roots & threads creative retreat:

the sacred art of ancestral scroll-making

15th - 16th August 2026, Sheffield

“I’m very excited to be sharing this sacred practice with you ~ a weekend of stitching intuitively, playfully and in community, allowing our ancestors to guide our hands and threads. We’ll be creating ancestral scrolls that hold the stories of our lineage - sacred artefacts of remembrance honoring lives lived with courage and authenticity, so that we could be here, now.

Join Dal for this two day immersive retreat. We’ll be exploring our roots and threads, working in an intuitive, joyful and supportive environment, Dal will guide you through her own process of creating your own truly unique and sacred ancestral scrolls, working with gorgeous fabrics, threads and embellishments.

By the end of the retreat you’ll leave with the skills and confidence to stitch your sacred connections into a scroll, a sense of what it feels like to make slowly with reverence, and hopefully some new connections of those who walk the ancestral path with you.

No previous experience required. For beginners to experienced stitchers. All sessions are offered in the spirit of sacred possibility.

The retreat is situated within the historic Sheffield Botanical Gardens, in the vibrant area of Hunters Bar/Sharrowvale and on the edge of the glorious Peak District.

learn how to slow-stitch your very own ancestral scroll ~ a keepsake to remember & pass on

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what we’ll be up to…

Day 2:

Our second day starts together with insights and reflections, reviewing our work and skills learnt from Day 1. And any ancestral epiphanies which may have occurred overnight.

We’ll explore a few more embroidery stitches, edging and joining techniques, as well as the addition of embellishments, sacred symbols and text, names, dates or dedications.

We’ll spend time completing our individual panels (each person may be at a different stage) with attention to final details and the ‘feels’ of each panel. Dal will demonstrate different ways to join our panels into a scroll and ways to hang or roll your ancestral scroll.

The weekend culminates in community sharing and closing, where we share our ancestral scrolls, the stories and meanings stitched into each piece. We’ll share our gratitude for our ancestors. Dal will share information, encouragement and resources for your ongoing practice. Most all, we’ll leave the weekend knowing we have stitched sacred knowledge in to our scrolls which now carry forward the wisdom of those who came before us.

Day 1:

Dal will be sharing her philosophy, inspirations and methods for making her ancestral scrolls, demonstrating techniques, stitches and construction of panels. Dal will bring a selection of her scrolls for you to experience up close.

Each participant will receive an ancestral scroll kit* (see below).

We’ll be exploring our ancestors and their importance to us. We’ll feel in to the stitched narratives we want to create, the significance of fabric choices, textures and layers, colours and threads, image transfer techniques, layouts and basic scroll structure.

We’ll start creating our panels, explore and experiment with slow stitching with intention, explore basic embroidery stitches, allowing our hands to be guided and letting go of perfection. Unruly stitches are welcome! And so is rule-breaking. We’ll work towards a finished(ish) panel or two, adding meaningful details and embellishments.

Dal will offer some reflective prompts to take home with you overnight as well as suggestions for the following day.

Both days include optional gentle guided meditations to connect with our ancestral lineage, a chance to share our ancestors names/lineages and to contribute to a collective ancestral altar. We’ll also do some guided stretches throughout the day. You are welcome to take as many rest breaks as you wish. As the workshop classroom is in Botanical Gardens, you are also welcome to take your stitching outside.

Details:

Two day creative retreat (non-residential):

15th & 16th August 2026 10am - 5pm

Classroom doors open at 9.30am for cuppas and settling in.

Venue:Dorothy Fox Centre,Thompson Road S11 8RB, off Ecclesall Road, Sheffield. Situated in the historic Sheffield Botanical Gardens.

PRIVATE Signal group for sharings (optional)

Booking:

Early Bird until 15th June: £195 (workshop only).

After 15th June: £225 (workshop only)

Booking options:

Bank transfer: email hello@dalkular.com to pay via bank transfer.

Or Via Paypal:

BOOK VIA PAYPAL

PLEASE NOTE once booked, your booking is non-refundable. You are free to transfer your space to someone else, or in the event of a waiting list I can transfer your space. When booking your space, you’re agreeing to these terms.

Please refer to the cancellation policy in ‘frequently asked questions’.

Any questions? Please email me.

Supplies we’ll be using (included):

  • Vintage, eco-dyed, tea-stained fabrics including cottons, linens and silks for scroll panels.

  • Anchor/DMC embroidery flosses in a range of colours, Perle cotton, metallic threads.

  • Embroidery needles, scissors, fabric glue

  • Fabric stencils, woodblock prints and inks

  • Embellishments: beads, charms, shisha mirrors, lace, ribbons

Important! I can print up to three images of your choice on to scroll panels prior to the retreat.

For you to then stitch with during the retreat. If you wish me to do this please email me up to 3 jpeg images.

*Ancestral scroll making kit:

  • 4 fabric scroll panels (plus another 2 from the big stash)

  • tea-stained vintage cotton fabric strip for backing (optional)

  • small set of embroidery needles and pins

  • scrap fabric for practice stitches

  • embellishment kit

(you’ll also have the option to purchase threads and embellishments to take back with you to continue your journey)

Participants to bring:

  • Any personal embroidery tools: scissors, needles, embroidery hoops (please note, I work freehand without hoops)

  • Personal embellishments you wish to incorporate in your scroll such as beads, charms, small heirlooms, shells, dried flowers/herbs.

  • Original photos which you’re happy to stitch directly onto your scroll

  • Favourite threads, ribbons, lace, fabrics, wools

  • A stick, twig, or dowel to hang the scroll from (if you wish to display it)

  • Notebook and pen for notes and reflections

  • A cushion for comfort and blanket or shawl

  • Your lunch and snacks

  • Anything else you feel you need to enhance your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • PLEASE NOTE once booked, your booking is non-refundable.

    You are free to transfer your space to someone else, or in the event of a waiting list I can connect you with the first person on it so you can arrange to transfer your space to them. For further details contact hello@dalkular.com.

    When booking your space, you’re agreeing to these terms.

    As a solo creative practitioner it takes me a huge amount of effort , planning and investment to secure and pay for venues and materials in advance. I’m very grateful for your understanding.

    This workshop requires a minimum number of participants to run. If you book travel/accommodation and we don’t have enough participants to run or if the workshop is cancelled for other reasons, you will receive either a full refund or transfer onto another workshop date.

    Please note: I am not responsible or liable for any personal travel expenses or hotel accommodation should the workshop have to be cancelled. Please ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance to cover any unexpected eventualities.

  • Every participant will create at their own pace, at their own level of detail and there is no expectation to complete a full scroll or even many panels. Some of you might! And some might not. And that’s okay.

    Please remember the workshop is about learning the process of making something meaningful and connection. You will learn everything I know about making my scrolls, so you can continue this work after the workshop.

    My scrolls take me many weeks or months of working on and off, that’s part of the experience.

    A ‘completed scroll’ in a weekend may be something like four panels long with joining pieces.

  • YES! This workshop is for everyone, from those who’ve never stitched before to seasoned stitchers.

    Whilst we will learn some very basic embroidery stitches, we’ll be embracing intuitive slow-stitching, going with the ‘feels’ of our piece. I’ll be gently guiding you through this process. And repeating techniques as much as needed and offering 1-1 guidance.

    Before the workshop, I’ll be sharing some resources on basic stitches that we’ll be exploring.

  • Please email Dal at hello@dalkular.com if you wish to discuss specific access needs.

    The Dorothy Fox Centre is level access for wheelchairs, with a wheelchair accessible toilet.

    Sheffield Botanical Gardens: https://www.sbg.org.uk/accessibility

    Parking: there is limited parking available on a first come, first served basis within the park grounds, accessible through the park gates off Thompson Road.

    Masking: If you have or are recovering from a cold virus or bug, we gratefully encourage wearing a mask to protect vulnerable participants.

    Managing your energy levels: whilst there will be regular coffee breaks and lunch breaks, this is a full weekend of making and learning. We encourage you to go at your own pace and take as many breaks as you need.

  • This is a non-residential workshop.

    Food, accommodation and travel are not included. Please bring your own lunch/snacks.

    There will be a selection of herbal teas, tea and coffee and biscuits available for attendees.

  • How to find Dorothy Fox Centre:

    The Dorothy Fox Centre is situated off the Thompson Road entrance (off Ecclesall Road), about 60 yards through the gate, on your right. There is a gentle upward incline towards the centre.

    https://www.sbg.org.uk/how-to-find-us

    Public Transport: There are many buses along Ecclesall Road: Plan your journey at www.travelsouthyorkshire.com

    You’ll need to get off at the Berkley Precinct /Botanical Gardens stop.

    Parking: There is very limited parking inside the gates to the gardens (via Thompson Road) on a first come-first served basis.

    The nearest on-street street parking is mostly limited to short-stay. However, you maybe able to find free on-street parking on streets off Ecclesall Road/Clarkehouse Road (a lot are permit only) or around Hunter’s Bar Roundabout.

    For the nearest long-term parking: 245 Ecclesall Road.

    Taxis: taxis from the city centre are usually around £6 - 10 (uber) or a black cab is around £7-9 depending on traffic.

  • There are plenty of local accommodations via Booking.com or Airbnb and also hotels in the city centre, about 1.5 miles away.

    There are also direct buses to/from the Peak District (Hathersage/Castleton) along Ecclesall Road. So you may wish to explore staying in the glorious nearby Peak District.

    Ecclesall Road and Sharrowvale Road are full of cafes, takeaways and restaurants from vegan food to Italian, Indian, Japanese etc. On Sharrowvale Road you’ll find artisan donuts, and delicious wood fired pizzas. Or if venturing into town there’s the brilliant Cambridge Street Collective.

    There is also a cafe in the gardens. Please note, I recommend you bring your lunch as these places get very busy during weekend lunch times.