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Book now for Autumn 2023!

Tuesday 26th to Thursday 28th September 2023

Holiday Inn Maidstone - Sevenoaks
London Road
Wrotham Heath
TN15 7RS

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So, what is a sewing & embroidery retreat?

Well, apart from the obvious (some sewing and/or machine embroidery) it's an opportunity to get away for a couple of days, enjoy spending time with like-minded sewists, not having to worry about cooking, cleaning, ironing, work etc!

Meet some new friends, catch up with old ones, complete an unfinished project, start a brand new one and learn new skills too. All with the help and guidance from your tutors.

  • Get away from it all and stitch, stitch stitch!

  • Tutors on hand to help and guide you

  • All food is taken care of

  • On site accomodation so we stitch into the night! (If you want to!)

  • Book yourself a treatment for some additional 'me time'

  • Meet new friends who love sewing as much as you do!

  • Learn a new skill, or brush up on old ones

  • Try a more challenging project you wouldn't attempt on your own

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Away To Sew - Janice, Caroline & Rachel.jpg

Between us, we have a combined 130 years worth of

experience working in the sewing industry!!!

But also a mutual love of sharing this knowledge with others and helping people to enjoy sewing and embroidery as much as we do, and to learn something new!

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Janice Croft.jpg

Janice is quite frankly a sewing superstar!! She travels all around the country giving dressmaking tuition and she also loves quilting, crochet and most things crafty!! If you're ever at one of the larger sewing exhibitions in the UK, be sure to check out the workshops as Janice will usually be there teaching!

Caroline has grown up in the sewing industry and owned her sewing machine shop CCB Sewing Machines in Rochester for many years. Not only is she a whizz using all machines (especially overlockers and embroidery machines) but she is also highly experienced in taking machines apart for servicing and repairs too!

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Rachel has worked in the sewing industry for 14 years, 10 of those for Brother Sewing Machines UK. She has now taken her knowledge from her Brother days and set up her own business teaching people how to get the most out of their machines with one to one tuition! She loves creating bespoke embroidery for friends, family and the occasional commission!

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The main aim of our retreats is to make them as relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable as we can, with everyone spending some quality 'me' time stitching away, having the opportunity to learn something new while catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones too!

Come and join us!

Some pictures from our first 'Away To Sew' retreat in September 2022

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  • I'm interested in 1:1 tuition, what areas of the UK do you cover?
    Thank you for your interest! I'm based in Beckenham, Kent and I travel all over London and the South East for 1:1, face to face tuition. If you are further afield, please still enquire as I can help you via video call. Local areas I cover are (but not limited to) - Beckenham, Crystal Palace, Penge, Bromley, Croydon, Lewisham, Greenwich. Bit further? London, Greater London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Essex.
  • What embroidery machines do you provide training on?
    I am a Brother specialist and have been for 10 years so I have expert knowledge of the full range of current Brother sewing and embroidery machines, as well as older models too. If you have a Brother, I'll definitely be able to help you. If you have another brand of machine, still get in touch as I have knowledge and access to other brands too. Brother models I provide training on include (but are not limited to)... PR1055X 10 Needle embroidery machine PR680W 6 Needle embroidery machine VR embroidery machine Innov-is Luminaire-XP1 Sewing, Quilting and Embroidery Machine Innov-is Stellaire XJ1 sewing, quilting and embroidery machine Innov-is Stellaire XE1 embroidery machine Innov-is V7 sewing, quilting and embroidery machine Innov-is V5LE sewing, quilting and embroidery machine Innov-is V3 embroidery machine Innov-is NV2600 sewing and embroidery machine Innov-is NV880E home embroidery machine Innov-is F480 sewing and embroidery machine Innov-is F440E embroidery machine Innov-is M280D sewing and embroidery machine Innov-is M240ED embroidery machine
  • What embroidery machine software do you cover?
    At the moment I only cover Brother Embroidery Software but I plan to open this up to more brands in the future so I can help more people. Currently I cover the following... PE Design 11 PE Design 10 PE Design Next PE Design Plus 2 PE Design Plus
  • What sewing machines do you provide training on?
    Sewing machine are usually more similar as you go from brand to brand, so although I specialise in Brother, and know Brother sewing machines like the back of my hand, it's highly likely I will be able to help you with another brand too. I've helped people with Janome, Bernina, Husqvarna, Pfaff, Juki, Singer and Toyota machines in the past so please reach out and we can have a chat about your machine and how I can help. Brother machines I can help with include (but are not limited to)... Innov-is VQ2 Innov-is 1800Q Innov-is 1300 Innov-is 1100 Innov-is F420 Innov-is A150 Innov-is A80 Innov-is A60SE Innov-is A50 Innov-is A16 Innov-is 15 XR37NT XR27NT LX25 LX17 L14S
  • I have an overlocker, which models do you cover?
    As with sewing machines, overlockers tend to be fairly similar across brands, and although I specialise in Brother overlockers, I also have experience of other brands too. So still reach out even if you don't have a Brother overlocker. The first overlocker I ever used was a Frister & Rossmann and then I moved onto a Janome overlocker even before I started working for Brother. Since then I've used many different brands, some of whom have fabulous air threader overlockers in their range - which are 😍 Brother overlockers I can provide tuition on include (but are not limited to)... 4234D 3034D 3034DWT 2104D M343D 1034D
  • How does the online tuition work?
    All tuition with me is tailored to you and your needs, so we can work out a plan together and go from there. Ideally, you'll have a computer with access to the internet and Zoom, however I can also provide tuition via Whatsapp video call on a phone or tablet.
  • What is the minimum time I can book for tution?
    If I'm travelling to you for 1:1, face to face tuition there is a 2 hour minimum. For online tuition the minimum is an hour, but I also offer an SOS (Save Our Stitching!) service where you can book in for 30 minutes. This is used by those who have a burning question, or a specific issue and would like to pick an experts brains!
  • How do I book?
    At the moment the best way to book in with me is to reach out via the contact form, email or direct message on Instagram or Facebook. We'll then talk through where you're at on your sewing or embroidery journey, what machine and/or software you have, any specific issues you've been having or particular techniques you'd like to learn during the training. Then we'll find a date and time that works for you. I can be pretty flexible so week days, weekends and evenings are all possible. Contact Form Email Instagram Facebook
  • How do I pay?
    There are many ways you can make payment for tuition: Bank Transfer Payment Link Card Payment via SumUp Cash (face to face tuition only)
  • Do I need to have a special machine to be able to join?
    You will need to have an embroidery machine that has an embroidery unit. Most sewing machines will have decorative stitches but we'll be working on embroidery machines which have an embroidery arm that you can attach an embroidery hoop to it. If you're not sure, reach out to me using the contact details below.
  • I have an embroidery machine but it's not a Brother, does that matter?
    While most of the content covered in the Club will be generic and applicable to all embroidery machine makes and models, there will definitely be a lot of Brother specific content and chat. You're more than welcome to join if you have another make of machine but please do be aware that I am a Brother specialist so that is where my expertise is strongest.
  • I'm a complete beginner to machine embroidery, will the Club be good for me?
    Yes definitely! There will be a huge range of Masterclasses available to watch to suit the complete beginner and through each step of your machine embroidery journey. What's more, you'll have a whole group of lovely, like minded machine embroiderers (and me!) with whom you'll be able to chat all things embroidery.
  • I've had an embroidery machine for a while and use it a lot, will the Club be good for me?
    Sounds like you already love machine embroidery which is great! If you're looking to meet like minded people who share your passion for machine embroidery then it will be perfect for you too! Also, we can all learn something new (me included!) so come on in!
  • Can I cancel my membership anytime?
    Yes of course! You're not tied into a contract as the Club is a rolling monthly membership. You can cancel your subscription any time in the members area.
  • What time will the Masterclasses and Q&A sessions be held?
    I want as many people to be able to come along to the live sessions as possible. However, I know that will be impossible to achieve so, I will host some of them during the day, and some in the evenings to hopefully make them as attendable as possible. I will be asking for feedback from members to ascertain the most popular timings for the sessions so I can make sure everyone is getting the most from their membership. Remember, all Masterclasses will be recorded so you'll be able to catch up or rewatch them anytime.
  • I'm in! Where do I sign up?
    Great!! Click the button below and come join us! Looking forward to having you onboard!

We look forward to seeing you in September!

If you have any questions regarding Away To Sew, please don't hesitate to get in touch

awaytosewinkent@gmail.com

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