I use a laundry basket to carry my sewing stuff to retreats. I can stack many rulers in the back, and carry all sorts of notions that I might need, then layer my projects on top. This is easy to slip under my table, but easy to pull out to get whatever I need. I always try to cut my fabric before the retreat. I find it is difficult to concentrate in a room full of friends, so to avoid mistakes, I do all the major cutting before I leave.