The Art of Knitting
Chateau de Borie, Agen, France
Saturday July 20th – Saturday July 27th, 2024
Limited to 8-10 participants
Experience world-class knitting instruction in an enchanting 18th-Century chateau set in the southwest of France.
Every bright, sunny room in this historical home encourages you to create something new. You’ll gather with other knitters who share a love of this inspiring craft and of course the stories it brings forth.
Knitting in the mornings will give way to relaxing into the sights, sounds, and tastes of Chateau de Borie and the surrounding French countryside — an experience like no other.
Your teacher: Franke Santos
Franke Santos has instructed all ages and levels in knitting, teaching everything from basics to more complicated techniques including lace, cables and brioche. Her exuberant approach to teaching helped her land a spot as a guest expert in 2018 with the Try Guys, when she got to teach them how to knit. (They brought her back in early 2020 to teach them to crochet.) Besides her teaching work, she is a professional artist who has produced several distinctive knitted costumes and props for TV shows such as Grace & Frankie, This Is Us, and for movies such as 80 for Brady. She also excels in embroidery, needlepoint and crochet, which she currently teaches at Saddleback College in Orange County, California.
Your host: Abigail Carter
The owner of Chateau de Borie, Abigail Carter is a published author, artist and website designer. Her memoir, The Alchemy of Loss: A Young Widow’s Transformation was published in 2008, a cathartic expression after the death of her husband, Arron in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Her second book, Remember the Moon, a novel, was published in 2014 and is also based on themes of grief and loss.
During the pandemic, Abby became obsessed with the idea of owning a chateau in France that could be used as a retreat center and managed to see the dream come to fruition in 2022 with the purchase of Chateau de Borie.
The Retreat Experience
During your stay, you’ll enjoy the sweeping views of the French countryside, free time, fabulous knitting instruction, and organized excursions to explore nearby sites and partake in the local wine and cuisine.
What You’ll Learn
Beginning Knitters:
During this week, you will learn all the basic skills and techniques of knitting with the goal of finishing a hat that will remind you of your retreat adventure.
Intermediate Knitters:
Expand your skills with a two-color brioche hat knit in a distinctive pattern. Learn what makes the stitch special as well as how to create magic with just a few simple decreases.
Monday through Thursday morning will include 2 – 2.5 hours of structured group instruction and one-on-one guidance from your teacher. Friday morning Franke will be available to instruct those who desire additional help.
About the Retreat
The Goal of the Retreat
Our objective is to help you learn a new craft or enhance your existing skills in an encouraging, environment coupled with a luscious French chateau experience including food, wine, travel, free time, new friends, and connections to French culture and people.
Who Should Sign Up?
Knitters or aspiring knitters who seek a rich, in-depth instructional experience in a magical location. Both beginner and intermediate knitters are welcome. Beginners will learn all the basics of how to start and complete a project and intermediate knitters will enhance their existing knowledge as well as learn a new technique. Both levels will receive formal group instruction as well as one-on-one guidance to enrich their learning experience.
This workshop accommodates 8-10 people.
Fresh, locally-sourced French home cooking
Continental breakfast and family-style dinner will be served daily. Lunches will either be provided at the chateau or will be on your own during excursions. All meals will be prepared by a local French chef using fresh local ingredients. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be available throughout the day. We will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions.
Sommelier Visit
Learn about and taste local wines from passionate sommelier, Stephan who will come to Chateau de Borie bearing some wonderful wines of all types from a variety of areas. Cahors.
Tour of Bleu Lectoure
A demonstration of traditional, plant-based dyeing methods using “Lectoure bleu,” the famous blue dye made from Woad flowers (Isis Tinctoria) that has been revitalized in the town of Lectoure by Henri and Cécile of Lectoure Bleu. You will be introduced to the Woad plant, its history, and how it is extracted and used for dyeing.
An afternoon in Agen
Agen is an easily accessible town that has an excellent art museum, opera house, two cathedrals, and lots of shopping along a pedestrian-only boulevard. You will have the option of spending some time at the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Agen or spend the afternoon at your leisure before meeting the group at the end of the day for an aperitif back at the Chateau.
Dinner in a local restaurant
There will be a dinner at a nearby restaurant specializing in French cuisine with particular emphasis on farm-to-table and local specialties.
Chateau de Borie
Chateau de Borie is located in Pont-du-Casse, just a five minute drive from Agen, located between Toulouse and Bordeaux in an area renown for it’s fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly its dried prunes. The area is a little off the beaten path for many tourists, but boasts beautiful countryside, proximity to two splendid wine regions, historic “Bastide” villages and incredibly fresh local food.
Agen and environs
The town of Agen is equidistant between Toulouse and Bordeaux and boasts a TGV train station, making it a 3-hour journey from Paris or a 1-hour journey from either Toulouse or Bordeaux. The town is fairly substantial with a population of 35,000 and has a wide array of shops, restaurants, bars, weekly markets and annual festivals. There is also a wonderful Art Museum and an Opera House, as well as several cathedrals, one of which has an intricately painted interior.
The surrounding countryside is known for its orchards and fruit growing, particularly its prunes, which you can find in all forms - stuffed, soaked in alcohol, or made into aperitifs.
The surrounding countryside is beautiful and dotted with many “Bastide” towns – fortified, medieval towns often built atop hillsides with a templated grid pattern (developed by the brother of one of the kings of France) with a main town square, surrounded by a covered gallery housing shops and restaurants.
Ground Transportation
Pick up and drop off at the train station in Agen will be provided.
Transportation will be provided for all outings to local sites or events during your retreat week.
Not Included:
On-call transportation to local village or city. If you would like the freedom to explore the region at any time, we recommend renting a car.
Airfare
Train fare
Accommodations
Except for three bedrooms that contain two beds, all bedrooms are private. Two bedrooms have a private ensuite bathroom. All other rooms have a private bathroom down the hall. You will have access to all amenities: a large, shared living room, kitchen and dining room, garden, and terraces, with reading nooks and seating, and a wooded trail. There is WiFi throughout the Chateau, and laundry services are available.
Second Floor
The largest room available, Cygne’s second-floor southern exposure ensures it is bright and sunny all day long. Equipped with a queen-sized bed, a single bed, a mirrored armoire, and a dresser, this room has all the comforts. It has a private bathroom down the hall with a sink, shower, toilet, and a view of the garden.
Total cost of the Cynge Room: €3,600
After payment of the €1,000 deposit, a balance of €2,600 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Almost as large as Cygne, Etoile (Star) also benefits from its second floor, southern exposure, and panoramic views, ensuring it is bright and sunny all day long. Equipped with a large double bed, a writing desk, and a dresser, this room has all the comforts and has a private bathroom down the hall equipped with a shower, sink, and toilet.
Total cost of Etoile Room is €3,600
After the deposit of €1,000 a remaining balance of €2,600 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
The only bedroom on the second floor with an ensuite, Rossignol (Nightingale) is a sunny room with a small desk chair, and a closet. Its “almost” ensuite sink and toilet are located just outside the door and it has a shower room down the hall. It benefits from a southern exposure so the room is bright and airy and has a view of the environs, the pools, and the grottos.
Total cost of the room is €3,600.
After a deposit of €1,000 the remaining balance of €2,600 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Third Floor
Located on the 3rd floor, Colibri (Hummingbird) is a lovely southern exposure room with two “oeil de boeuf” (port-hole windows) and exposed beams. It has a lovely, comfortable double bed and a large, full private bathroom down the hall.
Total cost of Colibri Room: €3,300
After the deposit of €1,000, a remaining balance of €2,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Jasmin is similar to Magnolia with its skylight with a remote-controlled blind and a floor-level window. It has a comfortable double bed, an armoire and is the only 3rd-floor bedroom with a full ensuite bathroom.
The total cost of Jasmin Room: €3400
After the deposit of €1,000, a remaining balance of €2,400 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Renard (Fox) is a lovely southern exposure room with one “oeil de boeuf” (port-hole window) and exposed beams. It has a lovely, comfortable double bed and a full private bathroom down the hall.
Total cost of Renard Room: €3,300
After a deposit of €1,000, the remaining balance of €2,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Chouette (Owl) is a lovely southern exposure room with one “oeil de boeuf” (bull’s eye window) and exposed beams. It has a lovely, comfortable double bed and a full private bathroom down the hall.
Chouette Room: €3,300
After a deposit of €1,000, a remaining balance of €2,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Lapin (Rabbit) is a lovely southern exposure room with two “oeil de boeuf” (port-hole windows) and exposed beams. It has two double beds and so can be shared. It is accompanied by a full private bathroom down the hall. A great room for two friends who might like to come together.
Single occupancy: €3,300
After a deposit of €1,000 the remaining balance of €2,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Double occupancy: €5,300
After deposit of €1,000 the remaining balance of €4,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Paon is a lovely southern exposure room with one “oeil de boeuf” (port-hole window) and exposed beams. It has a comfortable double bed, plus a single bed, and a full private bathroom down the hall. This room would suit two people sharing a room.
Single occupancy: €3,300
After the deposit of €1,000 the remaining balance of €2300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
Double occupancy: €5,300
After the deposit of €1,000 the remaining balance of €4,300 is to be paid in full by May 1st, 2024.
The Details
NOTES:
The Chateau de Borie is multi-leveled, with no bedrooms on the ground floor. Good physical mobility is required for retreat, as the Chateau has one or two sets of stairwells depending on the room you choose, and we will be on foot on the cobbled streets around France. The physical ability to walk unassisted is necessary for this retreat.
Because of the proximity of the cliffs and the seven springs on the property, mosquitos are an issue between July and October. Bug spray is highly recommended.
Chloe, Abby’s Boston Terrier will be in attendance. She is very companionable, but if you have any issues with small dogs, you might want to consider this before booking.
Participants might want to consider arriving in France a day or two prior to the retreat to get acclimated. Toulouse is an enjoyable place to explore. Citiz Hotel in Toulouse is well situated a block from the train station and a block from the center of town and is reasonably priced.
Most flights out of Toulouse leave in the morning. You might want to consider spending the night before your flight home near the Toulouse airport. NH Hotel Toulouse is a good option, as there is a restaurant where you can have dinner. This is not true of all the hotels around the airport and there are very few restaurants within walking distance.
Travel
Arrivals: Saturday, July 20th before 4 pm
Retreat/workshops: Sunday, July 21st to Friday, July 26th, 2024
Departures: Saturday, July 27th, before 12 pm.
Class participants are responsible for their own flights and travel to Agen. The closest international airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux, France. It is an hour's train ride to Agen from both cities. You can also fly to Paris and take a 3-hour TGV train from Montparnasse station in Paris to Agen (via Bordeaux).
It is recommended that you purchase your train tickets ahead of time, as trains do fill up. We recommend using www.thetrainline.com or https://www.sncf-connect.com/ to book your connections.
You are welcome to rent a car at the airport, though we will be providing transportation for the various excursions, so unless you want to get out on your own, it is unnecessary.
We offer pick-ups and drop-offs between the Agen train station and Chateau de Borie.
NOTE: To arrive at the chateau on Saturday, July 20th requires a flight departure from North America on Friday, July 19th.
Payment
A deposit of €1,000 will hold your spot. It will be non-refundable after May 1st, 2024. The balance must be paid in full by May 1, 2024.
Included in the price:
Accommodations from Sunday night to Saturday morning at Chateau de Borie
Knitting materials (needles, yarn, stitch markers, etc)
Pick up/drop off at the Agen train station
Welcome champagne
All meals and wine except for lunches during excursions
Transportation to/from all excursions
All excursion associated fees
Not included:
Airfare, train fare
Meals outside the villa except for the restaurant dinner.
Refund Policy
The €1,000 deposit is non-refundable after May 1st, 2024.
All rooms are to be paid for in full by May 1st, 2024.
If you need to cancel after May 1st, 2024 we will offer your spot to people on the waiting list and refund 100% of your payment, minus the deposit, if we are able to fill your spot.
If we cannot fill your spot, we will refund 50% of your payment (minus the deposit) or you can transfer your paid fees to another retreat offered within 12 months.
Participant expenses incurred in preparation for the trip (e.g., non-refundable purchased airline tickets) are not the responsibility of the retreat organizers. It is recommended that you obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance for this reason.