Retreats & Gatherings / Retreats Calendar / Patchwork in Paradise: A Rejuvenating Knitting & Wellness Retreat on Portugal’s Coast
Patchwork in Paradise: A Rejuvenating Knitting & Wellness Retreat
DATES TBD
Join Weichien, founder of saskie & co., for five days of knitting in one of the most beautiful corners of Portugal. Treat yourself to slow-paced, intentional days as you create, connect, and explore.
Trade in the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a hands-on creative retreat. Learn from a knitting master as you stitch an azulejo-inspired patchwork vest, while also enjoying mindful movement and visits to iconic sites. Price starts at €XXXX. With our flexible payment plan, pay in monthly installments. Plus, don’t miss out on our shared room deal - save up to €XXX each when booking for two!
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🧶 Expert Knitting Instruction - Finely tune your knitting skills with the help of Weichien’s coaching. Over the course of six in-depth workshops, you will learn colorwork, purling, borders, and more. Not only will you have engaging workshops on a variety of topics, but you can also ask Weichien your burning knitting questions along the way.
🧘♀️ Guided Wellness Sessions - Start your days with a wellness session designed to wake up your body, mind, and soul through intentional movement and awareness. Whether it be an energizing yoga flow, guided meditation, or breath work, this is your chance to let go of life’s daily stressors and embrace the present moment. Also enjoy a evening sound bathing experience designed to help you find peace and stillness.
🎨 Azulejo Painting Workshop - Connect with Portugal’s rich tradition of ceramics in this fun workshop. In this class, you will learn about the importance of the azulejo and paint your very own tile - the perfect souvenir!
🏰 Mafra Palace - Explore the magnificent Mafra Palace and Convent. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. Its ornate hallways are packed with history and art, making it a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
🍷 Local Gastronomy and Wine Tasting - Enjoy authentic Portuguese dishes, explore local wines at each dinner, and savor the flavors of the region. Treat yourself - you deserve it.
🌊 Time to Explore - Enjoy unstructured free time to explore Ericeira, hit the beach, or go shopping. This is your time - take the opportunity to spend the hours as you wish, whether you opt for gentle relaxation or exciting adventure.
👋 Community - Connect with a group of like-minded and passionate artists. In the midst of a peaceful and picturesque setting, watch new friendships bloom as you laugh over the dinner table and learn side-by-side. The retreat may only be a few days, but the relationships and memories made will last a lifetime.
A brief look at the itinerary:
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• No need to stress about transportation - we have it covered. We will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to O House, ensuring a stress-free transition.
• Settle in, unpack, relax, and enjoy the hotel amenities or explore Ericeira’s charming streets and stores.
• In the evening, we’ll have an opening circle where we will connect and get ready for the days ahead. Then, you’ll enjoy a delicious welcome dinner prepared by our private chef.
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• Start your day with an optional wellness session, where you will tap into your inner serenity through a guided yoga, meditation, or breath work session. Then, help yourself to a tasty continental breakfast.
• For your first workshop, you will learn the foundational skills of patchwork and colorwork knitting. Techniques covered include knitting flat, casting-on, casting-off, and colorwork. Alongside knitting techniques, Weichien will also discuss the history of Portuguese azulejos, the inspiration for the retreat project.
• Relax, chat, and enjoy lunch at O House, prepared by our private chef.
• In the afternoon, enjoy unstructured free time to explore Ericeira. Whimsy and beauty abounds in every corner; you may walk the town’s quaint cobblestone streets, pop into the local yarn store, taste-test a traditional pastry, or dip your toes in the surf.
• In the evening, return to O House and help yourself to a hearty dinner cooked in-house by our private chef.
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• Loosen up with a refreshing wellness session, then enjoy breakfast before your first workshop.
• In this morning’s workshop, learn the core skills needed for your vest. Weichien will cover swatching and how to determine the size/quanity of squares, then you’ll have the chance to practice your first square.
• Take a break with a wholesome and tasty lunch at O House.
• In the afternoon, dive back into knitting as you work on your vest. This is your time to make progress on the squares and ask questions as you go. Techniques covered include neat borders and knitting/purling colorwork.
• Close out the day with dinner and conversation at O House.
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• Stretch out and set an intention for the day in this morning’s wellness session. Then, help yourself to a tasty breakfast.
• Jump back into your knitting as you bring your vest to life. Watch how your confidence grows with each stitch and continue to hone your skills.
• Fuel up with a delicious lunch at O House, then switch creative gears as you dive into an azulejo painting workshop. Connect with Portugal’s rich ceramic tradition as you learn techniques and paint your own tile.
• Relax with a home-cooked dinner and local wines at O House.
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• Prepare yourself for the day ahead with a meditative wellness session. Wake up your body and mind, ground yourself in the present, and enjoy the beauty of gentle movement.
• After breakfast, continue working on your project. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to seam your patches together to form the vest. Watch your wearable take shape as you seam the pieces!
• Take a break from painting with a delicious lunch at O House.
• After lunch, enjoy some restorative free time. You may want to relax at the hotel, take a surf lesson, get a massage in town, or explore more of Ericeira’s sights.
• Gather in downtown Ericeira for dinner - take your pick from the numerous restaurants and have fun exploring the local cuisine. Watch the sun slip beneath the horizon, marking the end of another fulfilling day.
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• After breakfast, dive into the final workshop of the retreat. In this class, you will learn how to finish your vest. Techniques covered include picking up stitches, ribbing, and blocking.
• Enjoy a satisfying lunch at O House prepared by our private chef.
• Celebrate your hard work and learning with a fun excursion to Mafra Palace. This immense UNESCO World Heritage Site is rich with art, culture, and history. Soak up the sights as you wander the palace’s storied halls, side-by-side with your newfound friends.
• Gather back at O House for a relaxing sound bathing experience. As the sounds wash over you, feel the learning, community, and adventure from the last few days sink in. Not only was this retreat an opportunity to grow your knitting skills, but it was also a chance to take time fully for yourself. This sound bathing session provides a good reminder to let go of any stressors and simply enjoy the present moment.
• Close out the retreat with a celebratory dinner cooked by our private chef - a moment to share stories, memories, and gratitude.
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• Today we will part ways, but the connections and memories we made will last a lifetime. You may have an early flight to catch, or you may have time for a slow breakfast at the hotel before heading out. Either way, take pride in your achievements - over the past five days, you have explored beautiful pockets of Portugal, connected with other passionate artists, and knitted a stunning vest.
• We will transfer you to the airport for your departure, ensuring a stress-free transition back into your day-to-day life.
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Do I need to have previous knitting experience?
What can I expect to learn from these workshops?
These workshops will cover a variety of techniques, with a focus on colorwork and patchwork knitting. You will learn knitting/purling colorwork, seaming, the mattress stitch, knitting flat, casting-on, casting-off, ribbing, blocking, and how to knit neat borders. You will also have opportunities to ask other knitting-related questions.Do I need to bring my own materials?
Do you offer airport transfer? Which airport should I fly into?
Yes! Airport transfers are included in the ticket price. You should fly into the Lisbon airport, which is only a 40 minute drive from O House.What does a typical day look like?
Although each day looks different, there are some core themes and activities throughout each day of the retreat. Most days start with an optional morning wellness session (a combination of yoga, breathwork, meditation, and sound bathing), allowing you to ease into the morning with movement, intention, and self care. We provide a continental breakfast each day, which is then followed by an art workshop or O House activity. We will then have lunch cooked in-house by our private chef, followed by another activity block, which will either be another workshop, activity, or free time. Finally, we wrap up with dinner and time together as a group.When is check-in/check-out?
Typically, our check-in begins at 3 pm, and our check-out is at 11 am. If you arrive before 3 pm, we will try to have your room ready early. If it is still being cleaned when you arrive, you are more than welcome to make yourself home in the common room as you wait, or drop your bags at reception while you explore town.How do I reserve my spot?
We handle all bookings over email. All you have to do is click on one of the “Book Now” buttons and follow the prompts to send your message. We’ll be in touch shortly to answer questions and get you all registered!How does the Payment Plan work?
Provided that you book your spot at least four months in advance, you may choose to take advantage of our payment plan. This plan spreads the payments into monthly installments of equal price. The number of installments depends on how far in advance you book your ticket. Check out more details in our Terms and Conditions, linked below!Where can I find your Terms and Conditions?
For detailed information about our policies, including booking terms, cancellations, and liability, please refer to our full Terms and Conditions. You can access them by clicking here.
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🍽️ 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 5 Dinners — Savor delicious, locally sourced meals prepared by our private chef. From energizing breakfasts to satisfying lunches and exquisite dinners, every dish is crafted to fuel your body and delight your taste buds.
Note: you will have one dinner on you own - this is your chance to take your pick of local restaurants and explore Portugal’s rich flavors.
🛏️ All Rooms & Amenities — Included in your package is a stay in one of our exclusive suites at O House. Designed with elegance and comfort in mind, these suites feature modern amenities and stylish décor, providing the perfect sanctuary to relax, recharge, and appreciate the little things.
🚐 Seamless Local Transfers — No stress, no hassle! We take care of your transportation to structured activities, so you can focus on making the most of your time in paradise.
✈️ Effortless Airport Transfers — Arrive and depart with ease thanks to our round-trip airport transportation, ensuring a smooth and stress-free start and end.
👖 Laundry Service/Housekeeping — Running out of clean clothes? We’ve got you covered - we’re happy to launder any clothes that may be need washing.
📸 Professional Photos — Take home high-quality snapshots of your favorite memories from the retreat, courtesy of our professional photographer.
Are you ready to take your knitting skills to the next level with the help of expert guidance, while also exploring Portugal’s wonders, renewing your body and mind, and connecting with other passionate artists?
Price starts at €XXXX. With our flexible payment plan, pay in monthly installments. Don’t miss our shared room deal - save up to €XXX each when booking for two!