Becca’s 5 Things to Bring to a Quilting Retreat
18th Jul 2022
Once a year, I get to spend a few days with some really good friends at a beautiful home in NW Alabama enjoying each other's company and focusing on some projects. It's that time of year...so I'm prepping to leave, and I thought - it'd be a good topic to share with you. It's a bit of a drive from home, so it's important for me to remember to pack the essentials...cause, I can't just "run home really quick". ;). Below are the top 5 things that I try to remember when leaving for retreat.
Your Sewing Machine!
Duh, right? Who'd forget their machine? Probably not many of us. But, have you forgotten the things that go WITH the machine? Like, the power cord? Guilty. I like to keep a checklist of the things that I need for the machine: pedal, power cord, extra needles & thread, bobbins, and the extended table. I pack all of those in my Tutto bag (expensive but SO worth it), and check them off the list as I go!
Your Essential Notions
I absolutely love my Martelli Press & Cut mat because it's a felted wool mat on one side and a Martelli cutting mat on the other. Two birds, one stone. I have the 12" x 18" version, but have been dreaming of an 18" x 24" version that would allow me to work on just about anything! Of course, that mat isn't any good without a good rotary cutter, extra blades, an iron, some Best Press (or water - you do you!), and a ruler (or 2? or 3?). Honestly, when I go to retreat, I just take one ruler - my Creative Grids 6.5" x 12.5" - I find it's a very portable size and I can do just about *everything* with it! I'll also toss into the essential bag some snips, clips, and pins. And that's pretty much all I need!
Something Cushy for your Tooshy!
Let's face it, you're going to retreat to sew...and that's going to require lots of time on your duff. Not all retreat centers have those expensive chairs that feel oh-so-good...so, grab a good cushion! Gypsy Quilter makes an inflatable cushion for your chair, and Janome makes a memory foam cushion. Both of these are good options to help keep the pain in your butt a figure of speech, not reality!
Your Project(s)!
This one is tough for me. When I leave, I want to take all of the projects I have actively going and I always bite off more than I can chew. I somehow think because I'm in a different environment, I'm going to actually sew more...and magically finish ALL of my UFOs. My best advise is to exercise a bit of self control here and set a couple of goals for yourself, and stick to those. This year, I'm meeting friends for retreat in July, and my goal is to finish sewing the clues for my past PMQ. I brought a couple of small 'quick sew' projects in case I need something different...but my goal is to sew together my PMQ!
Your Party Personality!
Let's face it: the best part of leaving your home and getting together with your friends is the company! Sure, you'll have plenty of time to make some progress on your projects...but there will be lots of opportunities for laughs and giggles along the way! Work on the goals you had set for yourself, but don't be so hard that you're missing out on the fun!
Becca Shifflett
'SewBecca'
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/sewbecca