FAQ

Dates for our 2018 retreat are September Thursday 6th - Sunday 9th. Please join our mailing list if you would like to be kept in the loop.

What are The Craft Sessions?

The idea for The Craft Sessions' retreats grew from a love of making things, and the desire to get people together who want to learn traditional hand crafts in an accessible way. It is based on the simple idea that craft can build community. 

We aim to connect people who craft for joy, and foster a love of hand making, in all that we do. If you want to read more go to the About Us Page

What is happening in September 2018? 

We are running The Craft Sessions'  sixth annual weekend craft retreat in the Yarra Valley, about a one hour drive from Melbourne.  This event runs from September 6th-9th and will offer a range of workshops in embroidery, printing, dyeing, knitting, weaving and sewing.  Registrations will open at 5pm on the 6th May 2018. Tickets sell super fast....

Where is the retreat held? 

The retreat is held in the Yarra Valley at the Yarra Valley Estate, about a one hour drive from Melbourne, Australia.  Our venue has a commitment to sustainability and the environment - they have won numerous awards like the Premier's Sustainability Award for 2015! More details on the venue can be found here. 

How much is the retreat?

In 2018 the retreat will cost $1180 for a full residential place. This is an all-inclusive price for three nights accommodation, two full days of workshops plus an afternoon of optional workshops, all your food, including gorgeous organic afternoon teas, yoga and gifts. And lots of great community, friendship and joy!

There are a limited number of non-residential places are available for $780. These places include everything except for accommodation and breakfast.

Where can I find the workshop list and the class schedule? 

This year's workshop list and schedule will be released on the 29th of April.

Previous year's workshops can be found on our Past Retreats page.

How are workshop allocated during the retreat?

The Craft Sessions retreat is all inclusive event which offers workshops as part of the retreat, rather than offering a guaranteed place in an individual workshop. As part of the registration we collect three preferences for each workshop time slot in order to assign workshops to each person. While we try to give each person their first choice, this isn't always possible due to demand. We have always been able to give someone one of their top three choices.

Buying a ticket to The Craft Sessions means that you are happy to accept any of your three workshop preferences.

Apologies, we are unable to offer refunds based on class preferences.

Where can I see what happened at the last event? 

Our Past Retreats page gives you a good idea of what happens at the retreat. Blog posts talking about our past retreats can be found here. There are lots and lots of pretty photos.

Can you cater for special dietary needs?

In most cases yes! We will collect this information from you as you are registering. 

How many workshops can I register for?

Included in the price of the retreat is two full days of workshops - plus this year we have the bonus of optional workshops on Saturday afternoon. You can decide whether you would like to do two half-day workshops and one full-day class OR two full-day workshops.

Are the materials included in the price?

This is different for each class. If there is a materials fee we have kept it to the minimum. In some classes the teachers are providing all the materials and in others you need to bring your own. We will email you closer to the date with materials information for the specific classes you are doing.

Will it be possible to come just for the day?

No. We are only offering an inclusive price. We created The Craft Sessions as a way for crafters to come together for a weekend of community and crafting, rather than just coming to a workshop for the day.

That said, we are now offering a limited number of non-residential places for people who are happy to arrange their own accommodation. These places are identical to residential places except that they don't include breakfast or twin-share accommodation.

Can I bring my baby?

Yes.  While the retreat is not open to children under the age of 14 we can make arrangements for babies.  Please contact us to discuss at admin@thecraftsessions.com. For example, at our 2014 event we had four under 1s. 

What is the standard of accommodation? Do I have to share a room?

Each simple room has two beds and most have an ensuite bathroom.  While there are no single rooms available at the moment, you can request to share a room with someone you are travelling with (bring a friend?).  You can see pictures of the rooms here. The Yarra Valley Estate is set on 120 acres and has beautiful views of native bushland. For more information about the venue please click here http://www.yarravalleyestate.com.au.

What is the cancellation policy?

We can accept refund requests in writing before the 20th of June 2018. This will incur a administration fee of $200. After this time we will be unable to give any refunds.

If you need to cancel after this date we are happy for you to give your space to a fellow crafter. Please let us know of the change in writing so that we are able to send the correct information to them.

We also have a waiting list and can help you to try to fill your place, however it is often difficult for us to find someone who wants to do the same classes as you, so the administration fee covers this process, and the situation whereby we are unable to fill the place.

Event cancellation

The Craft Sessions reserve the right to cancel the event. You will be entitled to a full refund. However, we cannot cover travel costs you may have in the event of cancellation. Please ensure you have separate travel insurance to cover this, in the event The Craft Sessions' retreat is cancelled.