Fall - 2026
Come to the island.
Leave with a jacket
you'll wear forever.
6 Day, 5 Night Retreat
Six days on Mackinac Island to draft, sew, and finish a quilted, lined knit jacket — with the skills, the support, and the unhurried space to make something that is completely, unmistakably yours.
October 11-16, 2026 | Mackinac Island, Michigan
You already know which fabric you want.
You opened the website. You found it immediately — the stretch silk in that perfect maroon, the wool interlock you can practically feel through the screen. And then you thought, I should keep looking, just in case.
Three hours later, you were back at the first one. Of course you were.
There’s something that happens when you finally just… choose the good fabric. Use it. Make something with it that fits your body and reflects your taste, with real skill and real time and real attention. It’s not indulgent. It’s just — what making is actually for.
This retreat is a whole week of exactly that.
What you’ll make
Starting from a well-fitted raglan t-shirt pattern, you’ll draft and sew a fully lined, quilted knit jacket with deep pockets and snaps up the front.
Every design choice is yours — collar, hem shape, color blocking, quilting pattern, fabric combination.
- Quilting with knits Yes, it works. Yes, it’s gorgeous. You’ll find your magical combination.
- Pattern drafting Turn what fits into whatever you dream. This one skill opens everything.
- Lining a knit garment So the inside feels as good as the outside.
- Deep, beautiful pockets Functional and lovely. The kind you actually want to reach into.
- Snaps with confidence The finishing touch that makes it feel like yours.
- Hand-sewn hem Slow, meditative, and worth every stitch.
These are the skills that change how you sew from here on out.
The jacket is the vehicle.
The skills are the real souvenir.
How the week flows
Who This Is For
Is this for you?
This retreat is designed for intermediate sewists who are comfortable with a machine and ready to stretch into new territory. Knits don’t need to be your thing yet — just interesting to you. If you can sew a garment and you’re hungry to go deeper, you belong here.
It’s also for the woman who’s been meaning to do something just for herself — something creative and a little ambitious — and keeps finding reasons to wait. Consider this your sign. The island is lovely in October. The group is small. The fudge is genuinely excellent.
A Note from Tina
I built this retreat because I believe making something beautiful — really making it, with your hands, with care, with the good fabric — does something to a woman. It reconnects her to herself. It reminds her what she’s capable of.
You will be held, guided, and cheered on every step of the way. I am not handing you a pattern and a schedule. I am alongside you, answering the questions that come up at 2pm on Tuesday when your lining is being tricky, and delighting in the moment you hold up something you made that is entirely, unmistakably you.
The jacket will be very cool. But that’s not really what you’re coming for.
— Tina
A bit about your instructor (that’s me!)
A bit about your instructor (that’s me!)My sewing journey began with frustration—nothing fit right, and I was tired of feeling like my body was the problem. Then I found a thrifted dress that fit me perfectly, and it clicked: the clothes should fit ME, not the other way around!
Now I channel my grandmother’s spirit at my sewing machine, shouting “holy Hannah, I just DID this!” along the way. And nothing brings me more joy than watching other sewists discover their own superpowers.
I believe in:
- The depth that happens when we create with our hands
- The community magic that flows when we sew TOGETHER
- The body-loving revolution that happens one handmade garment at a time
- The delight of surprising yourself with what you can actually do
Ready to pack your sewing kit and join us?
Spaces are purposefully limited (just 12!) to ensure everyone gets the attention they deserve.
Grab your spot and start dreaming about what you’ll create on a magical island where time slows down and creativity speeds up!
Questions burning a hole in your pocket? Drop me a line at tina@kinshiphandwork.com
We’ll meet twice via Zoom before our retreat – in early September to talk about what to bring in more detail and in late September to go over the fit of the raglan (if needed).
Our retreat starts off with drafting using the the original raglan pattern (included) as a starting point, so it’s vital that you’ve taken the time to fit the raglan t-shirt to your body before you arrive.
All of those expectations were met along with a better understanding of how to fit a pattern to my body, having a great experience with a group of wonderful ladies (I especially liked the sharing in our morning group talks), getting to experience Mackinac Island and having a more positive view of my body.
She goes above expectations making everyone feel special and creating a wonderful connection between participants. She even provided special gifts to all of us that participated.
Her skills go far beyond the finished product and include troubleshooting your machine and making sure you have the right fit for your pattern and showing us the possible modifications to meet our individual styles.
Tina had a way of making me feel very part of the group. I loved how she got so excited about everything.
I came expecting to hang out with people with same interests and spending time with my daughter. I left very happy having met wonderful sewers, learning new sewing ideas and so delighted that I was able to experience the sewing retreat.
It was a perfect balance of sewing time, group time and down time.
Our home for the week!
Our Island Home Base
We’ll be nestled in the charming Murray Hotel, a historic gem in the heart of Mackinac Island. With its central location, you can easily stroll to shops, restaurants, and the waterfront between our creative sessions. After a day of pattern drafting and stitching, nothing beats unwinding in the hotel’s spa pool—it’s pure bliss for tired fingers and inspired minds!
The Murray team has extended special retreat pricing just for us:
- Historic Single Room: $109/night
- Historic Double Room: $149.99/night
Want to treat yourself? Upgrade to a spacious Deluxe room for just $50 more per night (based on availability) for single occupancy and $75 more per night for double.
Your accommodation is booked separately, giving you flexibility to extend your island adventure if you wish. I’ve arranged these special rates to make our creative getaway accessible while enjoying the charm of this car-free paradise!
Meals & Refreshments
During Class: We’ll keep you fueled with light snacks, coffee, tea, and water throughout our creative sessions.
Breakfast & Lunch: The hotel’s Amigo Burrito Cafe offers convenient and delicious options right upstairs—think fresh-made burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. With a generous 1½ hour lunch break, you can either enjoy the cafe or explore the island’s many eateries.
Dinner: Each evening, we’ll suggest a different island restaurant for our group meal. These dinners are optional but highly recommended—some of the best creative conversations happen over good food!
Friday Farewell: Our celebration brunch on Friday is our parting gift to you—included in your registration.
Snacks & Extras: Need something between meals? A well-stocked grocery store is just a short stroll down the block for any additional treats or necessities you might crave.
To get to the island, you’ll need to book a ferry from either St Ignace, Michigan or Mackinaw City, Michigan.
The ferry costs approximately $38 round trip with an additional $20 for a bike. (you can also rent bikes on the Island). Overnight parking at the ferry dock is approximately $20-25 per night.
There are two ferry options: Arnold Transit and Sheplers
Investment
$1,185 per person
$300 non-refundable deposit holds your spot, with the balance due 30 days before the retreat begins.
Tuition covers
- all instruction
- raglan shirt / dress pattern
- sweet surprises and handmade gifts
- mindfulness and movement sessions
- special evening event and pizza dinner
- brunch on Friday
Materials, food, and lodging are not included. Spots are intentionally limited to keep the experience intimate and hands-on.
Policies
This is a five-night, six-day retreat and we are not able to offer any partial attendance. Thank you for your understanding.
*Cancellation Policy: Once paid, deposits are non-refundable. While there are no refunds on the rest of the retreat cost within 30 days of the retreat, you can find another to take your place. We’ll do our best to help in this process. There are no exceptions.
All requests for refunds must be received in writing before 30 days prior to the retreat. In the case of acts of nature, disaster or unforeseen circumstances, Kinship Handwork reserves the right to reschedule or cancel this workshop. If Kinship Handwork cancels the workshop, all money paid will be return