Sew Many
Pretty Things

It’s all about You and Sewing. Discover our 2026 French Sewing Retreats, including accommodation, transfers, all meals + wine in a magical world of uninterrupted sewing in the Charente. There’s a pool, trips out and new friends to be made - Limited spaces remaining.

FIND OUT MORE

2026 Retreats, filling up fast

  • June 19-26 - 3 spaces left

  • July 2-9 - 1 (possibly 2) spaces left

  • July 13-20 - 2 spaces left

Click any of the pink buttons - it will take you to an email form. The prices start at £1275 for a shared twin room, then rise to £1850 for a large superior ensuite. We have many bedrooms, but there are too many variables to list here - all within the price brackets above.

Simply tell me which week you are interested in, how many of you, and any special requests. I will reply to you the same day (normally immediately) with room options and price.

ASK KATE ABOUT RETREATS
A woman with curly hair and glasses, wearing a red and white striped shirt, sitting at a wooden picnic table in a rustic indoor space with stone walls and wooden ceiling beams, looking at her phone. The table has various fabrics, sewing tools, and a
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing sunglasses, a black dress with red poppy flowers, white flip-flops, and red toenail polish, smiling and posing outdoors near a chair, with a stone wall and wooden window frames in the background.
Group of women working at a sewing workshop, sewing machines, various sewing materials on a table, rustic wooden interior with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
Group of women enjoying a gathering outdoors, some holding glasses of champagne, sitting and standing under a leafy grapevine canopy near a stone house with blue shutters.
A woman sitting on a pink sofa, holding and looking at a large piece of paper, surrounded by gift bags. She is wearing a black sleeveless top, black shorts, and black slides. The room has a stone wall, a TV, and a wooden cabinet in the background.
Sewing machines and an ironing board with a floral cover in a dining room.
Woman in black dress kneeling on a chair, working on a sewing pattern at a long table with fabric and pattern pieces, in a rustic room with stone walls and chairs.
A woman with blonde hair wearing a long blue dress and sneakers standing outside near a stone building with a wooden window frame and a sign that reads 'Maison Di...'

Our Story

From tiny acorns - we have grown into a flourishing oak - we now offer 3 retreats in France, each a week long. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced sewist, you are all welcome.

Sew to your heart’s content

You can bring along that unfinished project that has been hidden at the back of a drawer, or learn and perfect a new sewing skill. Alternatively, I have had ladies who bring along their embroidery or quilting and are just happy to get a whole week of uninterrupted sewing in the sunshine.

Do you have an overlocker, perhaps, that you are a little afraid of ? I’ve got three here and can show you how to get the most out of them - they won’t bite (promise)!

Don’t miss out!

You - yes you, wondering what it’s all about?

The best way to find out is to hear from people who’ve already been here. Head over to TripAdvisor, and see for yourself!

READ TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS
Three women standing outdoors on a sunny day, smiling and talking. They are dressed in summer clothes and sunglasses, with a market stall and parked cars in the background.
Woman standing outdoors on a tiled pathway next to a stone wall and a garden with succulents; she is wearing a blue and white checkered sleeveless top and matching pants, with glasses on her head and barefoot.
Two women sewing with a sewing machine on a table. One woman is wearing a floral shirt and shorts, the other has gray hair and glasses, focusing on the fabric.
A woman sitting outside on a wooden chair, smiling, holding a colorful cloth, wearing a white sleeveless top, shorts, white shoes, sunglasses, and a headband, with lush green bushes and a cloudy sky in the background.
Woman sewing fabric on a sewing machine, with another person working at a different sewing machine in the background.
A woman wearing sunglasses and a floral dress happily dancing in a living room with stone walls, a black fireplace, and other people sitting on couches.
Women sitting around a table engaging in a sewing or quilting project, with sewing machine and fabric. One woman is smiling and wearing glasses, another woman is focused on her work. The setting is a cozy room with a stone wall and wooden furniture.
A woman in a colorful floral dress standing indoors, smiling and looking to her left, with a bookshelf, a decorative umbrella, and a table in the background.

Meet Kate

Professional dressmaker and sewist

An elderly woman with gray hair and earrings, wearing a shiny olive green blouse, holding a glass of beverage, sitting in a social setting.

I introduced Sewing Retreats in 2020 (interrupted by Covid) with our first being a resounding success, and by 2023, we were running multiple retreats. I’ve been sewing for over 60 years, and come from a family of Tailors, seamstresses and my mother was a cutter. Though I pursued a different career I finally got to immerse myself fully in my passion after retiring in 2011. I teach small groups of ladies sewing in the UK, and our sewing retreat in France seemed a natural progression.

Sew Many Pretty Things / Founder

Group of mostly older women sitting around a long outdoor table, enjoying a meal and drinks, under a shaded canopy with greenery in the background.
Meringue cake decorated with fresh strawberries, blueberries, kiwi slices, and a dollop of whipped cream on top, placed on a clear glass platter.
A Middle Eastern dish served on a decorative oval plate, topped with pomegranate seeds, chopped herbs, and creamy white sauce. A glass of chilled beverage is beside the plate.
A large glass dessert cup filled with strawberries, pink whipped cream, and meringue, with a smaller similar dessert in front on a blue and white tablecloth.
A group of ten women standing outdoors in front of a green vehicle, smiling, with some carrying bags, and dressed in casual summer clothes.
Assorted homemade fruit preserves and sliced fruitcake on a white rectangular dish, with plates, jars of jam, and snacks in the background.
A round dessert with a base of yellow custard, topped with a meringue layer garnished with herbs and small pieces of fruit, served on a white plate.
Group of women gathered outdoors under a large leafy tree, smiling and holding glasses of drinks, with a stone house and blue shutters in the background.

Maison D’hibou

We converted our barn into a gite (Maison D’hibou) with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. We also have additional bedrooms in the main house. There is a large open plan sewing area with a covered terrace too - large cutting tables, 12 modern sewing machines, 3 overlockers, and just about everything you could possibly need to get sewing. Im there to help and guide you 5 to 6 hours per day. There’s a lovely heated pool and sun terraces. There’s a wood oven in the garden where we cook our own pizzas once a week. Great fun. The wine flows along with the conversation - our food is, we think, exceptional and we cater for most needs.

FIND OUT ABOUT BEDROOMS

ALL ABILITIES ARE WELCOME

This is a non-structured, easy-going, fun sewing holiday run completely at your own pace.

Stunning Exterior

  • ​Private garden with sun terrace

  • Al fresco dining area 

  • Heated outdoor pool 

  • Sun loungers and a shaded area

  • Beautiful views and secluded location 

  • Tranquil setting

  • Orchard

ASK ABOUT A RETREAT

  • Heated Pool

    You have your own outdoor, heated swimming pool. 

  • Pamper yourself

    During your stay treat the ladies to a pampering spa treatment.

  • Pizza Night

    We "fire up" the outdoor pizza oven once a week for pizza night.

  • Free Wi-Fi

    In the middle of nowhere you won't be cut off! Free wifi throughout.

Relax and enjoy the sunflowers & vines of the Charante

We offer our guests all the comforts of home plus other features to ensure a relaxing and enjoyable stay in Maison D'Hibou.

If it's peace, calm and a restful holiday you want in a tranquil setting away from the normal hectic stresses of daily life, then look no further. Surrounded by vines and sunflowers our gite is a fantastic place for you to unwind and enjoy a holiday or retreat in the Charente region of France.​

Relax with a glass of wine under the trees or next to the pool and listen to nothing but the grapes growing and birds singing, or soak up the panoramic views and superb sunsets over the vines - cest manifique!

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CONTACT US NOW

Testimonials -

“I can't thank you enough Kate for giving me the ‘gift of sewing’. I get so much enjoyment from it and would never have taken it up without your lovely classes. Sending hugs and enjoy the sewing bee!”

— Fantastic food!

“What can I say - a wonderful holiday as usual. Thank you for look after us all, we really enjoyed it. We now need to go on a diet!!”

— See you next year!

“Thank you for another thoroughly enjoyable & relaxing time. We all look forward to our yearly visit, and upon arriving back home will no doubt look towards next year's visit!”