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must see this sight! http://tinteepeelogcabin.blogspot.co...1_archive.html Now there is a devoted quilter!
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Hello, yes, I do like to quilt when we are using our fifth wheel. We are snow birds, and winter in Florida. I have plenty of room to use my sewing machine using the table. It's one that looks like a booth with the seats on both sides of table area. This is nice, as the seating on both sides hold your quilting really nice. I take all my cutting mats, rulers, etc. so don't lack for anything. We love our fifth wheel. It's 36 ft, has three slide outs, and even a fireplace, that makes it cozy on the cooler nights. It was a colder winter in Florida, this year. I am sure you would like quilting using your R.V. If I can help with more questions let me know. Have fun...
Marcine Snyder |
When my husband and I started RVing, I didn't quilt. But I always took my needlepoint and cross stitch. We now have a 36' 5th wheel, and 4 years ago I started quilting. I do not leave home without my sewing machine. I bought a smaller, lighter Bernina than what I use at home, and it works out great. I use the dining table, but have seen some suggestions here I might like to try.
What I have done on several trips is to go to quilt stores and find fun projects to do, and make them to give to friends when we visit them. Of course, I leave with lots of fabrics and any notion I can find that I don't have. My husband is great about going to quilt stores no matter where we go. In one quilt store in Tucson, AZ he saw the accuquilt go cutting machine demonstrated and was totally sold on it. They didn't have any in the store, but we ordered one on the trip and it arrived just as we were getting home. I love it for cutting strips and so much more. One thing I am very careful about is when we are on the road, I make sure the sewing machine is secure in a very safe place so it doesn't get jostled about when we hit those potholes and bumpy roads. I say, take your machine, and sew to your hearts content! If you don't, no harm done. After all, I don't wear all the clothes and shoes I drag along. |
Originally Posted by lfw045
Hubby and I are getting rid of our timeshare and are seriously considering a travel trailer or RV to start doing some traveling....only short trips for the next 3 years to get the hang of it before he retires.
I want to be able to quilt while we are "out there". Anyone here that does that? TIA Work on small projects, like wall hangings or table runners. Get yourself a small ironing board, travel iron and a small cutting mat. Keep your sewing machine in a place where it isn't too much of a hassle to get it out, and keep the cord plugged in all the time--disconnect the machine from the cord, rather than the cord from the wall--same with the foot pedal. The less you're on your knees the better. If you're staying at RV parks, many of them will let you use conference rooms, and some even have sewing groups and classes. And last but not least, take some advice from Dick, Jane, Sally and Spot: Look, look, look! |
When I go camping I taken along my machine and what iam working on but I camp in a tent....My machine goes in my screened in patio............works out great.
Donna |
Originally Posted by mar32428
Originally Posted by Eagle Hawk
All the time. I always take my sewing machine and a ton of fabric when we go in the RV. OK, so last year we went to Las Vegas and stayed in an RV park there, and I thought I would not take my sewing machine this one time. We were going for a friends wedding who was getting married at the Hilton. We stayed for 4 days and have been to casinos enough that they are not that interesting anymore and spent most of the time in the RV or walking the dogs. I just about went crazy without my sewing machine. Never again. I would rather have it with me and not use it than to leave it home and want it with me.
. We have been traveling in first a 36' and now a 40' RV for 5 years now off and on. Love it and you will, too. You can take anything with you and don't have to pack and unpack. But, do plan on taking a tow so you can run around to quilt stores wherever you stay. We live in CA and made a 6000 mile round trip to South Carolina so got the real hang of doing this so if you have questions, just PM me. Love to talk RV'g abd quilting. |
I bought a lightweight Brother SM at Wal-mart, (sews like a dream) bought a multi-layered plastic fishing tackle box for all my scissors, needles, threads, etc, put a square as large as you can find space of cutting mat, if you don't have a lot of room for ironing board and iron, get one of those flip-flop cutting mats/ironing surface boards, and a little sewing iron, and you're set! I always take some blocks I want to work on, or some hand-quilting or some quilted embroidery blocks I am working on!! I don't like to ever be caught without "fun stuff" to do....even if I don't get to it....It's there! Comforting. Aren't we all alike???
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I almost decided to take my sewing machine and quilting with me when we camped over Spring Break in April. When we returned home I realized there would have been absolutely NO TIME to even LOOK at my machine! We were busy hiking, riding bicycles,cooking over the campfire and generally enjoying our surroundings. We had two grandkids and two dogs with us though. If it was just me and the DH, I probably would have found some time to quilt, as long as I could plug my sewing machine up outdoors. We have a nice camper, but who wants to stay inside when you're camping?
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We tent camp a lot in the summer. I take may Grand mothers flower garden with me and do hand sewing. I love it.
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Originally Posted by lfw045
Hubby and I are getting rid of our timeshare and are seriously considering a travel trailer or RV to start doing some traveling....only short trips for the next 3 years to get the hang of it before he retires.
I want to be able to quilt while we are "out there". Anyone here that does that? TIA |
We camp also, and I have been thinking about taking mine, hubbie always says leave it home. I shared this post with him - he's thinking differntly now. I will be taking it with us.. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.
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I have taken my machine camping quite often...you never know when you will find that perfect fabric for a quilt or for recovering the cushions in your RV...
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DH and I are in the process of packing up for a trip next week: Melbourne to Broome, towards the northern tip of the West Australian coast, then back home through the inland - a sort or big loop, about ten thousand miles by the time we get home again. We will be gone for about two months.
I have been wondering the same thing: take the machine, or not. We have a camper trailer, with electricity supply and all but, as usual, space will be a premium. I am cutting lots of pieces for my GFG and preparing perhaps half a dozen DJ blocks, both to hand-piece. My thinking is that if I get all the way to Broome and have become a desperado because I don't have a sewing machine I could buy a little one there, rather than drag one all the way from here. Is this a good idea, and am I taking enough hand-piecing, or should I work a bit harder with the preparation now? |
We have a 32ft camper and I take my quilting with me when we go. My DH got me a janome 730 and i love it. I keep alot if supplies at the camper and just carry my small machine and fabrics with me.
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when we take the rv for a trip I always take my machine, but I also take some hand quilting projects. I have done some very nice hand piecing on these trips. quilted a full size quilt once on that tiny table.
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We have an RV motorhome and I have a permanent place for my small Janome Gem. I also have an Ezisew table it fits into, and which is very easy to store. It is also extremely stable and can be wheeled over to wherever. I use the dinette table for cutting, and have a small traveling iron and a small ironing surface which I put up on the kitchen counter. I try to keep most of my "this year's projects" in a large flat-ish (6 in. high) plastic container, which is easily storable as well. My cutting mat fits into this nicely, along with my travel iron and iron surface.
We usually go down to the desert for a few weeks in the winter. Not having a sewing machine for weeks on end would drive me wild. I think I'd have to actually go buy one. |
Originally Posted by aussiequilter
DH and I are in the process of packing up for a trip next week: Melbourne to Broome, towards the northern tip of the West Australian coast, then back home through the inland - a sort or big loop, about ten thousand miles by the time we get home again. We will be gone for about two months.
I have been wondering the same thing: take the machine, or not. We have a camper trailer, with electricity supply and all but, as usual, space will be a premium. I am cutting lots of pieces for my GFG and preparing perhaps half a dozen DJ blocks, both to hand-piece. Then buy a machine in Broome if you really are desperate. Once while living in Wangaratta, my DH and I took a trip quite like the one you are planning, I would imagine. We left from Wang to White Cliffs, on up to Innamincka then Birdsville then back down the track to Adelaide. We were gone for three - four weeks. As I remember it, the evenings were so magical and the birds were so beautiful, I didn't miss a thing. So, as an American I can testify that enjoying the wonderful country you call home while you are able to will in years ahead, become be more and more a delightful memory to you. It would be hand-piecing for me. My thinking is that if I get all the way to Broome and have become a desperado because I don't have a sewing machine I could buy a little one there, rather than drag one all the way from here. Is this a good idea, and am I taking enough hand-piecing, or should I work a bit harder with the preparation now? |
I have a 17 foot Casita trailer, I have a very small sewing machine and a very small surger,cheap ones for on the road, have a Bernina 830 for here at home I also carry hand applique with me as well as quilting books wherever I go , Been all over Arizona and all the way back to Oklahoma, our table is big enough for 2 plates and not much more, but it is big enough for a small sewing machine , No need to do without
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Always take my machine with me, I bought a lower price machine so nothing would happen to my high end machine. Some campgrounds don't have the best power. My friend who did a lot of traveling in her camper had a regular craft shop packed under her camper bed. Yarn, fabric, et
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Well now, here's a "take it with you story". My DH and I lived for 10 years on a 24 ft sailboat. Yep, I had a sewing machine along, a phaff 130 outfited with a hand crank. (dh called me his cranky sweety). When his terminal illness forced us to sell the boat and move ashore I kept the phaff and still have it. Now many years later my best friend/housemate/travel companion and I travel in a 34 ft motor home. Since the phaff weigh at least 1/2 a ton, I now have a light weight Baby Lock as my travel machine. I keep the stash, under the bed, sew on the dinette table, lay out projects on the bed and happily stitch away. We are planning on full timing as soon as the house sells.
Where there's a will, there's a way! Keep on stitching! |
I used one of those cardboard cutting tables many years ago when I lived in trailer with my former husband(he died from cancer) and my mother , we cut out our projects in the bed and sewed on TV tables in the living room and the kitchen bar, set up a serger and sewing machine , bought material from a dollar store in Bountiful Utah, those days are long gone , tricot for a buck, polyster from the Pykette factory for a dollar a bag in Salt Lake City, Mom learned to make nities and panties as well as shirts and pants for all my sisters :-P
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I drive a big rig with my husband and I take a sewing machine with me so when we are sitting I can quilt. A lot of the time I do hand sewing. We have a table in the sleeper, but dh is usually laying down so I have a little folding table I bring along. When we retire we want to get a camper and I would definitely bring my sewing machine with me. If your is roomy enough there should be no problem.... :thumbup:
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I am still cleaning the new semi-we went from a 72" bunk area to 86"!! I already have a spot picked out for my machine-just need to get a small fold up table since the one provided is less than 18" square. Remember, where there is a will, there is a way!
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A friend of mine and I went traveling to a sewing seminar and quilted along the way. Every night we set up a table took out our machines her on one side and me on the other side. We had a great time. Some of the other campers came to see what we were doing. The last day before the seminar started we sewed all day walking around the camp ground when we took a break. It was great fun. She was organized. She had her cutting mat under the mattress one cabinet over the main cabin to store her machine and supplies. Give it a try, she still
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A friend of mine and I went traveling to a sewing seminar and quilted along the way. Every night we set up a table took out our machines her on one side and me on the other side. We had a great time. Some of the other campers came to see what we were doing. The last day before the seminar started we sewed all day walking around the camp ground when we took a break. It was great fun. She was organized. She had her cutting mat under the mattress one cabinet over the main cabin to store her machine and supplies. Give it a try, she still
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I am so glad to see that so many of ya'll are camping and sewing too! I'm losing my anxiety over it all now and am getting excited instead. I'm loving these pictures and stories! Please continue!
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We would camp for a week at a time, bluegrass jam. I used a plastic picnic type table under the awning , sewed outside! Love it!
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We have wintered in FL for 14 years and I wouold never go without my machine. I put projects together with instructions and fabric in small clear totes. Then they fit either under bed or in closet. I bring basic thread. We have a large 5th wheel so I put the machine behind one LR chair. My rulers and mat go in closet against outside wall standing up. Happy traveling
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I never thought of taking my quilting when we go camping. We are just retired & bought a motor home. I'm now shopping for a small sewing machine and am so excited!!
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I've made queen size quilts in my camper! He likes to fish and I like to piece, if he can take his toys so can I!!!
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Originally Posted by Quilter a-go-go
Well now, here's a "take it with you story". My DH and I lived for 10 years on a 24 ft sailboat. Yep, I had a sewing machine along, a phaff 130 outfited with a hand crank. (dh called me his cranky sweety). When his terminal illness forced us to sell the boat and move ashore I kept the phaff and still have it. Now many years later my best friend/housemate/travel companion and I travel in a 34 ft motor home. Since the phaff weigh at least 1/2 a ton, I now have a light weight Baby Lock as my travel machine. I keep the stash, under the bed, sew on the dinette table, lay out projects on the bed and happily stitch away. We are planning on full timing as soon as the house sells.
Where there's a will, there's a way! Keep on stitching! |
Amen to that! I didn't mention that the boat will be behind the motor home. I like to read & nap also, but since I've retired my creative ideas have resurfaced after a very strenuous job. :D
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My better half got me an idea table for sewing at walmart.
It folds quite flat and has a knee cutout with different heights. I use to use the dining table and had to clear it of my machine every meal time. |
Originally Posted by Traveler from MA
My better half got me an idea table for sewing at walmart.
It folds quite flat and has a knee cutout with different heights. I use to use the dining table and had to clear it of my machine every meal time. |
My DB and I have been nomads, living and traveling in our 36' fifth wheel for 5 years. I have a Baby Lock Espire and a serger. Can't keep much of a stash, but it's easy enough to store cutting board, rulers and notions. I piece, etc, while he plays golf. The CG where we winter has a quilting group, the *itch n stitch girls! Lots of fun. Enjoy the ride!
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We camp with a 25 foot trailer. The table is wobbly so I went out side with my quilt. It was great quilting in the great out doors.
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I find you meet the nicest people when you are outside in your camp site doing things like this.
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Nobody said anything to me. They probably thought I was a crazy lady and stayed clear.
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We are planning on getting a "toy hauler" 5th wheel. My husband will fix it so my sewing area will be in the toy area. Not sure if we will have a "toy" like a side by side or not but can arrange so we have both going on. Just bought a small ironing board (on clearance at Joanns) from the college dorm stuff. One side has a white board and then the other side the ironing board. How cool is that, will work great in an RV.
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Hey nothing wrong with that....I do the same thing. One time when camping a lady taking a walk stopped by chatted with me and she did the same thing too...she looked at my sewing then I went to her camp site and checked out her quilting.............It's great sewing outside in the shade.
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