The First Transylvania Retreat!
Inspecting a vest in the home of a prominent stitcher, researcher and author.
Our group with the local ladies after our írásos lesson together at the village parochial, Transylvania, Romania.
The first retreat was a fantastic success! Thanks to our Romanian guide Cristian and Sara Meaker of Tarnat Durabil Kalotaszeg. Our small group size, hands-on learning, and immersion beyond the guidebooks made it a rich and intimate week.
We stitched with local keepers of the tradition, met and talked with Hungarian, Romanian, Saxon, and Romani people, listened to live music and tried a bit of csárdás dance, lunched in a forest gazebo with a view of horses and wildflowers, and hunted for antiques at a famous market– and more!
Walking to the village for our embroidery lesson.
Inspecting the embroideries in a village church.
Cristian, our guide, with a participant and Sinko Kallo Katalin, researcher, stitcher, and author, an authoritative source on Kalotaszeg írásos, today.
Al fresco stitching lesson with Piroska.
Every day was filled with unexpected adventures. The retreat was an experience of a lifetime!
-SK, participant
Participant trying on confirmation clothing in Ilonka’s tisztaszoba, clean room.
One of our sewing instructors.
We have a rare opportunity to connect with learn from women keeping the írásos tradition alive today.
Travel with us October 4 - 12, 2022, and in June 2023!
Find information HERE or email Sarah with any questions. No embroidery experience is needed. Non-stitchers and spouses are also welcome on the trip!
Left to right: Sara Meaker of Tarnat, teacher Anna, Sarah Pedlow of ThreadWritten, and Ilonka, teacher in Ilonka’s home.
Detail of Saxon coat from a private museum in Romania.
Private dance and music performance at our guesthouse.
Boots from another region of Transylvania.
Pillows in a Saxon village.
Medieval Sighisoara, Romania.