memepat

I'm hoping to retire in about 6 months. What would you buy now to have after you retire?
Thanks ahead for all the ideas.

Prism99

A longarm setup. I recently bought a used Voyager 17 and Hinterberg frame (a good starter system) and ***love*** it! I am now able to finish the pile of quilt tops my sister gave to me, plus a bunch of UFOs of my own. It has energized my interest in making new tops too (and using up some of my substantial stash!) because I know how much fun it will be to quilt them. I only wish I had invested in this years ago.

If you don't have room for a big frame, consider a Sweet Sixteen or other sit-down quilting setup.

jcrow

I would buy Kona snow and Kona black and yardage of grey. I would also buy some solids. That's what I would do first. Then I would find a fabric line I love and buy a FQ bundle and a couple of different yards of two of the fabrics I like the best. And then you'll be able to make a quilt with that. If you have more money, I'd buy a jelly roll and a couple of yards of a couple of my favorite fabrics from it. Then you have another quilt. I would continue like that. But I like to buy fabric lines. I never go wrong with fabric lines. I'm sure others have great suggestions.

auntpiggylpn

Definately agree with this! I would stock up on white, black and creams, and solids. I never have the right color solid in my stash. Seems like I use a lot of red! I am also a huge fan of white on white fabrics so I would stock up on them. I think blenders in multiple colors would also be helpful. And batting! Get it while it's on sale; the cost is just going to keep going up, that's for sure!

mighty

Anything that you have longed for and could really enjoy after retiring!

quiltingcandy

I got my first expensive machine and took the lessons - I wasn't so concerned about stock piling items like thread or fabric because as time goes by your tastes and what you want to make change and then you end up items you may never use. So if you intend to make a major purchase, do it now before you talk yourself out of it because of a "fixed income." A lot depends on the room you have available, because having a large amount of batting is nice to have. Or how about putting some cash aside so when you want to go on a retreat - because you are retired now and have time to go or go to a quilt show and spend all sorts of money on toys because now you have time to use them.

LoisM

Unless you enjoy the cutting process, I would invest in an AccuQuilt Go.

Buckeye Rose

I would buy quilt kits, batting (on sale now at Connecting Threads), a variety of solids, and then hire someone to organize my sewing room....LOL

BellaBoo

I would stock up on the basics you know you'll have to buy no matter what fabric you have. Scour the web for a great clearance sales to buy lots of rotary blades, seam rippers, quality pins, sewing machine needles, scissors. They will be much higher priced several years from now and you won't have to spend extra money getting them. If you quilt your quilt then stock up on the batting you like. I found if I have the basics stocked then I can get the extras as I go.

Jackie Spencer

A year before I retired I bought my Bernina, knew I would'nt be able to afford a good machine afterwards. I got the BSR also. Best money I ever spent. I then started building up my stash, and I bought kits. I also bought lots of thread from connecting threads. When the Happy Day came I sewed up a storm. That was 4 years ago. I sew everyday, sometimes for 10 or 12 hours. I love it!!!