Escape to the wild beauty of the Cornish coast for a hands on pattern cutting retreat led by industry expert Helen Shine of Dot n Cross. Across three full days of technical workshops and sewing masterclasses, Helen will share the depth of knowledge she’s honed over 15 years in the fashion industry, giving you rare, insider-level insight into professional pattern development.

Each day combines structured learning with spacious, unhurried time to work on your own sewing projects. Sessions are taken entirely at your own pace. Between workshops, you’re free to wander the coastal paths, take a revitalising sea swim, warm yourself by the fire with a good book, or slip back into the sewing room for some quiet, focused making. All meals are freshly prepared by our in-house chef, allowing you to relax completely and savour nourishing, seasonal dishes.

This retreat is designed for intermediate sewists ready to begin or deepen their pattern cutting skills. On day one, Helen will guide you through the process of creating a pattern from your favourite garment, followed by two days dedicated to sewing it up, refining construction, and exploring additional focused workshops to broaden your technical skill set.

Our home for the retreat is ‘Porth-En-Alls’ in Prussia Cove, a beautiful coastal house, only 15 minutes by taxi from Penzance station. Many rooms have stunning, rugged sea views, much of the furniture is original, there are fireplaces in the living rooms. There is no internet and no television, creating a rare chance to truly switch off, reset, and reconnect with your creativity.

The intention of this retreat is twofold: to equip you with professional level pattern cutting techniques: how to clone garments, understand construction, and plan the order of assembly; and to offer you space to rest deeply. Enjoy the rugged coastline, indulge in long walks, dip in the sea followed by a sauna, share meals and conversation with fellow makers, and simply slow down.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

• Three full days of expert tuition with Helen Shine from Dot n Cross

• A workbook to take home

• Use of professional pattern-cutting tools (feel free to bring your own if preferred), Dot and Cross paper and calico if needed.

• All meals and drinks, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol, freshly cooked by Sian from Stans Pantry.

• A private 30-minute call with Helen before the retreat to discuss your goals and interests

• A restorative massage during your stay from masseuse Laura Jesset

• A welcome gift

Retreat Schedule

Free time throughout the retreat is yours to enjoy as you wish, whether that’s a coastal walk, an invigorating sea swim, quiet reading by the fire, or slipping back into the sewing room for more making. Morning dips before breakfast are encouraged, and fireside crafting is warmly welcomed in the evenings.

Day 1 – Thursday: Arrival & Welcome

Guests are invited to arrive between 4–6pm. Settle into your room, unpack, and take in the stunning surroundings before joining the group at 6:30pm for a pre-dinner drink in the living room.
Our in-house chef will prepare a beautiful welcome dinner at around 7:30pm, where you can ease into the retreat and get to know your fellow sewists.

Day 2 – Friday: Clone Your Clothes: Pattern Cutting Workshop

After a leisurely breakfast, we gather in the project room for a masterclass on cloning your favourite garment, today we will focus on making the pattern. Learn more about this workshop here.
After dinner we’ll enjoy a fashion-themed film screened via projector.

Day 3 – Saturday: Cutting & Beginning Construction

After breakfast, we begin translating our patterns into fabric. Helen will guide you through: Best-practice cutting methods, how to determine the lay plan, identifying and planning the order of construction and opportunities to refine or modify construction details

If you prefer, you may start a second cloned pattern instead.

Optional afternoon workshop: Pocket Masterclass
In the evening, Helen will share a talk about her career in the fashion industry and her personal highlights.

Day 4 – Sunday: Sewing Day

Today we continue with garment construction. For those who finish early, you are welcome to begin a new clone your clothes project.

Optional afternoon workshop: Zipper Masterclass

Dinner will be a delicious Sunday roast.
The evening finishes with a gentle, hands-on mending workshop with Laura from Threadpegs.

Day 5 – Monday: Farewell

We begin the morning slowly, with a relaxed breakfast and a final chance to enjoy the space before saying goodbye to new friends.
Checkout is at 11am.

A detailed itinerary will be provided before the retreat. Please note that timings or sessions may shift slightly depending on group experience and pace.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

• A sewing machine in good working order, including foot pedal and power cable

• A general sewing kit to include: fabric scissors, pins, needles, seam ripper, fabric marker, tape measure etc.

• The garment you wish to recreate

• Fabric, thread, notions, fastenings, fusible interfacing, and any additional materials to sew up your garment

• Extra small sewing or craft projects—morning and evening crafting is very welcome, and the sewing room is open 24/7

• Garments that need mending if you’d like to join the mending workshop on the last evening

What to Pack

• Swimwear (morning dips are a delight!)

• Warm, cosy layers

• Comfortable clothing for walking and gentle hikes

• Slippers and a hot water bottle (the house is old and wonderfully atmospheric)

• A good book that you’ve been meaning to read for years but life has gotten in the way!

About the Venue: Prussia Cove

Prussia Cove is truly one of Cornwall’s hidden gems, a breathtaking cliffside haven chosen for its tranquillity, romance, and architectural beauty. Our retreat takes place in a Grade II* listed house ‘Porth-En-Alls’ built in 1911 in the Romantic Arts and Crafts style by Philip Tilden. The home is Neo-Elizabethan in character, complete with ferro-concrete innovations, original fixtures, exquisite craftsmanship, and much of its original furniture still in place.

There are no televisions, extremely limited phone signal, and no Wi-Fi, making this a rare opportunity to fully unplug, unwind, and sink into creative flow.

The building spans three floors and is divided into three “flats,” and we will have exclusive use of the two lower levels. Two kitchens and two living rooms provide ample space to relax.

The coastline is just a stone’s throw from the house, perfect for morning sea swims. A newly installed sauna will also be available for warming up afterwards. There are beautiful walks directly from the property, and the nearest shop is a scenic 30-minute walk or a short drive away.

Read more about the history of the house here.

CATERING

• All catering will be cooked fresh by our inhouse caterer – Sian from Stans Pantry. Learn more about her here.

• The evening meals will be home style meals – think big pots of hot food in the middle of the table, with something a little more fancy for the first night. Breakfast will be more casual and guests can help themselves, a hot option will be available if you prefer. Lunches will be hearty, soups and chunks of bread, hot pasties. We’ll also have tea, freshly baked cakes and biscuits on hand to power up our days.

• Drinks also included, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

• Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements, allergies, or anything you really don’t like, on the booking form when you book.

• All the washing up will be sorted – so you have more time to work on your projects (or to relax!)
  

WHO IS THIS CLASS SUITABLE FOR?

This is an intermediate class. This course is aimed at confident dressmakers who have experience working with commercial patterns. You will get a lot more out of the retreat if you’ve already made up a few garments before and got a grasp of garment construction. We will cover all the pattern cutting basics with you, such as: seam allowance, notch, drill hole, grain line. If you are wondering if this is the course for you, don't hesitate to drop me a line to chat it through!

Rooms & Rates

Middle Floor

• Room 1 – Large double, sea views — £1860

• Room 2 – Large twin, sea views — £1860 single / £1560 per person twin

• Room 3 – Smaller double — £1660

• Room 4 – Smaller double, sea views — £1760

Ground Floor

• Room 5 – Smaller twin with private ensuite — £1760 single / £1560 per person twin

• Room 6 – Large double, garden views — £1760

*** EARLY BIRD PRICES: SAVE £100 PER PERSON IF YOU BOOK BY 1ST MARCH 2026 ***

Reserve you space with a non-refundable deposit of £400.

This is an old, quirky house, bedrooms without an ensuite have shared access to 2 bathrooms with baths only, and 1 shower.

Twin rooms are for guests who already know each other and must be booked together.

FLOOR PLANS

PAYMENT PLANS

• Deposit per person to secure your place £400 (non-refundable)

• 50% of remaining balance due by 1.3.26

• Remaining balance due by 1.6.26

• Early bird saving of £100 per person if booking before 1.3.26 (prices above are the full price)

• If you are booking after 1.8.26, the full balance will need to be paid.

• If you would like to split the payments into 4 rather than 2, please let us know and we will send out the invoices in Feb, April, June, Aug 2026.

HOW TO GET HERE

• The retreat is held at Porth-En-Alls House, Prussia Cove, a 15–20 minute taxi ride from Penzance Station.

• We are happy to connect guests arriving by train so you can share a taxi.

• Please let us know your travel details in advance if arriving by public transport.

• If bringing your sewing machine on the train is difficult, we may have a machine to lend—please check availability beforehand.

• There is parking right next to the house - but we will need to know numbers.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Travel to and from the retreat venue

• Travel insurance (recommended)

ACCESSIBILITY

• There is parking right outside the house

• The house is set on different levels, the middle floor flat is accessible from the car park area, via the workroom. To get from the workroom to the rest of the house inside, there are a few steps.

• To access the ground floor flat, there is the main staircase inside, going down from the middle flat, or a slope and steps down from the car park.

• To access the beach and the rest of the estate, there are steps and uneven ground.

• Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information.

FAQ

Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. Most guests attend solo and meet like-minded sewists during the retreat.

What’s the bathroom situation?
One bedroom has an ensuite with a shower (room 5). The remaining rooms share a bathroom on each floor, each with a bath rather than a shower, consider it an invitation to slow down and unwind.

How many people will be on the retreat?
A maximum of 8 participants, supported by 2 teaching staff and 1 chef.
The entire team will be female.

Who can attend?
The retreat is suitable for intermediate sewists with some sewing experience. Specific skill levels and any additional requirements can be discussed during your pre-retreat call.

Is the sewing room open 24/7?
Yes. The sewing space is exclusively ours, available whenever inspiration strikes—early mornings, late evenings, or anywhere in between.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

TESTIMONIALS

CANCELLATIONS

Please click here to view our cancellations policy before booking any classes with us.