This morning, when I woke up to grey skies and the sound of rain on the window, I found myself fantasising about a Mediterranean holiday – a drive down through France and Italy, a ferry to Palermo in Sicily and some sailing around the volcanic islands. When would be a good time to do this, I wondered, and June sprang to mind – not too hot in the Med, and out of school holidays. Next June, a whole year away, surely we will not be busy, I thought. But then I remembered that I have set the date for the Retreat at Little Massingham Manor for 13 and 14 June 2026. So clearly the time is right to tell all of you about it as well.
As you know, our Retreat in April this year was a great success. We had a lovely time knitting, listening to Jen from Fibreworkshop tell us about her journey and her lovely yarn, eating really delicious food and, for some of us, sleeping in comfortable rooms. All in the peaceful surroundings of the Arts and Crafts house, Little Massingham Manor in the heart of rural Norfolk.
However, holding the Retreat in April, just after all the busyness of the East Anglia Yarn Festival, was quite stressful and so Mandy and I thought it would be better to put on next year’s Retreat in June, when we will have had time to recover! Also, we felt that having it on a Sunday and Monday was not ideal, so this time the Retreat is to be over two days starting at 10am on the Saturday 13th, and ending at 4pm on Sunday 14th June. You can either attend both days and go home to sleep if you live near enough, or you can stay in one of the gorgeous rooms available in the Manor. Even if you don’t stay, you will be eating a home made lunch and dinner on the Saturday and lunch on the Sunday at the Manor, and tea, coffee and home cooked biscuits or cake will be available in the Studio for refreshments while we are all knitting. We can say wholeheartedly, that you will be very well fed!
On the Saturday afternoon, Jem from Under the Olive Tree Knits will be offering a workshop for anyone who wishes to join her, as well as a pop-up shop of some of her lovely hand dyed yarns and patterns. We think the workshop will be on how to design your own shawl pattern, which is very exciting. Obviously that might change, but I hope not as I will definitely be signing up for it. Other than that, all your time will be your own, to knit or crochet or do whatever you want. Of course, if you don’t want to spend the whole of both days knitting or crocheting, you will be able to wander the extensive grounds of the Manor, or sit quietly in the snug or in your room or in garden and read a book or stare at the sky. Whatever you decide to do, this will be two days of peace and retreat from the world. Time for yourself to be spent with other like-minded people who are just as happy as you are with needles or a hook in their hands, with all the burdens of everyday life banished for a while. And when you go home, as well as the memories, you will be taking back a fabulous goody bag.
You can book directly via the website. If you do not want to pay the full amount now, we are happy to take a non-refundable 30% deposit, with the balance payable in March 2026, and if that is your preference then you will need to contact me directly rather than book via the website
Spaces are limited and some have already been taken, so book early and the year to next June will fly by. And I will arrange my Mediterranean holiday for another time.