Quilt Retreat Items You Didn’t Know You Needed (But You Do)

Quilt Retreats. 

Those folks who know me well will tell you I love quilt retreats.  I will drop whatever it is I’m doing and go to one in a hot second.  I love being with wonderful quilters making wonderful quilty things.  I love the laughter, the fun, the fellowship, and the food.  I’m fortunate enough to live in North Carolina, a state which has lots of retreat locations.  I’ve attended enough retreats to know what to bring and what to leave at home.  I also quilt with a group of ladies who attend as many retreats as I do, and some of them even more.  And we’re not above corralling a few quilters together and sequestering ourselves in a hotel for a long weekend and have our own retreat. 

Many of these quilters belong to the same on-line quilt bee I do.  As we were chatting the other night about quilt retreats and notions, they began throwing out suggestions I had not thought about.  While most quilters anticipate the “normal” quilting supplies needed for a retreat– thread, scissors, rotary cutter, mat, sewing machine, etc., – these women were giving me ideas I had never even considered.  And since these ideas were super-stellar, I wanted to share them with you.

• A suitcase with wheels.  Don’t take it for granted you will be able to park near the retreat center or near the sleeping quarters.  The parking lot may be a bit away from either.  Suitcases with wheels – one for your clothing and one with your quilting notions – will go a long way in saving your back and knees from anguish.

•  Project boxes.  Yes, you can carry your quilting projects in bags, but boxes make it much easier to organize the needed supplies and fabric and then keep it all together so you can see it.  Clear, plastic boxes are my favorite.  I use an index card to make a label for the box.  On the label I have the name of the project, give it a priority number (1 is the most important, 2 is next, etc,), list the notions in the box (in case I have to “borrow” something for another project), and give it a classification such as easy, intermediate, or challenging.  I do this because depending on the time of day, the level of classification may take precedence over the priority.  If number 1 is a challenging quilt, but number 5 is an easy quilt, I may opt to take on number 5 after dinner.  By then it’s been a long day, I’ve probably already put in several hours on a challenging quilt, and my brain needs to rest.  I reach for the next priority project which is easy. 

• Don’t use your sewing machine bag/trolley for your sewing machine.  I realize this sounds contradictory. You’re probably wondering “Then why did I spend money on a sewing machine bag/trolley when I’m not using it to haul my machine around?”  Good question.  Most sewing machines come with handles and covers.  Use the sewing machine cover to protect your machine and carry it by the handle.  Use the machine bag/trolly for your standard supplies.  Most of these have wheels and are pretty roomy.  You can pack a lot in one of them.

“But I can’t carry my sewing machine!  It’s heavy!  What if it’s a long distance from my car to the sewing area?”  Glad you asked.  This is why you need number 4…

•  A collapsable wagon.  These little jewels are priceless for retreats of any kind.  You can load lots of stuff in these wagons and haul it to your room or the sewing area.  Use them to store your project boxes in them.  They are roomy enough to hold a lot of “stuff” you need, but small enough to tuck neatly against a wall, out of everyone’s way.  Once retreat is over, they also collapse into a small bundle which can easily be stored in a closet.  Lots of quilters now use these, so one word of caution:  Be sure to put your name somewhere on your wagon so no one confuses your wagon with theirs.

•  A dog ramp.  Yes, you read that right – a dog ramp.  While you may not take beloved Fido or Fifi to quilt retreat with you – or you may not even own a dog — you still might want to invest in a dog ramp. These ramps are made to angle next to a van/car/truck door to assist with the pup getting in and out of the vehicle so they don’t injure themselves.  These inclines also make it easier for you to get your sewing machine bag/trolly and suitcases with wheels in and out of your car/truck/van.  Instead of possibly hurting your back or knees by lifting those, you simply maneuver them to the ramp and roll them either down or up. 

• Extra fabric to try new things.  While you’re busy packing the fabric you need for your projects, you may want to throw in a few extra fat quarters to try out new ideas.  For me, this scenario invariably plays out year after year:  I go to retreat and work on my projects for several hours.  Then I simply must stand up and walk.  As I stroll around our sewing area, I always find a project someone else is making that I really want to try.  In the past I took a lot of notes, asked a lot of questions, and took a lot of pictures with my phone.  However, if I have a few spare fat quarters or half-yard cuts, I have the option of making that project right then and there (or at least starting it) before I get home and forget.  Since we have a few ladies in our group who are the Queens of Bag Making, I also throw in a few bag making supplies, too. 

• Bring more projects than you think you need.  There are a couple of solid reasons for this.  First, there is a chance you may finish everything brought to work on.   This scenario could leave you sitting for a while with nothing to do.  And nothing is more miserable than being at a quilt retreat with nothing to sew.  Second, you may honestly just get sick and tired of working on what your brought, especially if several of the projects are ones you started at home and are struggling to finish at retreat.  Something new and shiny may be just the thing you need to get you back in the mood to sew just a bit longer and give you the motive you need to return to the previous project. 

• Looooonnnnnnggggg extension cords.  One of somewhat troublesome logistics of a retreat is the sewing room.  Unlike your quilt studio at home, you have no idea about how good (or how bad) the lighting is, how big the tables are, or where the electrical outlets are (or how many).  A long extension cord is a great thing to pack.  I like the type of extension cord above.

Depending on the type of extension cord reel you buy, they can house from 30 to 150 feet plus of extension cord.  They also have outlets built into the hub.  That much extension cord should take care of any electrical outlet issues you may have.  Word of caution – plugging an electrical strip into an extension cord is a fire hazard, so don’t do that. Also be sure to pull all the cord out of the reel to prevent it from overheating and be sure to tape down the extension cord if it is across an area where there’s foot traffic.  We don’t need anyone to trip and hurt themselves at quilt retreat. 

•  Don’t forget your phone charger and your iPad.  Most of us are pretty phone savvy by this point.  We keep a charger in our car or bag all the time.  However, I think packing for a quilt retreat is more challenging than packing for vacation simply because there’s so much to remember.  Add a phone charger to your “Do Not Forget” check off list just to be sure you remember it. 

An iPad is handy to have for lots of reasons.  Instructional YouTube quilting videos.  A chance to catch a movie or a TV show if you need a break from sewing.  But most of all, it’s a lot easier to see an iPad screen than a phone screen if you need to do a bit of quilty shopping while at retreat. At retreat you’ll invariably see notions you’ve never used before and decide that you need them in your life.  You may run low on supplies and have to place an order.  And goodness knows you’ll be exposed to some gorgeous fabric you may find you need a yard or three of.  Having that iPad available makes seeing what you’re purchasing so much easier than squinting at that tiny screen on your phone. 

On a side note while we are on the topic of phone chargers and iPads (and don’t forget your iPad charger either if it needs a different cord than the one your iPhone uses).  I have noticed that many of the newer sewing lights contain USB ports so you can charge phones or pads at your sewing station. This may be a feature you want to look for when it’s time to replace your light.  And speaking of lights….

•  Think about bringing your own sewing light and sewing chair.  If you’ve never been to the retreat location before, you may want to bring a sewing light with you just in case the one on your sewing machine isn’t enough and the overhead lighting is inadequate.  This little extra from home can go a long way in preventing eye strain and headaches.  It’s also important to keep in mind the lighting in the room can go from adequate to inadequate as the sun sets.  For instance, the room where my guild’s retreat is held has wonderful daytime lighting.  The overhead lights are great, and one wall is floor-to-ceiling windows.  But once the sun sets, things can get a little dim.  The extra sewing light really comes in handy. 

I realize your own sewing chair may take up a bit of room in your car, but you may want to seriously consider making space for it if you have back issues and your chair is the kind tailored to support your back and neck.  You may be sitting for longer periods of time at retreat than you do in your studio.  Packing up the chair may be worth the trouble.  You may also want to bring your chair if you don’t like the chairs available at the retreat site.  I’m thinking primarily about chairs with armrests.  Many quilters don’t like the armrests and tend to get their quilting and themselves tangled around them.  If you think this might be an issue, a quick email or phone call to the retreat site to find out if their chairs have arms would be worth it. 

If carrying your chair is simply impossible or arm rests don’t bother you, I would add you may want to consider bringing a cushion or pillow for your tushie.  Again, remember you will more than likely be sitting for longer periods of time behind your machine at retreat than you do at home.  Make yourself as comfortable as possible. 

•  Read each pattern through thoroughly before packing.  Maybe even read it twice. Even the patterns you’ve used before.   Make sure you have everything you need packed for the pattern – the correct amount of fabric, notions, any specialty rulers, interfacings, or threads.  Check them off as they’re packed.  Nothing is more discouraging than arriving at a retreat, believing you have lots of time to make a brand-new project, and then find you left several critical items back home in your quilt room.  It’s really a bummer. 

I hope this list of eclectic retreat items helps you as you pack and plan for any retreats in your future.  Several of these – such as the dog ramp – I’ve never thought about before, but I can see how they would certainly come in handy.  My back would definitely appreciate it.  Please let me know if you take any “not-so-normal-quilting supplies” on retreat and what they are.  I’d love to add them to this list!

Until next week, from my studio to yours,

Love and Stitches,

Sherri and Felix