Patchwork in Portugal: A Rejuvenating Knitting & Artsy Retreat

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Do I need to have previous knitting experience?
This retreat is designed for advanced beginners and intermediate knitters, so some experience is required.

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.​