arona, Lago maggiore, Italy · May 16–22, 2027
The Space Between Stitches
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A week in Italy using handsewing as a way to slow down, reflect and reconnect
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A week in Italy using handsewing as a way to slow down, reflect and reconnect
Sometimes you need distance to see clearly.
In everyday life, we are constantly doing. We work, care for others, organise, respond and move from one responsibility to the next. Thoughts and feelings that need our attention easily disappear beneath the noise and distractions of daily life. Not because they are unimportant, but because there is rarely enough space to truly listen.
This retreat at the beautiful Italian Lakes district in the Piedmonte, gives you the opportunity to step away from your usual surroundings and look at your life from a little more distance. For one week, you do not have to take care of anyone, achieve anything or have all the answers.
You are invited to pause as we’ll spend our days in a beautiful palazzo in Arona, with good food, time outdoors by the lake and the pleasure of making something with your hands. It’s a week to step out of your daily routine and take care of yourself.
Why I have always wanted to create this retreat:
I was 27 when I became seriously ill after 5 years of full-time working as an intercontinental flight attendant. For almost two years, I spent most of my time in bed, and even having a shower took a huge amount of effort. Somehow, I still made it to my sewing class on Monday mornings.
Some weeks I spent the whole hour and a half leafing through sewing magazines. Other weeks I had enough energy to sew. My doctor noticed how much those mornings seemed to give me and encouraged me to take that seriously. When I started working again, I spent two days a week in a sewing atelier and the other five at home. Little by little, I grew stronger. Sewing was a lifeline for me then, and I still reach for a needle and thread when my head is full.
My best friend Heidi Hessing and I started those sewing lessons together. Today, she’s a coach and therapist who leads retreats in nature (fireflies coaching). I’ve joined her many times in Kenya, and some of the things I’d been going round in circles about at home became clearer after a few days of walking and being outdoors. Heidi and I had talked for years about creating something together. This is the week we wanted to make.
One stitch is like one grain of rice. A row of stitches is like the rice field. And the teacher is the water that flows over the rice field.
It is the experience of making it.
We believe there is something deeply healing in working with your hands. In repeating small stitches. In sitting together quietly. In allowing thoughts, emotions, memories, or exhaustion to slowly surface — without needing to fix them immediately. We use the handsewing as a tool to calm the nervous system during this week.
This is a week about self-care, reflection, coming back to yourself, personal leadership, fun and adventure. A chance to connect with yourself, with others and with nature.
And there could not be a more beautiful time for it than May at the Lago Maggiore in Italy!
The lake, the gardens, the mountains, the light, the flowers — everything feels alive and expansive. Gentle morning yoga, walks in nature, slow sewing, moments by the water, and the possibility to swim in the lake.
Arrive in Arona, settle into your accommodation and meet Heidi, me and the other women over dinner.
Hand sewing, quiet working moments, coaching exercises, yoga, nature, rest, and nourishing meals.
We’ll spend part of each day sewing by hand, with quiet time to stitch, guided exercises and reflection with Heidi, lunches together and time to get outside or rest.
A closing morning together before everyone leaves and continues their own journey home.
We’ll spend one last morning together before everyone heads home, with time to reflect on what you’d like to take from the week into everyday life.
During the retreat you will create a simple kimono-inspired jacket, sewn entirely by hand using natural, calming movements and repetitive stitches. Maaike will guide you through making the jacket at your own pace. Bring your own fabric or choose from the fabrics I have in my atelier. You can keep your jacket simple or try some sashiko stitching and see what you’d like to add.
There’s room to make it your own and take your time over the stitches. You can carry on at home if you’d like.
The design is intentionally uncomplicated, so there is space to focus on the process rather than pressure around achievement.
The level of sewing is beginners/intermediate.
All of the below is included so you can focus on nothing except being present.
Not about productivity.
Not about rushing to finish a garment.
Not about perfection.
It is about breathing again.
Resting your nervous system and connecting to yourself , others and nature again.
Making something slowly with your hands.
And allowing yourself to soften a little.
This retreat is especially created for women who feel simply in need of softness and space, to reflect and have a moment for yourself.
You do not need to "perform" here.
You only need to arrive.
Spaces are limited and intimate by design. If this feels like yours, we would love to welcome you.
Investment: €2.500
Payment in instalments available
Or 3 instalments of €870 each
HOW TO JOIN:
please send an email to info@thedressmakersacademy.com
clearly stating 'PLEASE RESERVE MY SPOT'. We will contact you via email to confirm your request for reservation. Before we start this week we would like to connect with you via Zoom so you so we get to know each other a little bit better and to set your intention for this week. After this call we will send you a link for a one time payment or 3 installment to complete the booking.
The Dressmakers Academy · Maaike Andriessen & Heidi Hessing