Quilting hen party with Friends Suggestions
 

My friend Mary is coming to our house for a few days so I can teach her to do raw edge applique quilts. I put it out on facebook, inviting my other friends over if they wanted to sew and four others want to join us. I've got three sewing machines and someone will bring another and we will have two ironing stations.

WE've got general sewing repairs, first time quilter doing a T shirt quilt (We are going shopping together before the weekend) , Cat raw edge applique, small raw edge applique of my own, and one other project going on. My husband is going to 'cater' lunches. I think it will be really fun. My own little workshop. We are in a 350 square foot room with a little overflow room with one of the ironing stations. Will be tight with four people but I think it will be fun.

Any suggestions to make things run smoothly? It's the first time I've done something like this.

I've done it quite a few times with friends when working on cards. It's fun! My friends like to learn new techniques or tips. Oh, and we share websites too.

Accept that you may not get too much done as you will be hostess. Munchies.....water......toliet paper

You will have four or six people altogether? (Plus husband to do lunch)
I ended up with you, Mary, and four others that wanted to join you.

Make sure everyone labels her tools/equipment so that they don't get mixed up.

Is someone going to act as the "go-to" person for questions and supplies?

Band-aids.

I also suggest that eating and drinking be kept away from the sewing/fabric/quilting area. In case something spills, it won't land on anyone's project.

Is each person going to do her own project - or are you all going to do more or less the same thing?

If I were hostessing this I would bring a little gift for everyone to use and then go home with; something small and fairly inexpensive like a pack of sewing machine needles, new pin cushion, small fashionable scissors or a small pack of those Wonder Clips. I love to see my friends' faces light up when they receive something unexpected. When there are just a few people it is easily doable financially. I wish I were coming, it sounds so fun!

Put up an ironing board. Have lunch at lunch time. Offer coffee or water. Enjoy having company. Keep it simple!!!

Sounds like a fun time! If you have four machines and two irons, I hope you don't trip the power in such a small space. Doing raw edge applique you will be using fusible right? Maybe designate one iron and board as the one to use with an applique sheet as well or parchment paper.... you could iron some freezer paper onto the board cover to protect it first.

I would try and limit the beverages to water in something that doesn't spill, either bottled water, or cups with lids. If you wanted to give your friends a memento, maybe get different color insulated bottles. Having the iron in another area is a good idea. You have to walk, but it will make things less congested. Also sort out the power situation beforehand. Will everything be on one circuit? Do you have enough extension cords and surge suppressors? If you have a label maker, I would label each end of each power cord and extension cord so you don't accidently unplug something you don't want too. </SPAN>

There will be a total of four ladies each day. Three of us will be there for all three days. Two will join us for one day each.
Great suggestions:

Checked with my EE husband three sewing machines and iron running at once shouldn't be a problem there. He said at worst we'll run an extension cord from another room. (Not an optimal solution). I may put an iron in a separate room.

I will designate one table for raw edge and tshirt iron ons and have freezer paper on that table.

I wasn't going to have them bring tools except office chairs and an extra iron. Frankly I don't think most of the ladies have any tools. We will label everything they bring though. Excellent idea.

Everyone is working on something different. The t-shirt quilt person is bringing her supplies. I was going to let the others raid my stash. If we need a field trip to the quilt store we can do that. Regular fabric store right around the block.

Liquids in a closed top bottle and no food in the room.

I'm the only experienced quilter/sewer there so I'm the go to person. I won't plan on getting much done. :(

Thank you quilting board. These were great suggestions. I'd love anything else you can think of.