Escape to the serene beauty of Berry Hills Resort in South Boston, VA, for an unforgettable long weekend hosted by Salem Stitches! This special retreat brings together quilting enthusiasts for creativity, relaxation, and community, featuring renowned designer Swan Sheridan and her Swan Amity line of quilt designs and fabrics.

Over the course of the weekend, you'll enjoy expert-led workshops where Swan will guide you through intricate quilting techniques, inspiring designs with hands-on sessions. Whether you're looking to refine your skills or start a new project, this retreat is designed to spark creativity and deepen your passion for quilting.

New ADD ON: Arrive Wednesday morning for an "All Things Judy" Workshop with Tracy Thompson, a certified Judy Niemeyer instructor. Bring your UFO or start a new project with expert advice, tips & techniques. Sewing room open at 11 am for move-in/setup, with workshop 12:30-6:30 pm Wed & 8-Noon Thursday. Sewing room open for evening sewing.

Between sessions, soak in the charm of Berry Hills with its cozy accommodations, delicious dining, and peaceful surroundings. Connect with fellow quilters, share stories, and leave with not only new techniques but also lasting friendships.

Join us for a weekend of artistry, learning, and inspiration—you won’t want to miss it!

Updated May 30 at 10 am

Join us for an inspiring retreat featuring workshops with renowned quilt artist and instructor Swan Sheridan! Immerse yourself in a creative getaway where you'll refine your quilting techniques, explore intricate designs, and gain expert insights from Swan’s years of experience. Whether you're a seasoned quilter or just starting, this retreat offers hands-on guidance, engaging discussions, and a supportive community of fellow crafters. Relax, create, and leave with new skills, fresh inspiration, and a masterpiece in the making!

Expect hands-on sessions where you can experiment with fabric choices, learn about the best ways to mix prints, and explore how to bring new life to traditional quilting methods. Plus, you'll get the opportunity to interact with a community of like-minded creators, share ideas, and get personalized tips from Swan herself.

Workshop Topics include:

• Design and Make Custom Quilt Labels using color & embellishments (Friday )

• "Decorative Stitches are for Everyone" An applique project using a wide variety of built in machine stitches... you have 100+, why only use 2 or 3 (Saturday)

• Quilting with your domestic machine (Sunday)

Don’t miss out on this chance to learn from one of the industry's leading designers!

Event takes place in the mansion conference center and ballroom at Berry Hill Resort in South Boston, Virginia. Spacious sleeping rooms are a short walk away under a covered walkway.

• Each Salem Stitches retreat has its own personality
• Plenty of time to stitch or sew your own projects
• Gathering spots to meet up, or sit, sip & stitch
• Delicious catered meals with attention paid to allergies
• Some workshops are held in other rooms to work in small groups
• Enjoy the Show & Tell as projects are finished
• A great group of people

Prepare to be pampered at the Berry Hill Resort in South Boston, Virginia.  This 700 acre site has open arms for all quilters, stitchers and sewists of all levels.

• Large individual table to spread out & leave set up at night
• Ergonomic chairs on wheels, with height adjustment
• Lots of windows, natural & task lighting
• Ironing, Cutting & Design Stations, plus light tables
• Arrive Friday at 8 am and stitch 'til Sunday at 4 pm
• Stitch or sew all night... room open as long as 2 people are present!
• Early Bird Thursday arrival at 1 pm for only $65 extra, includes buffet dinner Thursday

A fully stocked retreat shop located in the sewing room!

• Kits for workshops available with some fabric choices if possible
• Bolts of Fabric, PreCuts, Patterns, Notions & Gift items
• A selection of kits, just in case you are inspired
• Cross Stitch fabrics, threads & new charts
• Of course there's a retreat discount

• Berry Hill is an 1800s mansion on 700 acres with
• Reserve your spacious sleeping room at our group rate by calling Berry Hill at (434) 517-7000. We have rooms blocked for you, so they may show sold out on line.
• Both Single and Double accommodations available
• Includes expanded Continental Breakfast
• A complete resort with hiking trails, 1800s mansion, spa, indoor pool, exercise facility, tennis courts, Darbys Tavern, Library Bar with specials
• Locals are invited to drive in and join us, though you may want to stay the night.
• Click HERE to visit their website

A Checklist of What to Bring is emailed a couple months prior to the retreat. This list has been compiled over the years from attendees and you will find it quite helpful. To help you plan, here's a short list:

• Your sewing machine. We do have a few to rent for the weekend, be sure to add that request in your participant information section
• General Sewing supplies
• Projects you want to work on 

We make it easy for you to pack and not run around before your trip! There is no specific supply list for the workshops. Everything you need will be in the kit, with the exception of piecing thread. We know everyone's machine has their favorite! Fabric choices selections will be sent in advance. 

Payments can be made with credit cards, ACH debits from bank accounts, or checks

• Credit Card payments are subject to a 3% (3.5% Amex) fee

• Checks and ACH payments (direct debit from your bank account) have zero fees

• Checks may be sent to Salem Stitches, 832 S Main Street, Winston Salem, NC 27101 

• Auto payments may be setup

• Standard Payment Plan of 5 payments, though payments may be made at any time

Cancellation policy: The $100 deposit is non-refundable, but may be transferred to another retreat. If you cancel more than 120 days prior to the retreat, all monies paid, less deposit & processing fee  will be  transferred to another retreat or refunded to original payment source. 120- 31 days prior, all monies not committed to vendors will be transferred to another retreat or refunded.  30 days or less before the retreat, refunds simply cannot be made. At any time, your payments may be transferred to a new attendee coming in your place.

You have a personal "Dashboard" which  allows you to keep your information, such as contact info and food allergies, current! 

Save your retreat confirmation, it has the link to your Dashboard.

Need help with an unfinished Quiltworx project? Or are you ready to start something new? Join Tracy Thompson, a certified Judy Niemeyer instructor for expert Paper Piecing advice, tips & techniques.

Bring your UFO or start a new project...newbies welcome. Sewing room open at 11 am for move-in/setup, with workshop 12:30-6:30 pm Wed & 8-Noon Thursday. Room open for evening sewing and you will. stay in your space for the retreat. Select Wednesday Add-On to save your space. .

Variety of Patterns to select from... Tracy will help you select one with a color way you will love!

Supply list will be sent and we will host a Zoom call to make sure everyone is ready!

We're excited to see you!  Enjoy lunch in South Boston on your way to Berry Hill or plan to eat at Darby's Tavern when you arrive.

Check into our crafting oasis for the long weekend. We open at 1 for early bird set up. Enjoy cookie break and start sewing.

Early Bird Thursday includes a delicious supper buffet and time to sew and socialize after dinner.

After breakfast, our first hands on workshop will begin...  Creative Label Making!

Spend a day with Swan and learn a variety of label making methods, using applique, Inktense, archival markers, and more!  You will take home loads of information on how to make your own label a special work of art to accent your quilt, as well as the specific details every quilt label should have.  Enjoy the full day of creative inspiration and leave with finished labels and ideas for more!

Take the opportunity to bring a quilt of your own to share with the class, so we can help you brainstorm a title and label style to suit your work. 

Nominal fee for supply kit.

Saturday's all day workshop features a chance to use ALL the decorative stitches on your sewing machine to create a pillow or small wall hanging. Swan guides you through her easy applique technique with stitching embellishment.

Decorative Stitches are for Everyone:

Join Swan to learn the ins and outs of basic fusing techniques and the best ways to take advantage of all the decorative stitching options on your machine!  With this beautiful floral project, we'll explore thread choice, stitch stacking and alignment, the use of stitch libraries, mirroring, and the best order in which to work.  You’ll learn to enjoy all that your machine has to offer and see just how pretty your threads can be when you use all of your stitches on your fused projects. 

Don't miss your chance to play with a variety of threads and stitches! Choice of colorways offered. A nominal kit fee to cover pattern, fabrics, batting, backing & materials is payable at event.

Finish your projects on Sunday... who wants a UFO to bring home! Swan will be around for questions. Late morning brunch is the perfect time to spend a few minutes socializing...it's been a blast.  We look forward to seeing you at our next retreat.  

We are planning to have an optional morning Organic Machine Quilting class for those interested. Swan is a very talented at machine quilting with her domestic machine and she has a few new techniques and tips to share.