March 2024
The Corsetry Retreat March ’24, held at Skendleby hall in Lincolnshire, UK – Published April ’24
The Corsetry Retreat was held in Skendleby Hall, a beautiful manor house in the Lincolnshire Wolds UK. The weekend included a full schedule of corsetry workshops, 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 snooker or games rooms.
Each day was focussing on a different skill set. Day one was pattern drafting and creating historical shapes, day two was consisting of toiling to get the perfect fit, and the last day was focusing on construction techniques where people sampled all the techniques they might want to use, or spent their time to start constructing their corsets.
Sarah Nicol, curator from The Symington Archive: held by Leicestershire Museum Collections, brought original corsets for everyone to examine up close and answered questions on how they were constructed.

Tutors – Emma Brackenbury and Elizabeth Moody
“I’ve attended three times now and each time I have learned more, developed better understanding and honed my skills as a sewing creative. I made new friends and learned about their journeys, and find joy in being able to talk about the hobby I am so passionate about with other enthusiasts” – Drea.
See the Schedule
Thursday 14th March 2024 | ||
Start | End | |
17:00 | 18:00 | Arrival |
18:00 | 18:30 | Drinks & nibbles |
18:30 | 18:45 | Welcome & intro |
18:45 | 19:30 | Measuring |
19:30 | 20:00 | Freshen up |
20:00 | Dinner |
Friday 15th March 2024 | ||
Start | End | |
10:00 | 11:15 | Flat Pattern drafting |
11:15 | 11:45 | Break – 30 mins |
11:45 | 13:00 | Flat Pattern Manipulations |
13:00 | 14:00 | Lunch |
14:00 | 15:15 | Symington up close |
15:15 | 15:45 | Break – 30 mins |
15:45 | 17:00 | Corset and fashion history |
17:00 | 19:15 | Free time |
19:15 | Dinner |
Saturday 16th March 2024 | ||
Start | End | |
10:00 | 11:15 | Toilling and fitting Demo |
11:15 | 11:45 | Break – 30 mins |
11:45 | 13:00 | Making up and Fitting Toilles |
13:00 | 14:00 | Lunch |
14:00 | 15:15 | Marking alterations onto patterns |
15:15 | 15:45 | Break – 30 mins |
15:45 | 17:00 | Cutting and tacking real Fabrics |
17:00 | 19:15 | Free time |
19:15 | Dinner |
Sunday 17th March 2024 | ||
Start | End | |
10:00 | 11:15 | Inserting a Busk |
11:15 | 11:45 | Break – 30 mins |
11:45 | 13:00 | Bone channels, seams and gores |
13:00 | 14:00 | Lunch |
14:00 | 15:15 | Free Sewing time |
15:15 | 15:45 | Break – 30 mins |
15:45 | 17:00 | Binding eyelets and flossing |
17:00 | 19:15 | Free time |
19:15 | Dinner |
Monday 18th March 2024 | ||
Start | End | |
09:00 | Time to leave |
Want to ask about booking, or just got a question?
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