV show, and her work has been featured in Threads, Mollie Makes, New York Times, New York Post, Los Angeles Times, Martha Stewart’s radio network, and NBC’s Today Show, among others.
This retreat will be all about garment sewing! Bring anything you want to work on and get Christine’s expert help. We’ll tailor the weekend to your needs based on the survey results of attendees and create a schedule of break out classes. Need help with sizing? Sewing a welt pocket? Moving a bust dart? Attaching a waistband? Christine can help you through it. You’ll be able to pop into demos or skip them and keep sewing away!
And since Laura & Allyson are all about knitting, we’ll have plenty of opportunity to knit and chill. There will also be one on one knitting class sign ups available if you’ve got knitting questions!
A $800 deposit reserves your spot! We will then work with you to get the accommodation you require
SOLD OUT $2200 - A king bed in a two person room with private bathroom
SOLD OUT $2200 - A king bed in a single room with shared bathroom
$2000 - A king bed in a three person room with private bathroom - 2 spots available
SOLD OUT $2000 - A king bed in a two person room with shared bathroom
SOLD OUT $1800 - A twin bed in a two person room with a private bathroom
$1600 - A twin bed in a double room with a shared bathroom - 2 spots available
SOLD OUT $1600 - A twin bed in a three person room with a private bathroom
You will be invoiced for the full balance one month before your retreat start date.
RETREAT PRICE INCLUDES:
Christine Haynes, garment sewing expert, on hand to answer all your sewing questions all weekend long
Laura & Allyson, experienced garment sewists and knitting teachers, on hand to answer all your questions all weekend long
Three nights luxury accommodation, including spacious indoor and outdoor spaces, hot tubs, theater room, and fire pit!
Two full days of garment sewing instruction
Transportation to the retreat space from downtown Chicago, leaving Friday at 12pm CST and returning to downtown Chicago at 11am CST
Catered dinners from local chefs Friday and Sunday night
Wood-fired pizza party Saturday night
Three family style breakfasts and two lunches
Plentiful snacks, handmade cocktails, wine, beer, coffee, and tea
All taxes and fees
Pay your deposit now to reserve your spot!
* There will be a limited amount of sewing machines available to rent so bringing your own sewing machine is encouraged!
OUR WEEKEND SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
3pm: Guests can start arriving and settling in
3-7pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks, sewing set up
7pm: Dinner from a local caterer
8-10pm: Craft & chill!
SATURDAY
7-10am: A la cart breakfast
9-12pm: Garment Sewing Classes
11-1pm: A la cart lunch
12-5pm: Garment Sewing Classes
5-7pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks
7pm: Pizza party from South Shore Ovenworks
8-10pm: Craft & chill!
SUNDAY
7-10am: A la cart breakfast
9-12pm: Garment Sewing Classes
11-1pm: A la cart lunch
12-5pm: Garment Sewing Classes
5-6pm: Happy hour drinks and snacks
6pm: Dinner from a local caterer
8-10pm: Knit night!
MONDAY
7-9am: A la cart breakfast
10am: Check out and head back to Chicago!
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made up to 3 weeks prior to the retreat are eligible for a balance payment refund minus a 10% administration fee. Deposits are non-refundable.
Because of the potential for a dramatic Michigan weather event, if there is a blizzard and we have to cancel the retreat you will get a full refund.
COVID-19 Policy
By registering for this retreat, you are agreeing to the following:
You MUST prove vaccination status to attend. Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed at the retreat (meaning both doses of Pfizer/Moderna + 2 weeks, or single dose of J&J + 2 weeks - as well as at least 1 booster shot if your original Pfizer/Moderna shot was 6+ months ago).
You will be required to provide a negative rapid test taken within 48 hours of the start of the retreat.
Retreat size is limited to accommodate physical distancing. Each bedroom will be limited to one or two retreaters, HUGE rooms will have 3 retreaters, and each class will follow CDC and local guidance for gatherings. For instance, the Dahlia Resort sleeps 44 but we will only have 18 max guests and 4 staff in attendance.
Please be mindful of the risk we are taking on as a small business and register for this retreat only if you are willing to abide by this policy. Thank you in advance!
We will be following CDC and local guidance for gatherings. If at any point community spread increases and/or new restrictions are put in place that result in this retreat being cancelled, all attendees will receive a refund minus a 5% processing fee.
All surfaces and spaces will be sanitized before and after each workshop, gathering, meal, etc. We will be limiting the use of shared tools/ surfaces whenever possible.
This policy will be updated as CDC & local guidance changes.