Hi everyone,
I'm going on a 17 day road trip in two weeks. We are driving from So. California to the top of Idaho. We will be camping out of our trailer. I would like to have a hand project for the driving portion. I don't have time to make a top to hand quilt or plan out anything. I'm pretty busy until we leave for our vacation. I was thinking applique would be nice, maybe some hand towels, purse panel or dog bed (I have a cute poodle). Do you have any ideas? I'm not into wall hangings. I would like to just buy a kit and go with it. Where can I buy a kit that will keep me occupied while DB is driving? I am going to the Long Beach Quilt Show, I might get something there but I want to have a back up incase I don't find anything in Long Beach. I live in Redondo Beach CA, but I can buy online if shipping is fast. Shoot I'm running out of time. Thanks for your suggestions.

The first thing that comes to my mind is making yo-yo's!! What about a Cathedral Windows quilt done by hand?

I was going to suggest Yo-Yo's also. There are several gadgets you can buy to make them in different shapes. I make them alot when I am working a craft fair. I use them to embellish other things, but if it is along trip and you made a bunch of them, you could sew them into a yo-yo quilt or throw pillow when you returned home.

Grandmas Garden.

I have two take-along projects. One is English paper-piecing and the other is yo-yo's. They are both easy to set up and easy to do.

Connecting Threads has labeled it Applique month and if you go to their site they have applique kits for purchase.

Hope this helps out. Have a nice vaca!!!

I have a Baltimore Album BOM that I take everywhere with me. And I just started making fabric bowls using the Grandmother's Flower Garden technique. Instead of hexagons, I got some pentagons. They are really cute!

I would like to welcome you to Idaho. Hope you have a great vacation.

English Paper piecing is great as a take along :thumbup:

I concur with the English Paper Piecing. There was a really cute video tutorial about them in that McCall's DVD that got sent out all over the place (unsolicited), and she described how to pack up a small plastic organizer with the various bits you need to fit in your purse or tote.

This is why my friend hand-pieces quilts - so she can do them on the road and at the beach.

Since I hate Yo-yo's I would suggest Hexagons or English Paper Piecing. I am still making an I Spy quilt with hex's. Great take along project.

Do you embroider? I have a number of the 1930's quilt/embroidery pattern sets. They are great for working on while traveling or waiting in Dr's. office.

ON a trip is the only time I seem able to sit and do cross stitch.........I keep a tote bag ready to go, just grab and go (has everything in it..needles, scissors, etc)

what is english paper piecing?

If you have scraps to get rid of you could join the 9 patch block. You could cut up a bunch of squares prior to leaving and then work on them for your trip.

Embroidery of some kind would be a good thing too. I am currently doing hand embroidery on crazy quilt blocks...they are 17" square and very portable. Now you have to make a decision.

That is what I'm taking on vacation.

Maryse has some adorable appliques on her Etsy site.

I always save my bindings to sew on in the car. Keeps me warm too. The guys always blast the AC.

That's what I'd do. Or Yo Yos, though I've never made any! (Maybe I should try them....)

I saw some quilts at a quilt show that used 1 1/2" squares and pieced into a 9 patch. The woman had them all cut out and in ziplock bags. I'm planning on doing that with a lot of my scraps! The blocks won't be so big they're in your way in the trailer.

Thanks for all the great ideas. I might get some hexagons going for grandmothers garden, I still will need to plan and cut out the hexes. Or I can learn to embroider. I think I will hand quilt my border on my first quilt too.
Any advise on what web site to look at for a crash corse on embroidery?
Have you seen a modern looking grandmothers garden or hexagon quilt?
Oh.. do you ever get motion sickness while sewing in the car, like reading does sometimes?

I have a project to take on the road. I cant wait to get in the car and get going. I will hand embroider tea towels. I think they are super cute! Thanks for all your great ideas.

Have a safe trip!