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.

Hey don't forget the camera! This is a fun event and should be documented. When I used to host a ornament swap, I would take pictures with my digital, print them out and send each person home with a picture of the event. It was a great way for them to remember the time spent with friends.

Hey mjpEncinitas - are you in Encinitas CA? Can I come too? (just kidding, but it sounds like fun)

Sounds like a great fun time to me!

I am cutting a project out right now and I thought about when a friend borrowed my cutter and failed to close it. I reached for it and knicked my finger. It might be a good idea to give the ladies a lesson on the importance of closing the cutters and being safe with them.
I hope you have a good time and show us pictures of your day.

Sounds like so much fun!

be sure to have mand ms we have them at bee sewins lol

I use fray block on the edges before doing raw edge.

Our small (7) quilting group gets together every so often for a sew day. We have potluck so everyone brings a dish to share. The one hosting provides dishes/utensils and beverages. Everyone works on their own project, brings a sewing machine if needed. Hostess provides an ironing board. At my house I have a table that opens to 123" and we can all fit around it. It works good and is fun.

There are 7 of us that have been a sewing group for about 25 years.we get together every Tuesday. We take turns hostessing it. We always have snacks. Make sure you have plenty of extension cords. And I agree make sure everyone labels their tools, and i am a real stickler about open rotary cutters. They are dangerous. I try to get everyone in the habit of closing them when they lay them down. Most of all have fun... We call our group "Stitch N Bitch".

When I got my first embroidery machine in the early 1990's, I did not know anyone who did sewing, etc. So I put a note out on Craigslist and asked if anyone who has a Janome would like to come over to my house (small condo) and get together to learn from each other. I truly did not know many people in our city as I had just lived there a year or so at the time. Low and behold, about 5 or 6 people contacted me and came over one Saturday (without machines) just to meet and discuss our hobby. From that, we decided to get together once a month, and we did that at one of the ladies house who had a large den. This went on for years, until about two years ago when Mary died. Her home was sort of central to us, and we missed her so much. We never got together again - but it was a WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE for lo those many years. You will make wonderful friends - so just ENJOY the day and see what happens.

I think you have a wonderful activity planned and the girls, hopefully, will have a memorable day!

4 of us are doing this on friday with pot luck. We decided the dishes in advance so we would have a nice lunch. We are all quilters with at least some experience. I'm a novice having quilted a little over a year and we have 2 fiber artist in the group so "go to" isn't too much of a problem. I'm taking Grandma's Flower Garden with me. I am using the English paper piecing method and it travels well. Oh, I'm taking the baked mac and cheese and using my new covered casserole dish. The other things are pulled pork, a salad and dessert.

This sounds like so much fun! I would love to do this with some of my friends. I hope you all have a wonderful time!

Sounds perfect to me, especially since hubby is handling lunch. I meet with three other friends and sew together about every other month at each others houses. 4 is perfect, we all fit around the dining room table. We bring precut projects so it is just sewing. Since you are doing raw edge applique, you may want to set up an additional pattern table or give each of you half a table, like in a class. Most of the raw edge I have done gets quite messy (like scrapbooking) from the expansion of material bits and pieces. One table can be for cutting and assembling the applique and another for sewing.

I'd be sure to take plenty of pictures. Shutterfly and other sources have little books of your pictures that would make a great memento of your fun time together.

Have fun!!

sounds like so much fun. wish i was there.

So many great ideas. I wished I knew more people that quilted because it sounds like so much fun. None of my friends even know how to thread a needle let alone "sew". It just never interested them. Have fun & take lots of pics. Please post some pics for us. Also what a great DH to fix lunch for your group. Very nice of him to do for you.

A few of us where I used to work used to get together once a week after work and quilt...each of us working on different projects. Since we didn't go home first and were there through dinner time, we would bring snacks that we could munch on while sewing. Things such as pretzels, fresh vegies and dip, or fruit can be eaten without getting our hands greasy or stained (no potato chips, Doritos, or Cheetos for example), and make minimal mess even if accidentally spilled. And of course as already mentioned, drink bottles with lids.

Donna

It sounds like a really fun experience and you'll make some great memories. Aside from what's already been mentioned, I would consider trying to do all the shopping ahead of time so that you're not taking away from "productivity"--if that's the goal. But if having fun is the goal, then we all know that fabric shopping is top notch fun!

quilting with friends
 

We have 10 people here every Friday. A hint I can give you is to give each person a tv tray by their station. I hate to be crowed and this really helps with the overflow. I also bought, at the $ store, some of the non slip rubbery stuff they use for under rugs. I cut it into pieces to be used under each persons sewing machine to keep it from vibrating or slipping. You'll have SEW much fun-- but watch out Time flys!!!

I suggest having a small trash can by each sewing machine and a good light by each sewing machine. We sew once a week at a friend's house and her studio is set up with everything we need like that. It is wonderful to sew, share and learn from each other. I just get to attend during the summer since I am still teaching and I always look forward to that day each week.

More excellent suggestions. These are all newbies so we will definitely discuss rotary cutter safety.

I'm setting up the cutting/ironing table in another room along with an extra ironing board and iron.

I'm going shopping Thursday, after tennis, with Sara, the only one who will needs supplies and doesn't have them. Whatever we aren't able to get at JAF (near tennis) I'll give her a list for the quilt shop. Sara brings freezer paper. My out of town guest, Mary is going to raid my stash for her project and I think that will suffice.

Definitely drink bottles with lids.

I organized the surge protectors and will label the cords. Since I am supplying three of the machines I can do this ahead of time.

The two machines I use for quilting have great lights but my little singer isn't quite as good but that will only be used by a half dayer for general repairs. Very good ceiling lights. My husband is oiling the singer before hand. One of my friends is bringing her sewing machine and my husband or I will help her clean it and oil it.

I like the idea of a garbage bag and a tray by each person.

and of course our phones with cameras will be out so we can take pictures.

quiltingbuddy you're a much better hostess than I am. I'm not going to give gifts. Frankly I'll be happy if I get everything reasonably organized before they come, it is a little overwhelming. I know I can count on them to help me if I'm not quite ready. My tennis buddy has already given ME a gift, She surprised me with the skirt we wear to play league in the fall. After I thanked her, I told her she should probably have waited until I actually helped her with the t-shirt quilt. :)

Thanks everyone.

dunster I've already had requests for another sewing day in August. You're welcome to come and join us, It would be nice to have someone else who knew how to sew at the sewing with friends party. For the Tshirt quilt I feel a little like its the blind leading the blind :)

Private message me you're email if you're interested.


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Sounds like a great time!

Annette1952 have you ever tried to find a quilting guild in your area? It is a way to meet others that share your interest. Guilds are not for everyone, but you could at least find someone to sew with. It is great fun.

Don't stress it...Just have fun...