Stitch & Stay 2026
Join us at Stitch & Stay 2026 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for classes, stitching, vendor pop-ups, delicious food, and friendships. The retreat starts on Thursday April 16 and ends on Saturday April 18.
The registration fee of $475 includes the following:
-Welcome event Thursday evening.
-Friday open stitching and buffet luncheon.
-Friday evening pizza pajama party.
-Saturday open stitching and buffet luncheon.
-A gift bag of fun things.
-Shop with pop-up vendors and designers.
-Access to pre-order an early release of the Spellbound Stitchery Wisconsin flower canvas; it is included in the Ribbon class, but can be ordered separately if you aren't taking the class.
-Stash sale and exchange! Bring your destash and mingle. Individuals will do their own buying and selling. If you are a designer and wish to do a pop-up as a vendor, please contact Julia at fairlywell@gmail.com.
-Needleminder exchange! We all know about the pin exchange boards at the most magical place on earth - bring yours to swap with the ones on the board. The selection will change as swaps are made!
STITCH & STAY REGISTRATION
Classes are available on a first-come basis for additional registration. Registration for classes will close on November 1, 2025 to allow time to order class materials. Please note that all registrations are nonrefundable, but may be transferred to another attendee.
Ribbon & Flowers with Rebecca, The Chaotic Needlepointer
If you've ever been intimidated by ribbon, you'll soon find out that incorporating ribbon into your needlepoint projects is fun, impactful and might even be easier than you thought! Taught by Rebecca the @chaoticneedlepointer, stitchers will learn several common ribbon techniques and tricks to jumpstart your ribbon journey. Once you've learned the basics, the second half of class will see you get started on the beautiful Spellbound Stitchery Wisconsin State Flower canvas, featuring the common blue violet within the state outline. Class Includes: the WI State Flower canvas fully kitted with stitch guide, as well as practice canvas, ribbon and reference guides for the techniques taught. Class Note: Stitchers should come with sharp scissors and optionally, a laying tool. If you bring a stand/lap stand/travel stand or frame weight with you to the retreat, please bring it to class, as well.
Class Fee: $165 (inclusive of fully kitted WI state flower canvas and stitch guide, all class materials and teaching fee) Class duration 2.5-3 hours.
About the Teacher: Rebecca grew up around the fiber arts, and when she switched from the occasional embroidery project to needlepoint in 2020, little did she know she'd found her true creative outlet. She started sharing her work as the @chaoticneedlepointer in early 2022. Quickly realizing her needlepoint ethos is 'let me be the guinea pig', she's figured out self-finishing, ribbon work, stitch guide writing and more wielding only irrational confidence, determination, and the desire to learn. Rebecca is a lover of classic, vintage canvases, often stalking the internet for rare and discontinued canvas finds. Controversially, she has a love for Entice, and in her non-needlepoint time, she is a golfer and curler.
Beading Workshop with Holly, HNstitches
A non-intimidating, play driven approach to beading. Ideal for anyone who likes to think outside of the box, or outside of the traditional, and isn’t afraid of the what ifs of trying something new. Taught by Holly (@HNStitches,) stitchers will go over the basics of traditional beading and then be guided through a technique to build dimension and interest that really brings a design to life. Using a beautiful holiday topiary design from KCN Designs that will lend itself to any holiday or theme, we will discuss beading, shapes, and dimension that you’ll be able to apply to stitch plans for other designs. The class includes a fully kitted canvas & beading supplies, and a bead bar to help you create a canvas you can have fun with.
Class Note: If you bring a stand/lap stand/travel stand or frame weight with you to the retreat, please bring it to class.
Class Fee: $150 (includes a fully kitted canvas, all class materials including beading tools and bead bar, and teaching fee)
About the teacher: Holly grew up around sewing and other needle crafts. She learned how to sew and had a custom children’s clothing business when her children were very young sewing heirloom patterns and smocking. Once her daughters were more involved in dance she started working her way through costuming. She now does custom dance costume design and embellishment for several high schools and one collegiate level dance team. She made the decision to take up needlepoint as a way to keep her hands busy between dance competition seasons and has tried to learn as much as possible in the short amount of time that she has been stitching. She also finishes most of the pieces she stitches as building and completing the project felt like a natural progression of needlepoint.
Easy Single-Cookie Round Ornament Finishing with Julia, fairlywell_handmade
This is an alternative finishing method to the often-used double cookie style ornament. If you have struggled to hide exposed canvas, this method makes that easier. Please bring a stitched 4" round canvas (blocked if needed), backing fabric, cording materials, and scissors.
Class Fee: $50 (includes pre-cut mat board and batting, needles, suggested thread for finishing, and help making cording with your threads.) Class duration 2-2.5 hours.
WHERE TO STAY
The Grand Geneva has set aside a block of rooms at discounted rates for Thursday and Friday nights. Both nights are required to book with the block. See rooms at The Grand Geneva
The room block will be available soon - sign up for emails to get the link sent directly.
TRAVEL
Lake Geneva is located about an hour north of Chicago, with easy access to Chicago O'Hare airport (ORD.) Indicate when registering if you would like to be added to an instagram group chat to coordinate rideshares from the airport.
THINGS TO DO
Lake Geneva is a charming resort town with a beautiful lakefront, shopping both artsy and quirky, and plenty of snacks and sweets. Don't miss the cocktails at Maxwell Mansion speakeasy!