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Class Description, Supplies and information

The Art of the Handmade Coat with Kate Richbourg

A Sewing Retreat in Durfort, France

Join us in the charming village of Durfort, France for a truly special creative experience centered around The Art of the Handmade Coat.

This immersive sewing retreat invites you to slow down, work with intention, and create a garment that tells a story: Your story.

Led by Kate, students will design and sew a modern interpretation of the iconic French chore coat, a beloved work jacket from the early 1900s. Reimagined with a contemporary A-line silhouette, this coat becomes the perfect canvas for personalization, surface design, and thoughtful details.

Our home for the week is La Cascade, a cozy art house nestled in the village of Durfort. Surrounded this authentic French experience and natural beauty, you will create your jacket from start to finish.

The journey begins before we travel with a two online Zoom gatherings. Kate will guide you through fabric selection and help you prepare for the creative adventure ahead.

Once we are home in France, we explore the many layers that make up the art of the handmade coat.

Together we will create custom embellishments, attend a woad dyeing workshop with a world class instructor, and learn cyanotype sun dye techniques using local flora to print fabric with light and shadow. These hand dyed pieces become meaningful elements woven directly into your coat.

We will also visit local French flea markets, searching for vintage buttons, trims, and small treasures that add character and history to your one of a kind garment.

After gathering our materials, students will learn how to properly size the pattern for an ideal fit, cut their jacket pieces, and sew their coat using a combination of machine sewing and hand stitching.

Sewists of all levels are welcome. Whether you are newer to garment sewing or more experienced, you will be supported every step of the way. You will leave with a finished coat, practical skills you can carry forward into future garments, and a deep well of inspiration.

This retreat is about more than sewing. It is about slowing down, honoring process, and experiencing the art of the handmade coat. Cloth, craft, place, and memory come together in a meaningful way.

Join Kate in Durfort for a once in a lifetime opportunity to create something truly special. A garment you will wear, love, and treasure for years to come.

Is This Retreat Right for Me?

If you love working with your hands, learning through process, and creating something meaningful, this retreat may be just right for you.

This experience is designed for sewists of all levels. You do not need to be an expert garment maker to attend. Kate will guide you step by step through fitting, cutting, and construction, with plenty of support along the way.

If you enjoy slow making, thoughtful details, and the idea of learning in a beautiful, inspiring setting, you will feel at home here.

This retreat is especially well suited for you if you:

• Have always wanted to make a garment but felt unsure where to begin

• Enjoy learning in a small, supportive group

• Love fabric, texture, and surface design

• Are curious about natural dyeing and creative embellishment

• Want to build skills you can carry forward into future projects

• Appreciate the rhythm of making rather than rushing to finish

You will be working with both hand sewing and machine sewing, and guidance is offered throughout the process. There is no pressure to be perfect. The focus is on learning, exploration, and the joy of creating.

Most of all, this retreat is for those who want to slow down, step away from everyday noise, and spend time immersed in creativity, connection, and craft.

If the idea of making a coat in France makes your heart flutter just a little, this experience was created with you in mind.

What is included in the class:

Instruction and guidance from Kate throughout the retreat with plenty of one-on-one time.

The French Chore Coat pattern, provided by Kate

A copy of the pattern for each student to take home and use again Sewing machines provided for students to share

Two Pre-retreat Zoom meetings to help you prepare and select fabric

On-site instruction for fitting, cutting, and garment construction

Dye workshops including woad dyeing and cyanotype techniques. Students bring fabric for woad dyeing, but all supplies and fabrics are provided for cyanotype.

Group inspiration, demonstrations, and hands-on learning

What to Bring

Students will provide their own fabric, thread, and personal sewing tools. A detailed supply list will be sent prior to the retreat, but helpful items include:

• Fabric for your coat. Kate recommends heavyweight linen. We will discuss specifics in our online session, so you can choose the perfect fabric.

• Coordinating thread

• Scissors

• Pins or clips

• Chalk or fabric marking tool

• Tape measure with both inches and centimeters

Kate will have rulers available to share during class. If you prefer to bring your own, a French curve pattern ruler is a helpful addition. Kate also provides

Refund policy - Retreats are capped at 10 students for an intimate and supportive experience.

Please fully commit to attending and participating when you book. Retreats are non-refundable once a commitment is made.

We do understand unavoidable emergencies can happen. Once a retreat fills, there will be a waitlist and if you’re unable to attend we will invite the next student on the waitlist to join us. As long as the new student registers and pay in full to take your open spot, you will receive full refund minus $300 non-refundable deposit. This is not guaranteed. The only guaranteed way of getting a full refund is to purchase comprehensive insurance with a “cancel for any reason” add on and adhere to the policy’s time sensitive window. We understand this type of insurance adds quite a bit to your trip, so please assess your financial risk factors and do your due diligence research to find the best travel insurance policy for your unique situation and needs. We recommend checking out AARDY.com insurance marketplace.

You will be required to sign a liability waiver to participate stating that you are fully aware of and agree to all our retreat terms, conditions and policies.

Students often ask if they can bring their partner along to the retreat. We know how amanzing it is to travel internationally with our loved ones. We recommend that your partner join you either before the retreat or after. Our retreats are designed as a full creative immersion, and as such the experience is focused on the students and the shared studio journey. We do not have accomondations for non-participanting partners at this time.

Merci!