I am one of the girls in charge of games for our 3-day quilt retreat coming up in September 2008.

Does anyone know some cute quilt related games that we can play in between our quilting sessions?

Patty Peabody

Hi Dear Kitty:

Thank you for your post. Do you know any games that I could use at our retreat?

Put quilting items in a box that closes, put an opening in the side for the people to reach in and identify the item in the box. Winner is the person with the most right.
Guess the names of the traditional patterns.
If there is enough time, send out material and everyone make a block and then guess who made the block. Use numbers to identify the blocks. or send out pattern and guess which block people made by the fabric they used. Then blocks can be put together and top is doorprize
If you want activity who can add wonder under and cut out an applique the fastest, neatest, etc
Use small items for prizes,
Find antique items and/pictures and people have to guess what they are and what they were used for. Start with spinning wheel.
Make up crossword puzzle and find-a-word game to let people work on over the 3 days.
find fabric with a name and put the name with the fabric.

We had a scavenger hunt at ours it lasted the time we were there.
We also played the find a word puzzle.
there is quilt-o. it is like bingo.
Those gals pay alot of money to go on the retreat, and they take alot of stuff they want to get done in the 3 days, so go lightly on the games they won't mind.

Thank you all for your great suggestions. I have copied them all down and now I have something to present to the committee.
I really appreciate your input.

Bingo for quarters!! The fun secret is you will have a 'white elephant' one put in the group on purpose. You have everyone bring 2 fat quarters and put in a decorated sack, bag, or box. Tell then to make it very appealing in the wrapping. Then all are set on the table...then the bingo starts (can use quilt pics or themes on the bingo paper) then call out and have everyone understand there is NO clearing their boards..so the game goes quick. When someone wins bingo...they go pick out their package..do not open it. It sits w/them in front of them...then the next person(s) bingo..they have the choice to take the already won package or get a new one..again, no one opens. If the person loses her package, she/he picks another one. Make sure the white elephant is elegantly wrapped! Once all have a package in front of them...then they can open them...then the bingo continues...and now they can trade on their win of bingo for different quarters...once the quarters have been opened and traded twice..they can stay where put. If that person is the one that retrieved them. Of course everyone will want to get rid of the uglllly white elephant...it will be like a hot potato! What they don't know...is the one that ends up w/the ugly...will actually get a really nice fat quarter selection...maybe make it pretty of 4 quarters instead of the 2...:))It is really fun and funny!! You will see really quiet and nice people get wild!:))LOL
A good white elephant would be an old poly fabric w/tube paint painted on it...:))Real ugly...

another fun one is to buy the sticker stars (at walmart, etc) and give everyone a sheet or two...then tell them they are the quiltoskito (misquito) and they are to put their bites all over people all during the retreat, etc...for the day. Only they are to bite w/their stickers and try not to be noticed doing it. It's great fun and funny to see people walking around w/stickers all over them and they are really not aware of how many they have been zapped with...then surprise them at the end of the day w/a small gift for the one that seems to have the most 'sugar' or they wouldn't have been bit as much:))You can come up w/a different variation of this...but, it is really fun and keeps things alive and exciting!:0)

Okay...I'll stop after this:))Why not have a garage sale that is a type of barter....have some patterns, etc put out for a trade for equal trade. Put up a 'dumb proof directions' in the area..They can bring in old patterns of not interest...books, or mags (you decide) and they trade the one they don't want for the one they do....this can be an area set up that can go on all 3 days...needs no supervision...and what a fun way to trade out of things you bought 10yrs ago and don't want anymore...but, someone else just might!:))
I took to our local quilt group a basket full of goodies that I acquired as gifts, etc for several years...I went home w/an empty basket. Even though I didn't care to have a book on how to make slacks...another woman was thrilled to have it. It's the same thinking and who doesn't like a treasure??:0)Only this way it is a trade for a trade:))

one thing we do on our quilt retreat is to have "Secret Sisters". It is not mandatory, but each quilter who wants to participate brings in 4 or 5 small gifts that they will then give to their Secret Sister throughout the retreat, secretly of course!

Each person who participates puts their name in a hat and then everyone draws a name, and that person is your secret sister. The items don't have to be quilting related, but usually they are. One item given on the last retreat was a whoopie cushion and it was given to our 78 year old quilter! It was hysterical!

We also usually have a puzzle set out, a quilt show where everyone brings in an item they have completed the previous year and we hang them up down the hallway, and we also have show 'n tell at the end of the retreat to show off what was completed that weekend and to reveal the secret sisters.

Have fun!