Retreat August 11 · 14, 2027
Stitching with Sass
Annual event
Retreat 2027Do you know someone who…
If you know this stitcher, then you are … Stitching with Sass. We’ll all be Stitching with Sass at retreat. Sass is our stitching friend, and just a little tease…we’re going to have a design coming out later this year for you to stitch your own personal version of Sass.
Location
Where we retreatThis lovely hotel and conference-center setting allows the greatest flexibility for everyone attending retreat. Staying overnight at the hotel is optional — our room block includes both single and double rooms. Retreat venue Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West3131 Campus Drive Plymouth, MN 55441
Crowne Plaza
Minneapolis West 
The details
Good to knowRegistration fee$TBD, which includes 11 meals — beginning with Wednesday breakfast and ending with Saturday lunch and snacks. The complete meal package applies to all retreat attendees. Meeting roomsThe hotel is holding five meeting rooms with outside windows for us. ParkingParking at the hotel is free.
2027 faculty
Teachers for 2027We have confirmed our teachers and they are:
Thistle Treads
Tricia Wilson Nguyen Patricia Wilson Nguyen is an independent researcher, professional embroiderer, and founder of Thistle Threads, specializing in the experimental archaeology of historic embroidered textiles. Her research on the pedagogical infrastructure of early modern needlework includes "On Female Education: Projects of Mastery in Seventeenth-
Century English Boarding Schools" (Winterthur Portfolio, 2025). She co-authored works
on materiality and making in Textile History (2025/2026). She led the Plimoth Jacket
Project, a reconstruction exhibited at Winterthur, manufactures reproduction threads,
and taught a 600-pg course on reticella. She holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and
Engineering from the University of Michigan and an S.B. from MIT.
SILKEN ALCHEMY: Transforming Goldwork with Color We know the gleam of gold thread embroidery from church vestments and royal garments—couched gold in patterns, padded textures, shimmering purls, checks, and
bullions. But what happens when we replace those traditional metallics with silk
versions?
In this creative 3-day workshop, we’ll explore just that—reimagining historic goldwork techniques using silk gimps, purls, and checks. These silk thread versions, rarely used in this way, bring vibrant color and a new kind of texture to traditional embroidery
methods, opening the door to exciting new effects and combinations.
Maggie T Designs
Maggie Thompson
Maggie Thompson is a self-taught jewelry designer who began designing with seed
beads as a hobby 40 years ago. Sixteen years ago she discovered the Japanese art of
braided jewelry and turned this passion into her business, Maggie T Designs. Her
website www.maggietdesigns.com features her many designs sold as both kits and
tutorials as well as her invention, The Traveller™, a portable kumihimo stand. Maggie’s
designs have been featured numerous times in Beadwork, Bead & Button and Bead &
Jewellery (UK magazine).
Lucky Sixes Bracelet
This beginner level project features basic kumihimo braiding with an 8-cord spiral. It is available in 3 colorways: petunia, aqua, and cactus.
Dosey Doe Necklace The Dosey Doe Necklace is an advanced-beginner class, also with an 8-cord spiral. It is also available in 3 colorways.
Crescent Moon The Crescent Moon bracelet is an intermediate class featuring an 8-cord spiral with 2 levels of embellishment on each side of the bracelet. It is available in 3 colorways.
NGM Guild Member
Lee Popp
Lee started stitching at age 9 and hasn't quit since then - 73 years of some type of needle in her hand. She fell in love with the much-maligned queen stitches when she
happened upon an EGA article that was instructions for an easier way to execute this
complex stitch. She would love to teach it to you with the hope that you may also learn
to like if not love the Queen of all stitches.
The Queen Of All Stitches
The year is 1666, and thou art granted an audience with the queen... yea, the sovereign
of all stitches. Mark me, this is no manner of monarch whom thou hast grown to loathe
for her harsh and prickly nature. Nay, this queen is of a far sweeter disposition, passing
gentle and kind in her ways. In truth, to know her is to hold her in most wondrous love.
Translation: We will learn an easier, faster, and better way to do Queen Stitches, using a
pattern published in 1666.
Summer House Stitche Workes
Beth Seal
Beth Ann Seal of Summer House Stitche Workes grew up in rural Nittany, PA. She first
learned to embroider as a child and learned counted cross stitch from a cousin while in
high school. Her early employment at Woolrich, Inc. included several positions from
sewer to industrial engineer technician. Working with new garment designs gave her a
well rounded education of sewing techniques and construction. After a tenure as a
Naval Officer’s wife and her three children were all in school, she returned to the
classroom as well, earning a BS in graphic design from Pennsylvania College of
Technology. (PSU!) Since then, she has worked for a professional photographer and
created thousands of invitations as the in-house designer for Bella Figura, a luxury
stationer. In 2006, she started Summer House Stitche Workes and now eats, sleeps
and breathes needlework! Beth enjoys spreading her love of the needle through
teaching and meeting stitchers across the country.
DANCE OF THE WILDFLOWERS - MATTRESS PINKEEP
Mattress-finish pin cushion, with both cross stitches and embroidery stitches (pre-stitch
& class)
SCARLET AVIARY: TRIO OF PROJECTSThis class features a trio of projects with a variety of finishing construction techniques. The projects are stitched on 32 ct. Wheat from Fiber on a Whim with a simple palette of red, white & blue over-dyed floss from Weeks Dye Works. The drum features an extra special stitched topper that adds a distinctive element to the piece. The pynkeep is embellished with hand-dyed rick rack from Lady Dot Creates. The little pocket is the perfect little companion piece to fill with a waxer, tape measure or anything that needs a home in your stitching basket. WOODLAND WALTZ QUARTET OF STRAWBERRIES
A quartet of strawberries: The larger strawberries are stitched on 32 count Latte linen
with hand-dyed floss, then embellished with wool felt leaves, vintage buttons and
seasonal charms. The smaller strawberries, made from quilting cotton and filled with
emery, are the perfect companions. A little accompanying sampler rounds out the
stitching projects for this class. Of course there are always a few surprise goodies as
well!
FALLING LEAVES SCISSOR FOB AND POUCH
During this class, you will finish a pre-stitched scissor pouch and create a
complimentary scissor fob from wool felt. The scissor pouch is stitched on rich autumnal
hued 32 ct. Falling Leaves linen. Enrich your embroidery stitch vocabulary and your
imagination as you create the wool felt scissor fob. Of course there will be a few other
goodies as well!
Toni Gerdes Needlearts
Toni GerdesToni Gerdes holds Teachers’ certification from the National Academy of Needlearts specializing in canvas embroidery. She currently serves on the Board of ANG as Vice President of Education. She served on the NAN board as the Director of Education for 9 years after serving 5 years as Assistant Director of Teachers’ Certification. She has also served on the Board of Directors for several ANG chapters as Program Chair & President. She is a past President of NETA. She has received numerous awards for her designs as well as, the prestigious NAN Lifetime Achievement Award. Toni has taught for NAN, EGA, and ANG, as well as guilds & shops. She has been published in Needlepointers, Needlepoint Now, Piecework Magazine, and in Needle Arts as the Artist Across America. She enjoys all types of stitching and especially sharing her knowledge with others. Autumn 3 ways
Virtual class
2027 Retreat
Class Schedule for 2027Here’s a look at the overall class schedule. There are beading classes W/Th/S mornings, and Lee’s Queen Stitch class S afternoon. Toni’s class is 4 days but only in the afternoon. Beth is teaching 4 one-day classes, and Tricia is teaching 1 3-day class.
Registration coming in spring 2027
Come away and stitchThe invitation will have everything you need to register — classes, fees, and the deadlines for each. Class projects and the full schedule are above. |
