Fair Isle Knitting Retreat au Château

Thursday October 29th 2026 - Monday November 2nd 2026

Château de Courtomer, Normandy, France

Five days to slow down, make, and connect in a Normandy château.
A calm, considered retreat focused on Fair Isle knitting.

Secure your place with a €500 non-refundable deposit. Flexible payments available with Partial.ly. Alternative payment option
If you prefer to pay by direct bank transfer, you’re welcome to do so. Please contact me to arrange this and reserve your place.

email: hello@sophieochera.com

Limited to 15 participants.

What’s included:

• 4 nights luxury accommodation, single occupancy rooms, with your own private bathroom—wake up surrounded by history and character!

• All meals included, shared at a long table — seasonal, delicious and freshly prepared by our in-house knitter/cook (more info about the food below!).

• Daily knitting sessions with me — focused on useful techniques, thoughtful guidance, and time to work at your own pace.

• Knitter’s Exercise Routine — You’ll be introduced to a gentle daily exercise routine designed especially for knitters, led by Anaïs, a trained masseuse and Qi Gong practitioner. The session will focus on caring for your shoulders, arms, and hands — supporting ease, longevity, and comfort in your knitting practice.

• Time to relax, knit, and connect — enjoy quiet moments (the castle is spacious enough to find quiet moments on your own) or share stories and ideas with fellow participants. Walk or cycle (bikes are available) around the grounds, or to the near-by village.

• Evening gatherings — unwind with conversation, laughter, and the castle’s grand but cosy charm.

**Transfers from the station are not included. Taxis are readily available, and we will provide clear arrival guidance in advance.

This retreat is for you if you love Fair Isle knitting—at any level—are inspired by beautiful surroundings, and want to develop your skills while staying in a historic castle. Alongside focused knitting time, there’ll be nourishing food, a warm sense of humour, and pleasant, supportive company.

Over five days, we’ll focus on colour, construction, and finishing—three key elements of successful Fair Isle knitting. With clear teaching and time to work at your own pace, you’ll begin or plan a sweater that feels considered, wearable, and personal.

A Typical Day at the Retreat:

Morning
Days begin with a simple French breakfast, followed by relaxed morning knitting sessions in the Orangerie. I’ll offer clear guidance and practical techniques, with plenty of time to knit, ask questions, and work at your own pace.

Midday
Lunch is shared together. Afterward, the afternoon opens — time for knitting, walking the grounds, resting, or reading.

Afternoon
Later in the afternoon we reconvene for quieter making time, one-to-one guidance, or optional short sessions, including the knitter’s exercise routine led by Anaïs, or an opportunity to try the knitting machine. Tea and coffee will always be available.

Evening
As the autumn light softens, we come together again — sometimes for an aperitif, sometimes simply to knit in good company. Dinner is unhurried and communal. Evenings are relaxed and informal, with space for conversation, quiet knitting, or early nights.

Night
There is no fixed schedule after dinner. Knit by the fire, talk late, or retreat to your room with your work and the day’s ideas. I will be organising some surprises for alternate evenings!

Payment and booking:

The retreat fee is €1,900.

Secure your place with a €500 deposit — non-refundable, as it helps us plan the retreat, the castle, and meals.

Payment options
You can reserve your spot by paying online (button below), or alternatively by direct bank transfer. If you’d like to pay via bank transfer, please contact me and I’ll share the details: hello@sophieochera.com.

The remaining balance of €1,400 is due by the 31st of August 2026. Payment plans are available through the link if you’d like to spread the cost.

If you need to cancel, you’re welcome to transfer your booking to another participant. If I can find someone to fill your spot I will of course be happy to transfer your booking. I always recommend taking out travel or holiday insurance, just in case you need to cancel.

Accommodation and Meals:

Rooms — Sleep in the castle’s beautifully restored rooms, each one unique.. With cosy corners and quiet spaces, you can find moments of calm whenever you wish. Each room is centrally heated with a private bathroom, combining comfort and historic charm. I’ve personally visited each room and I can’t decide which is my favourite!

Meals — All meals are included, served in the castle’s grand dining room. Enjoy freshly prepared, seasonal dishes made with care by our talented caterer, Edith. Trained in catering and with experience in London and Nantes, she creates folk, plant-forward cuisine inspired by local ingredients, suitable for all dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, etc). Her dishes are festive, flavourful, and crafted to delight both body and imagination — the perfect fuel for a creative retreat. All meals on this retreat will be vegetarian and thoughtfully prepared by Edith, reflecting both of our values and a love of seasonal, plant-centred ingredients.

A little wine will be on hand for anyone who fancies a glass!

How to get there:

Chateau de Courtomer is a two-and-a-half-hour drive west of Paris, or an hour and a half train ride from Montparnasse station to L’Aigle. L’Aigle is a 25-minute taxi drive from Courtomer.

**Transfers from the station are not included. Taxis are readily available, and we will provide clear arrival guidance in advance.

Secure your place with a €500 non-refundable deposit. Flexible payments available.

Limited to 15 participants.

Alternative payment option
If you prefer to pay by direct bank transfer, you’re welcome to do so. Please contact me to arrange this and reserve your place: hello@sophieochera.com.

After you reserve your spot, I’ll contact you to check in on dietary needs, accessibility or physical requirements, and any essentials to bring.

I’m so looking forward to five days of yarn, creativity, and fun together!

PS: Make sure to follow along on Instagram for sneak peeks, videos, and behind-the-scenes bits about the retreat — I can’t wait to share the journey with you!