Troubleshooting
Skills Lab for Bagmaking

23rd October, 2026

The Black Swan, 21 High Street, Marton,
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5AH
Near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire

Have you ever struggled with binding on a bag? Or piping? Or untidy zips? Or a baggy bottom? Or…?

This Skills Lab is designed to help you iron out problem areas in your bagmaking and also to teach you techniques, tips and tricks to add to your arsenal going forward.

This Retreat is similar to the others I run in that the main focus of the weekend is not making a bag, it’s to learn skills and techniques.

For this one, you’ll make not 1 but 3 good-sized pouch bags which incorporate at least 10 ways to tame the techniques that bagmakers often struggle with, plus a great method of adding an expanding, suspended inner zipped pocket / divider to any bag you like – it was impossible to combine all of these in one bag!!

• You’ll learn –
• The ins and outs of binding – 2 methods;
• Using one-strip zips;
• Piping – how to and how not to;
• How to add a perfect feature panel to your bags;
• Spot-on box bottoms – 2 methods;
• Neat and tidy top zips – 2 methods;
• Keeping zips straight and not rippling;
• Bonus – how to add an expanding, suspended zipped pocket / divider to any bag you like.

The Retreat weekend is designed to be stress-free and fun – nobody should feel left behind or that they’re slower than the others as everyone will learn at their own pace and I really don’t care how many times I need to say the same instruction, so don’t be afraid to ask!!

We’ll work through all the techniques together, with lots of 1-2-1 help if needed and there will be loads of time to make mistakes and get back on track again 😉 

You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and sewing tools including a rotary cutter if you have one, but everything else is provided. If you have a walking foot, that will be very helpful and bring some thread if your machine is picky in what it prefers – dark and light grey and cream or beige will work with almost any colour fabrics. Don’t forget your spare feet and needles.

We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a comfortable sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like.

If you have dietary or accommodation requirements (e.g. ground floor needed)  please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs.

All evening meals are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Tea and coffee are available all day, but you do have to make it yourself! 

If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host.

If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask.

Please aim to arrive no later than 1pm as we have a lot of fabric choosing and stitching to get through on Friday!

Friday

The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 3-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room,  before the first get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 1pm.

Then you can choose your fabrics. All the materials, interfacing etc that you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start work on the first project.

After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed.

Saturday

After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work building up your skills library. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits.

Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (often with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day.

The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind.

Sunday

How can it be Sunday already??

Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your work is finished. We’ll be breaking for lunch at 1pm. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day.  If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete at home, with help from me online if you need it. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready.

And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!! 

I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together.

The not-so-small print

Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £450.00. The deposit of £50.00 is non- refundable  but can possibly be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. The balance will be invoiced in good time before the start date and is only refundable if your place can be filled by someone else. In certain circumstances, this can be credited to another date. However, if you cancel within 2 days of the start date, the hotel requires a £50 late cancellation fee which will be payable separately before you can attend your replacement retreat. Your whole payment  is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday.

*Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios –  it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *