Quilting on a camping trip?
 

Hello Everyone, I just wondered if Anyone has ever machine quilted on a camping trip. We have a pop up and I have the room, but how do you pack? What did you pack? And was it worth the effort? Or should I just save this for at when I have "time" at home? I just wanted to combine my two hobbies together. :o Thanks.

I never have but you could always take hand work the first time around to see if thats what you want to do. Depends on the campground you are in etc. Whatever you do good luck

I bought a small machine just for our trailer, use it all the time. Best to make just the squares. I tried putting a quilt together and it was way too much work. Best saved for home with more room.

I have carried a machine for 10 years now. I just upgraded to a Brother Inovis 1250 with a 5x7 embroidery arm. I piece quilt tops and then quilt them during the winter. I have my machine in a rolling sewing machine tote. The embroidery arm is in another tote which holds the arm and hoops. I bought a quilters tote years ago from Joann's, it holds rotory cutters, rulers, a folding mat (I acurually have two), a small travel iron (I use only in emergency since I have a standard iron tucked away), and all the extra notions needed to have a complete sewing room. I packed that tote full! I have a Rubbermaid tote with threads, both sewing and embroidery. If I am going to embroider, I make sure I pack only the threads and stabilizers needed (otherwise I pack so much I may need an extra trailer). I planned out the locations for storage for both convince and safety, as I do not want to remove everything to get to the machine nor do I want it bouncing or rolling around. I made an ironing mat as shown by Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt. I store that beside the bed. My husband is a semi-professional racer, so we travel several weekends a month. This machine has been a life saver in many ways. Not only do I have something to do when we have rain days, but I also use the machine to repair racing uniforms and parachutes. I was actually picked up by a racer, driven by golf cart to his pit area and repaired his parachute while it was attached to the car. The press was there covering a story about him and they were fascinated by what I was doing!
We do travel in a 43 foot motor home, but space is still at a premium.
Good luck with your projects and have fun! Traveling and sewing is such a great combination! You will find sewing friends everywhere!

Welcome to the forum! If you do a search here on the forum you can find a few other threads where we've all shared our tips too. I always take hand work & that keeps me busy in the early morning before DH gets up; but when I know we will be traveling to spots that have electricity I take my little Featherweight & have baggies of blocks precut usually. I have a little travel iron and a June Tailor Press & Cut; it works for me and we just have a Roadtrek. I usually stitch at the picnic table but if it rains I can set up our table & stitch happily away. Hope you enjoy many hours of stitching on the road!

On our last vacation (RV), I knew I'd be busy with my honey most of the time, but for some of my down time, I packed a cutting board, ruler, rotary cutter, and set of fabrics that needed to be cut. While he was out one day, I got a large part of the cutting done for the quilt I am working on now. I figure getting any little bit done helps me be more efficient. My only portable sewing machine is not very good, though I could use it for basic straight-ine piecing if needed.

Not while camping, but it would be like going on retreat, but probably with less stuff. I've gone on retreats, and gone to places that have a sewing machine available, and sometimes I work on stuff in the car while we're traveling. I keep a sewing machine in a rolling tote with the basics - cutting board, cutter, scissors, neutral thread. Then you just need the project on which to work - pieces cut to be sewn together, pieces to cut, .... I keep my projects individually in a large zip-loc project bag. Then just throw in the other essentials that you need, like the iron and an ironing pad. There are certainly packing lists for retreats that are posted here. They would include some of the stuff that you would need anyway for camping, and you should already have a packing list for camping.

I don't bring sewing on a trip less than a week, but i do bring things on 2 week trips. I have pieced two (very simple) quilt tops while camping. I bought a little Featherweight machine since it was so easy to carry. I have a bag originally designed for tools that I use for the machine, rotary cutter, thread, needles, etc. I put a cutting mat under the bed mattress for travel. I pre-cut what I need mostly though. The projects go into a plastic bag. Not hard to carry and store the tool bag and the fabric bag in the camper. I already keep a small iron and folding ironing board in the camper. I just set up on the little table inside when it is rainy or extra cold, particularly at night.

I also have a handcrank Singer 99 that I will be taking on trips without electricity since we live near a great desert area. So far no full quilts, but I have used it for a number of blocks. I find the biggest issue is just swapping between machines and getting consistent seam widths, so I try to finish a quilt on one machine.

Pam

We rent a big beach house twice a year at the Oregon Coast and last time I brought my sewing machine and a quilt I had just started. My kids were there to meet us. I didn't use the machine once. I spent all my time with my kids or cooking or exploring or at the casino and visiting - visiting - visiting. I'll never take my machine along on a vacation again.