Need to have a Ideas to beat last year quilt retreat fun!
 

Last year we did the 1600 quilt race. It was a hit! We had to talk a few into doing it, and after they did it that all they talk about how much fun it was. How it got the whole group together. I need a idea for this year quilt retreat. For some sewing racing or just anything that you have done and had a great time doing it.

You could do domething like the iron quilter that would be cute where you guys have a specific thing you all have to use but you are allowed to pick your own project

How about a Falling Charms quilt? People could pre-cut their squares and package them up to swap with others at the quilt retreat. They could also precut their strips. Here is a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kkpb...eature=mh_lolz

It's always hard to top a previous success. It might even be fun to do a repeat, since everyone enjoyed it so much.

The last retreat I did, each participant was asked to bring fall-type fabrics cut in 2-1/2" squares to make 9-patch blocks. The 2-1/2" squares were all put on a table, and each participant picked out 27 to make 3 blocks. The blocks will all be sashed and joined into a quilt which will be included in our next quilt auction.

I agree ... it's something that could easily be done a 2nd time.
Though I'd probably stop there and not try it a 3rd.

The joy of it is that it's pretty much mindless sewing ... and you can just have fun.
Once you start getting into something else, then you need to pay more attention, and somehow the fun gets lost.

Do that 1600 quilt race but change up the design a bit.....add a contrasting square every once in a while, or cut the strips on a diagonal at the join, or add a short (18"?) white strip ever few rows, that sort of thing.
Or you could cut two finished top on a diagonal then sew them back together for a different look.
Maybe put these and other ideas on cards in a bag and have the participants draw one to do.

Sounds like a fun retreat!

Jan in VA

I like Jan's suggestion. In fact I was going to suggest the same. If sewed on diagonal, then save the cut off triangles and use for another challenge to use them in a block.

This is how I meant to cut it in half, Holice. Using two completed tops to do this, switch the triangles to make two new tops.

Is this what you meant?

Jan in VA