Knitting and crochet holiday in France - May 2017

Due to a cancellation we have spaces available for the first holiday of the year from Sunday 30th April to Friday 5th May.
Prices start at £395 per person in a twin room. This includes full board and outings during the week, all you need to do is get yourself to France with your knitting or crochet project and we will do the rest! For further details visit Knitting Holidays in France here.

During the holiday we will visit the large monthly market in Saintes and a Brocante for colourful baskets, fabric, haberdashery and old buttons

Guests bring along their own choice of knitting or crochet projects

there will also be optional workshops on Freeform knitting and crochet

We will visit a yarn shop or two

and there is a pop up shop on site selling hand turned wooden yarn bowls, knitting and crochet kits and patterns

There are other optional visits to Chateau la Roche Courbon and the Roman Amphitheatre at Saintes

And there will be plenty of time to explore the surrounding countryside, wander through sleepy hamlets and vineyards and admire the spectacular skies

And most of all relax! With no shopping, cooking or housework to do all you need to do is put your feet up, enjoy your knitting and crochet and be wined and dined.

September knitting and crochet retreat in France

Another great week of knitting and crochet at La Verderie.

The weather has been fantastic with hot sunny days, but a hint of autumn chill early in the morning.
We had 5 guests for this retreat. Regular visitor Sue brought along her hubby Ian for a bit of wood-turning, first time we have had a knitter arriving on a motorbike!

Pat was on her second visit to La Verderie and arrived rather more sedately on the train and sisters Fiona and Ann flew in to Bordeaux.
Everyone seemed to get on brilliantly and it has been a lovely relaxing week.

They all had a variety of projects to do. Sue brought along a lovely pattern for a lacy cowl with a picot edging.

Fiona knitted a pair of mitts on the first day, then launched into making a lovely shrug like mine from the Rowan Frost collection (which I have finally finished!).

Ann wanted to learn to crochet and after doing just a few rows of double and treble crochet progressed to a granny square, then on to flowers and leaves with an air of confidence that made her look like she had been doing it for years.

Pat was making some lovely knitted Christmas baubles and searching my magazines and patterns for new inspiration.

We did a lot of shopping.............. First stop in Saintes at l'Oasis, coming back with bags crammed full of yarn and fabric remnants at half price, then in St Jean d'Angely where sadly one of the little yarn shops is closing down, but there were some bargains not to be missed and finally on the last day a trip to Cognac for more yarn and fabric.

We also managed to fit in a visit to Egreteau our local cognac producer for free tastings and a few purchases of cognac and pineau.

Ian turned a lovely wooden bowl under Culli's tuition, and Culli sold more hand turned crochet hooks.

Ian and Sue stayed on an extra couple of days before leaving on the bike for Saumur so we spent the last day in Royan with a visit to our little boat and galettes for lunch on the harbour edge.

Knitting holidays in France June retreat

We have just had an amazing week of knitting and crochet at La Verderie and Bercloux. It has turned into an annual event for a large group of our regular visitors to meet up, this year there were 8 of them - Caroline, Felicity, Elizabeth, Amanda, Wendy, Toril, Astrid and Katherine with two new visitors to Knitting Holidays in France - Joanne and Terry.

The week started with cloudy skies, pouring rain and a few delayed flights, but that didn't stop the constant chatter, hysterical laughter and of course endless knitting and crochet. Within a few hours everyone was looking relaxed.........

and ready for the week ahead...........

They brought along a a variety of projects, including this years Debbie Abrahams mystery blanket and cushion, a gorgeous sparkly purse kit, crochet blankets, Wendy's unique multi stitch sweater, socks, a knitted dress, top down sweater and yes - I am still finishing my sideways shrug, but only the sewing up to go now!

Toril even managed to find time to make a beautiful dream catcher, which I have just discovered she left in her room for me - thank you!!!

We had a swop shop of unwanted stash - and lucky me as I ended up with all the leftovers - more thank you's to everyone.

We went shopping in Saintes and Cognac for fabric, yarn, clothes, shoes, Indian tablecloths and cushions and more Pandora jewellery.

We sat in cafes with our knitting and crochet.

 In the evenings we sat listening to Wendy's magical story-telling, sipping the odd glass of wine or two, looking out at spectacular sunsets.

They managed to eat every scrap of food that was put in front of them, even fighting over the last few morsels of the strawberry pavlova

Culli has also been busy creating more yarn bowls. Elizabeth had pre-ordered two, but Amanda, Toril and Astrid also bought more.

He is now working on a new line of hand turned wooden crochet hooks coming soon, watch this space........

The week has flown by, everyone left this morning with promises to meet up at Ally Pally in October and to return here next year.