The Corsetry Retreat
The Corsetry Retreat events are held at the beautiful Skendleby Hall in Lincolnshire. Our upcoming events include a full schedule of workshops with experienced tutors, chance to examine original garments, as well as time to relax in the historic surroundings, meet with like-minded people, and unwind in the hall’s hot tub and sauna or in the games rooms.
Bookings now open for 4th to 8th November 2024. 14th to 18th March is Fully Booked.
Who Would Enjoy This?
Our retreats are aimed at people who have some experience of making corsets and want to develop their skills further, or people who are competent with clothes-making on a sewing machine and want to start to learn corsetry or stays making techniques. We will cover everything you need to know to leave The Corsetry Retreat equipped with all of the skills and techniques required to make a beautifully fitting corset. From measuring and drafting to perfect fit and finishing.
Those of you who are more experienced may find that they want to start making a corset alongside the workshops, if you think this might be the case then please bring along the supplies and fashion fabric you would need.
There will be 2 tutors on hand throughout the day support your learning and to help troubleshoot your existing projects so please bring along your problem children if you’d like advice on what’s gone wrong (don’t worry they don’t judge).
“A fantastic weekend! Emma and Jenni were such knowledgeable and helpful tutors, and Niki and Chris made sure everything ran without a hitch. It was great to be around other creatives who were all engaged and excited with the course content.”
Heather, Graphic Designer
What’s Included.
Included in the price will be your room with a private bathroom, four evening meals, two experienced tutors on hand for guidance, and a swap table for the exchange of materials and embellishments.
New for 2024, we will have Sarah Nicol, curator from The Symington Archive: held by Leicestershire Museum Collections, bringing us original corsets extant stays from their collections for you to examine up close as well as answer and of your questions on how they might have been constructed.
You’ll also have use of the hall’s spa facilities and the communal areas for socialising.
In addition, we will provide all materials needed for the workshops including coutil, boning and busks, flossing threads and eyelets.
Room Availability
The Penthouse - Premium
The Penthouse detailsA huge room at the front of the house with super-king sized four-poster bed and antique furniture.
The Guest Room - Premium
The Guest Room detailsA large twin room with stunning views over the front garden to the countryside beyond.
The Chapel - Premium
The Chapel detailsA large double in the old chapel of the main house, with stained glass windows and four-poster bed.
The Rose Room - Premium
The Rose Room detailsA beautiful cosy bedroom in the main part of the house with a comfortable antique double bed.
The Victorian Room - Premium
The Victorian Room detailsA bright and airy double bedroom on the ground floor with a king-sized bed.
The New Room - Premium
The New Room detailsA light and comfortable twin room with ensuite shower room, not far from the main parlour.
Clocktower Bedroom 1 - Premium
Clocktower Bedroom 1 detailsA large twin room in the clocktower, with a shared kitchen and sitting room.
Clocktower Bedroom 2
Clocktower Bedroom 2 detailsA double bedroom in the clocktower, with a shared kitchen and sitting room.
The Dressing Room
The Dressing Room detailsA nicely appointed double room in the main house with adjacent private-use shower room.
The Loft Room
The Loft Room detailsA large room on the second floor at the top of the old house with adjoining living room.
The Triple Room
The Triple Room detailsA long room with 3 single beds, located on the second floor in the eaves of the old house.
The Yellow Room
The Yellow Room detailsDisability-friendly room on the ground floor with king-sized bed and views toward Norman church.
Tutors - Emma Brackenbury - All Events
Emma Brackenbury is a highly experienced costume maker in the film and theatre industry specialising in technical and structured clothing including corsetry. Her film credits include Dr Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Fantastic Beasts, Tulip Fever, and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Currently she is a construction lecturer on the Costume with Textiles BA at Huddersfield University.
Tutors - Jennifer Garside - March & Nov '23
Jennifer Garside is a professional corset maker with over 25 years experience, 12 of those running her own specialist corsetry company, Wyte Phantom. She is particularly adept at creating corsets for the more curvy figure and has made corsets for opera singers, burlesque performers and models as well as private clients and weddings.
Tutors - Elizabeth Moody - March '24
Elizabeth (Beth) Moody has over 14 years of corset making experience. She developed a love of period fashion as a child, playing with her mum’s Victorian dress collection, and was introduced to corsetry by fellow Corset Retreat organiser Niki. A hobby soon became an obsession with Beth turning professional in 2012. Since then, Beth has developed particular skills in plus size and fuller bust corsetry.
Tutors - Ruth Watkin - Nov '24 "Stays Edition"
Ruth has been working as a costume maker for over a decade, after training in Theatre Design at Nottingham Trent University. Where she has since frequently returned to, to teach on their Costume Design and Construction course as a principal lecturer. As a freelancer, she has been lucky enough to have had the chance to make costumes for many places including West End theatre shows and film productions for Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime.
“Corsetry has always been my Mount Everest of crafting. Emma and Jenny went through every step clearly explaining the process and different skills to make a beautiful garment. The course was both technical and creative and held in such a beautiful setting. 10/10”
Dexter Kidd, Social Worker / Drag Queen
Our Events
Want to ask about booking, or just got a question?
Just drop us a message below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
“I consider myself reasonably competent at Sewing, but never having made a corset before I decided to go to the retreat and pick up some new skills. I was not disappointed! I left the two-day retreat, understanding the basics of garment, drafting and construction with enough supplies to finish my own first corset.”
Drea Lynch, Chartered Engineer
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