Building a Capsule Wardrobe
with Christine Haynes

22-30 September and 14-22 October 2025

Learn to sew a complete capsule wardrobe with designer and pattern maker Christine Haynes during an 8-night/9 day retreat in London and in the Kent countryside at Goodnestone Park, a beautiful stately home often frequented by novelist Jane Austen.

Working from a Capsule Collection comprising three garments designed by Christine exclusively for the retreat, you’ll learn the skills you need to sew a pant, knit tee, and shirt or shirt dress to a professional level.  You’ll bring your fabric and notions with you to the retreat and work on your garments in a light and airy studio using sewing machines and accessories which will be provided.  All levels of sewer are welcome to join and depending on your experience, you will leave with at least one completed garment. A full set of illustrated instructions will be provided for anyone wishing to complete their project at home. 

The retreat begins in London with three days of visits guaranteed to excite and inspire you. We’re planning a visit to the Fashion and Textile Museum for a curator-led tour of their vintage couture collection, a visit to the studio of legendary British designer Zandra Rhodes, who recently celebrated fifty years in the fashion business and to the studio of embroiderer Karen Nicol where you’ll have the chance to study the techniques she uses to embellish the couture and catwalk garments for some of the world’s top designers.  We’re also planning to pay a visit to Joel & Sons, suppliers of quality fabrics to the Royal household, where you’ll find their array of fine fabrics a feast for the eyes.

Your accommodation when we are in London is the 4-star Petersham hotel in Richmond-upon-Thames in southwest London, ideally situated close by Heathrow airport and with good underground and train links to the city. On day three we travel by coach to Kent and to Goodnestone Park, the former home of Jane Austen’s brother Edward. This beautiful house dating from 1704 is surrounded by Goodnestone Park’s exceptionally beautiful 15-acre gardens which are known for their ancient woodland, parterre gardens and classical English planting. Described as one of the top three gardens in Kent, we will have access to the gardens during our stay including the recently restored Serpentine Walk, a favourite of Jane Austen. 

While in Kent we visit the medieval town of Rye. home to drapers’ Merchant & Mills, the perfect place to stock up on fabrics. With its timber buildings and cobbled streets this charming town has an artistic vibe with interesting independent shops. On the final day of the retreat we visit 15th century Knole, one of England’s largest country houses. A calendar house, it is reputed to have 365 rooms, 52 staircases, 12 entrances and 7 courtyards. We arrive back in Richmond by late afternoon when the retreat ends.

“Sewing has been my "happy place," for many years. I’ve mastered new skills and enjoyed Christine's contagious energy and humor during the classes I’ve taken. Christine is experienced and flexible enough to help us recognize the difference between when to be particularly careful with our sewing and when we can move right along to the next step and not worry”

Jenny H, United States

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BUILDING A CAPSULE WARDROBE GALLERY

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