Totally Crewel Work, Design Intensive: June 2025

Totally Crewel Work, Design Intensive: June 2025

Unleash your creativity with this unique design-focused experience

June 18-25, 2025

Muncaster Castle

Flakebridge Estate

Crewel Work

From $9,915

Deposit £500

With the Following Tutors

Phillipa Turnbull
Harriet Roberts

Retreat Overview

This 8 day residential retreat takes place a stone's throw from our home town of Appleby-in-Westmorland.

During our week together, you will have a chance to unleash your creativity with this unique design course. Guided by Phillipa Turnbull and emboldened by studying Phillipa’s original crewel work collection and her vast collection of resource drawings, images and artefacts, students will be empowered to decide their own style, their own choice of colours, stitches, and preferred scale. Assisted by our team and using our professional equipment, students will create their own design and leave with their very own original kit.

The Details

Full Itinerary

October 6-12, 2024

Day 1 - ARRIVAL
The retreat starts at 5.00pm at the Flakebridge Estate.

Day 2 - TUITION
Morning tuition with Phillipa. Evening lecture.

Day 3 - TUITION
Morning tuition with Phillipa. Evening lecture.

Day 4 - EXCURSION
Study day at the Muncaster Castle.

Day 5 - TUITION
Morning tuition with Harriet

Day 6 - TUITION
Morning tuition with Harriet. Evening lecture.

Day 7 - TUITION
Morning tuition with Harriet. Evening lecture.

Day 8 - DEPARTURE
Retreat ends at at 9am. Onward travel included to local train stations and to Manchester Airport on request.

Tuition

Crewel Work will be the topic of the week throughout your workshops, lectures, and excursions. The first part of the week will be focused on creating your design and selecting your colours. You will begin by studying crewel work designs from a bank of resources provided by Phillipa, you will then build your design, adapting and arranging your preferred motifs, which you will then draw out using a lightbox. Our in-house illustrator Georgie will perfect the outline and your design will then be printed there and then ready for stitching.

The second part of the retreat will focus on selection and practice of stitch techniques with Harriet. You will select your own techniques from resources provided and then be guided in how to complete these within the motifs in your design.

What's Included

Accommodation & Food
Full board accommodation.

Tuition & Kits
5 full days of tuition, all materials needed to complete your design, loan of a frame, magnifying light and other equipment, refreshments during class, and a goody bag.

Excursions & Lectures
Excursion to Muncaster Castle, evening lectures, informal stitching sessions, as well as optional walks and further cultural visits.

Travel
Travel as per the programme. Transfers from local train stations are included. Transfers from and to Manchester Airport and local transport links are available in request.

Arrival & Departure

Arrival
The retreat will officially begin at 5pm on Wednesday 18th June 2025 at the the Flakebridge Estate Low Barn, Flakebridge, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6JZ

Departure
The retreat will officially end at 9am on Wednesday 25th June 2025.

Additional Nights
For those wishing to arrive a day or two early, you are welcome to book additional nights in local hotels in Apply such as the Tufton Arms Hotel or Appleby Manor Hotel.

Free parking is available on site. The nearest mainline train station is Penrith. The nearest international airport is Manchester.

Unleash your creativity

Phillipa will guide you through studying historic crewelwork, drawing inspiration from her collection own collection and other resources. Then, with the support of our in-house ilustrator Georgie, you will bring your design to life using our equipment.

Stitching alongside Phillipa and Harriet, you will then experiment with stitch and colour combinations before committing your choices to your final design.

The Location

Set on the edge the Beautiful Lake District

The Lake District, located in Northwest England, is a stunning region known for its breathtaking landscapes, serene lakes, and rugged mountains. It's a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, and famously inspired poets like William Wordsworth. The Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to England's highest peak, Scafell Pike, and its deepest lake, Wastwater.

Our retreat will take place on the edge of the Lake District National Park area, in the heart of the Eden Valley, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Set around the River Eden, which flows through Appleby, the Eden valley is a mix of lush green countryside, traditional towns and attractive sandstone villages some dating back to Viking times. To the south are the peaceful Howgill Fells, a favourite of the well-known fellwalker Alfred Wainwright.

Flakebridge Estate

Nestled in the rolling hills and picturesque countryside of Cumbria this purpose built retreat space is set on a stunning private estate. This modern day shooting lodge is a blend of rustic charm and contemporary facilities making it the ideal secluded escape.

What's included

Tuition & Kits
5 full days of tuition, materials to create and finish one design (up to 60 x 60cm), loan of a frame, magnifying light and other equipment, and a goody bag.
Excursions & Lectures
Full day excursion to Muncaster Castle, as well as optional half day local visits and walks. Evening lectures.
Accomodation & Food
7 nights full board accommodation throughout (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and refreshment break during class included)
Travel
Coach travel during the retreat as required by itinerary. Transfers from local train stations and airport are available on request. Group transfer to Manchester city centre or airport on departure.

Meet your tutors

Phillipa Turnbull

The founder of the The Crewel Work Company, Phillipa has over 30 years of experience as an embroidery tutor. She leads a fun and relaxed session packed with Crewel Work tips and tricks to get you feeling confident with your needle.
Learn More About Phillipa Turnbull

Harriet Roberts

Harriet Roberts is has been a great friend and supported of the Crewel Work Company for over 15 years. We are extremely excited to welcome her to teach for us officially in the UK for the very first time during our Gawthorpe Hall Totally Crewel Work Residential Retreat.
Learn More About Harriet Roberts

Escape to the Country! Join us and continue your Crewel Work Journey