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The Knitting and
Crocheting Retreat
at Gartmore House
LochLomond,Scotland
Duration:fiveorsixnights;weekend
Cost:five-night£550; six-night £625;
weekend£385
What’sprovided:accommodation,all
meals,refreshments,workshops
Best for: a tailored experienceFancyhoningyourskillsina decadent
settingfilledwithgrandeur,whiletaking
leisurelywalksamongststunningviews,
andenjoyinghome-cookedmealsand
homebaking?GartmoreHouseprovides
friendly,relaxedandinspiringretreats
whereguestscanenjoylearningand
craftingunderexpertguidance.
“Onceguestshavebookedtheirretreat,
ourknittingandcrochettutor,SamiraHill,
getsintouchwitheachofthemtodiscuss
theiractivitiesandareasofinterestin
crochet,”explainsPeterSunderland,
Director at Gartmore House. “There are lotsofworkshopsavailable,requiringdifferent
materials,soonceguestshavechosen
whattheywouldliketofocusonduring
theirretreat,theyaregiven a short list of
materialsrequired.”
Oneofthemoreuniqueaspectsto
Gartmore’sretreat,is thatyouareableto
bringalonga partner– evenif theydon’t
craft!“Wehavecouplescome,whereone
oftheguestswillparticipateinthecraft
andtheotheris a non-participatingguest,”
explainsPeter.“Theywouldstillhaveall
mealstogetherandweoffera packed
lunchforthenon-crafter,if theywanttogo
outfortheday.”Thisdoesn’tjustapplyto
yourpartner,either– theteamalsooffer
threedogspacesforeachretreat,too!
Withsomanydifferentoptionsfor
holidays,whatmakesa craftretreatso
appealing?“Valuingmentalhealthand
mindfulnesshasbeensowell-documented
inthemediathelastcoupleofyears– the
powerofcraftsis medicineinitself,”says
Peter.“Crochetingis knownforstressrelief,
andI’msurethat’swhateveryone wants
froma holiday.”Verytrue!
http://www.gartmorehouse.com/
knitting-and-crochet-holidaysYarn for the
soulretreat
Westbury,Wiltshire
Duration:twodays
Cost:from£300
What’sprovided:chef-cookedmeals,
knitting,crochet, spinning and dyeing
workshops
Best for: relaxation and luxuryIf you’relookingtogetawayfora coupleof
dayswithlike-mindedsoulstofocusyour
mindonfibreandyarn,enjoydelicious
food from a professional chef, and unwindamongstbeautifulsurroundings,then
YarnForTheSoul,whichwaslaunchedin
Maythisyear,willberightupyourstreet.
“Aregularholidayis allverywellandgood,
butyarnyfriendshavesomuchin
common!”explainsownerKatieMairis.
“I wanttogivepeopletheopportunityto
meetpeoplewithsimilarinterests– you
canlearnfromeachotherandbecome
life-longfriendswithsomeonewhomay
actuallynotlivefarfromyou.It givesyou
theopportunitytomaketheretreata
reoccurringeventwithyournew friends,
asa specialtreattoyourself.”
Witha residentchef,whohascarefully
selected a menu to cater for vegans,vegetariansandthosewithallergies,thisis
noordinaryescapeintothewilderness–
luxuryis oneofthemainfocusesofthe
event,witha vintage-styleafternoon tea
anda Swedishsaunaallincluded.
Witha truepassionforhercraft,Katie
hastakenthetimetofindoutexactlywhat
herattendeeswanttogainfromthe
experience:“Thisyear’sretreathasa sock
knittingclassanda shawlcrochetclass,
whichwerechosenbytheguestsovera
groupchat,”saysKatie.Withluxury,
learninganda guest-centricapproach,it’s
nowondertheretreat’sprovensopopular.
http://www.facebook.com/pg/yftsretreats
Written by Colette Earley