Cocoknits at Goodnestone Park, UK

Sunday 11 - Monday 19 October 2026

We return to one of our favourite venues in the UK in September 2026 for a retreat with knitwear designers Cocoknits. Join us in Kent and indulge your passion for knitting during our 8-night/9 day retreat at beautiful Goodnestone Park from 11-19 October 2026.

Nestle into Goodnestone’s comfortable sofas and armchairs and knit amid the splendour of antique furniture, old Persian rugs and rooms adorned with hand-painted wallpaper.  With Cocoknits founder Julie Weisenberger and expert knitter Tracy Russell as your instructors you’ll feel supported and guided, no matter what level of knitter you are, as you learn the Cocoknits top down, seamless knitting method guaranteed to give your garment a perfect fit.   

Working from a Cocoknits pattern you’ll knit with yarn sourced from Romney Marsh Wools, a local farm that has bred the Kentish Romney ‘longwool’ sheep for more than six generations. They also raise Merino sheep and you can order your DK and/or 4-ply yarn in advance from a gorgeous selection of soft hues exclusively hand dyed for us by natural dyer Alice Schmid.  This is true terroir knitting!

On one day you’ll learn to eco-dye some of your Romney Marsh yarns with natural dyer Tara Macdonald using dried and fresh materials. On another day we visit the pretty medieval harbour town of Rye, home to legendary drapers’ Merchant and Mills, as well as other interesting independent shops. Another excursion is to the world-renowned Sissinghurst Castle Gardens created by writer, poet and Bloomsbury group member Vita Sackville-West and husband Harold Nicolson. On our final day we visit 600-year old Knole, where you’ll see magnificent 17th century tapestries and old masters and elaborate moulded plasterwork ceilings.

Your accommodation for the week is at Goodnestone Park, the former home of Jane Austen’s brother Edward. This beautiful house dating from 1704 is surrounded by Goodnestone Park’s exceptionally beautiful 15-acre gardens which are known for their ancient woodland, parterre gardens and classical English planting. Described as one of the top three gardens in Kent, we will have access to the gardens during our stay including the recently restored Serpentine Walk, a favourite of Jane Austen. 

There is no formal classroom instruction during a Cocoknits knitting retreat.  We knit as a group - or in smaller groups -  with Julie and Tracy helping each person with their chosen sweater pattern and customizations as needed. It is often helpful to listen in on instructions to others, even if you aren't at the same point in your knitting.  If several people are ready for the same instruction, we can hold a mini-class which everyone is welcome to listen to.  We find it works best to tailor the instructions to each person as they need it - allowing people to knit as much or little as they want throughout the week.  

Please note that the retreat is open to knitters of all levels. However, you must be able to perform the following knitting skills competently: casting on and off, knitting and purling. This is an immersive “terroir” knitting retreat and you will be required to buy the yarn for your knitting projects from Romney Marsh Wools.

“This was one of my very best trips ever and I’m hopeful that I can do another! Thank you Lizzie, Tracy and Julie for such a wonderful experience/holiday/trip!”

Molly H,United States

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