The Art of Crochet in Tuscany

What Makes This Retreat So Special?
A blend of creativity, culture, and utter indulgence.
This is more than just a retreat.
It’s a celebration of art, rest, and connection.
Maybe you’ve just rediscovered your love for crochet, or maybe you never put your hook down…. Either way, this retreat is here to sparkle your creativity and bring fresh inspiration to your craft.
Every detail has been lovingly curated: from the luxury villa and organic meals to exclusive workshops and intimate excursions.
It’s all here to support your joy, your rest, and your craft.

Why This Is Exactly Where You Belong
Because you deserve time to do what you love, in a place that fills your soul!
Crochet is a form of quiet magic.
With every stitch, you create beauty, find calm, and reconnect to yourself.
Imagine doing this in Tuscany, surrounded by golden hills, with yarn in hand and nothing on your to-do list but to feel good!

This retreat is perfect if you’re craving:
- Creative rejuvenation
- Deep relaxation
- A meaningful community
- An unforgettable Italian adventure
No rush. No pressure. Just joy.

The Venue:
Our charming villa, with its rustic elegance, sits high on the panoramic Ciciana hill in one of the most picturesque corners of Terre di Matraia: an area known for its excellent wines andmsome of Tuscany’s most beautiful historic villas. Just 20 minutes from the heart of medieval Lucca, the villa offers a peaceful, timeless atmosphere with breathtaking views all around.

Once a hunting lodge, the house has been lovingly restored by its owners with great care and attention to detail. Traditional Tuscan materials like cypress beams, pietra serena, and terracotta tiles blend beautifully with refined, simple furnishings to create a space that feels both welcoming and inspiring, a place where memories are made.
Spread across three spacious floors, the villa offers plenty of room for everyone.
Thoughtfully designed common areas make it perfect for groups, while still giving guests the space and privacy to relax at their own pace. Each of the 11 beautifully decorated bedrooms is air-conditioned, has Wi-Fi, and boasts sweeping views of the surrounding Forci estate:
1,000 acres of olive groves, vineyards, and woodland.
The heart of the home is its Tuscan-style kitchen, where you’ll be introduced to the region’s culinary traditions and feel the warmth and hospitality of this magical place. Outside, the colorful garden unfolds in layers of beauty: elegant lounge areas, a panoramic swimming pool, and a wisteria-draped pergola with a long table perfect for alfresco meals. There’s also a barbecue and plenty of quiet corners for soaking in nature’s charm.
The garden invites you to unwind and reconnect: with the land, your creativity, and yourself.
It is an ideal setting for outdoor crochet or simply walking and breathing in the fresh country air.
The swimming pool, set about 50 meters from the villa, is a true gem. Surrounded by sun loungers, large tables, and umbrellas, it’s the perfect place to relax under the Tuscan sun.
The pool measures 6 x 14 meters, with a depth that gently slopes from 1.20 to 1.80 meters: ideal for a refreshing dip at any time of day.

Nourishment for the Soul
Handmade stitches meet handmade meals because artistry belongs in the kitchen, too.
Just as every crochet project begins with quality materials and intention, so too does every meal at our retreat. During your stay, you’ll be treated to the kind of food that makes you close your eyes and savour every bite: fresh, organic, seasonal, and deeply nourishing.
Prepared by our private chef Karolina with love and local ingredients, each dish is a celebration of Tuscan traditions.
You’ll enjoy long, leisurely meals under the pergola, warm conversations over wine, and that unmatched feeling of being deeply taken care of.
This is more than just eating: it’s coming home to your senses!

What to Expect at the Table
A bountiful breakfast buffet with fresh fruits, pastries, eggs, cheeses, breads, yoghurts, juices, tea, and rich Italian coffee to start each day slowly and beautifully.
Delicious 2- or 3-course lunches and dinners, featuring homemade pastas, locally grown vegetables, wild herbs, fresh cheeses, and meats or vegetarian dishes.

Organic wines from nearby vineyards, served with meals and selected for their balance and character.
Unlimited teas, herbal infusions, coffees, and fruit juices, always available so you can sip and stitch at your leisure
A traditional pizza-making evening, where we gather for handmade pizza baked in a wood- fired oven and eaten beneath the stars.
A farewell prosecco celebration, with canapés and sweet treats, to toast to a week well spent.
We believe food is part of the creative experience. Just like crochet, it invites you to slow down, connect with what’s in front of you, and savour the beauty of process and detail.

About the Activities
Your retreat is set in and around the historic town of Lucca in the Tuscan region of central Italy on the Serchio river. Nicknamed Citta d’Arte (City of Art), Lucca is surrounded by walls that date back to the 16th century and were designed by the famous architect Leonardo da Vinci.
In Lucca, Puccini’s birthplace, you can enjoy the music of Puccini’s operas, in concert, throughout the year.
Giacomo Puccini was an Italian composer, descended from a long line of composers and regarded as the greatest and most successful advocate of Italian opera after Verdi. You will enjoy some of his most renowned works such as La Boheme, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly whilst surrounded by the most amazing Romanesque church setting.
A trip to Tuscany is not complete without visiting Florence!
This amazing city doesn’t need much of an introduction: famed as the birthplace of the renaissance, Florence will immerse you in the arts, culture, history, and architecture. We will spend an entire day taking in the wonderful sights of Florence, whilst enjoying some much- loved outdoor crochet.
No doubt your love of crochet also extends to a love of yarn and all things soft and squishy?
For that reason, we have also included a visit to the most delightful historical yarn shop,
where you can shop Italian quality at its finest.

Here’s What Awaits You in Tuscany
A luxurious, all-inclusive experience designed around your passion.
- 6 nights in a stunning private villa overlooking Lucca and the Tuscan valley
- Daily crochet sessions with expert crochet tutors Marina and Emma
- Exclusive patterns & luxury yarns provided
- A thoughtfully curated gift bag full of beautiful surprises
- Private chef preparing 3 nourishing meals a day + snacks, drinks & wine
- Wine tasting excursion at a local biodynamic vineyard
- Tour of Lucca with outdoor crochet session
- An unforgettable Puccini concert in a Romanesque church

- Dinner at our favourite local restaurant in Lucca
- Full-day excursion to Florence, yarn shop visit & city crochet
- Traditional handmade pizza party under the stars
- Final evening crochet showcase & celebration with prosecco
- Optional cooking class with our Italian host
- Return transfers from Pisa or Florence airports or Lucca station

Should You Join Us?
If your heart is saying yes, then this was made for you!
You don’t need to be an expert crocheter.
You just need to be open: to beauty, to joy, to the creative spark within you that’s waiting to be reignited. This is your space to rest, explore, and reconnect to what lights you up.
Our past guests say they came for the crochet, but left with so much more: friendship, freedom, and a deep sense of being nourished in every way!
An Investment in Rest, Creativity and Connection
This is more than just a retreat… it’s a richly layered, soul-nourishing experience designed to stay with you long after your suitcase is unpacked!
The true value lies in what can’t be listed on a schedule.
Our retreat fosters a deep sense of community: one that past guests from the UK, USA,
Australia, and India still cherish long after they’ve returned home.
Friendships formed in 2023 and 2024 are still going strong, with WhatsApp chats buzzing, handmade gifts exchanged, and reunions already planned.
You’ll walk away not only creatively inspired, but deeply restored: with new friends, beautiful memories, and perhaps even a little more of yourself.
This is not just a holiday.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime creative escape, crafted with intention and care and it’s worth every single moment, every stitch, and yes, every penny.

About Your Hosts

Marina AKA Bloodimaryart
​​Hi, I’m Marina and I go by Bloodimaryart.
After 7 beautiful years living abroad in places like Spain, Australia, France, and Southeast Asia, I’ve come back home to Italy, carrying with me so much inspiration from those experiences.
Crochet has been part of my life since 2011, and it slowly became something much deeper than a hobby. In 2019, I started designing my own crochet patterns and sharing them with the English-speaking community, while also creating tutorials on YouTube and collaborating with yarn brands and magazines, which continue to inspire my creativity.
Over the past 5 years, I’ve been teaching crochet both online and in person, creating workshops, small events, and cozy crochet gatherings around Italy, including at craft fairs.
Teaching and connecting with other makers is truly one of the parts I love most about this journey.
At markets, you might also find me with my handmade wire jewelry (because I can never stick to just one craft .
Hosting crochet retreats has been a dream in my heart for a long time, and bringing it to life with Emma has been incredibly special. The past retreats were full of warmth, creativity, and
genuine connection: I can’t wait to share the next one with you!
WEBSITE: https://bloodimaryart.com/

Emma (aka Oh SO Pretty and Clever)
Hi! I’m Emma, and I’m the founder of Oh So Pretty And Clever crochet courses and retreats.
I live in Cheshire with my 3 daughters and 2 cats. If it’s not been said enough already, I’m an absolute crochet addict! I can’t go a day without picking up my hook.
I’ve always loved crafts, and knitted from a young age.
I later learned to crochet, which has been my main obsession for about 13 years now.
Since the launch of my crochet workshops and retreats, I have been honored to receive several awards and accolades, as well as great reviews.
This has given me the encouragement to develop Oh So Pretty And Clever further and embark on this amazing journey with Marina.
I really enjoy teaching crochet, and have a patience I never imagined I had (or so I’m told!).
My WIP pile is massive, and my yarn stash is ridiculous, but if you’re reading this, you can probably relate!

WEBSITE: https://ohsoprettyandclever.​com/

BOOKINGS: Payment and bookings are handled directly with Oh So Pretty And
Clever through her website.
Since she’s based in the UK, you might see prices listed in £.
Don’t worry, we accept payments in any currency, so feel free to book!
https://ohsoprettyandclever.com/crochet-in-tuscany-2027/