quilting in an RV
 

We will be moving into a 33' 5th wheel RV and I'm wondering if any of you are quilting in an RV. If you are, do you have any tips about how you do it and if you like it. We will be living full time in it and will be in AZ where the weather is great for us most of the years. Summers of course will be a different story. :( There are several quilting groups here and great fabric stores close by. Would love to hear about your experiences about quilting in "tiny homes"

Yes! There are a lot of us who sew in our RV's. I read about others frequently on the Featherweight and 301 Facebook page I belong to. These are so easy to transport and I love to sew on them. I just got a 301 table so I plan to sew on that. I can store it next to my side of the bed in our 28 foot 5th wheeler. I have a whole drawer under the seats of our kitchen table to store my supplies. The fact that you are living for long periods is different than my case, I usually just have one project at a time with me. Since you have so many places to shop says you have to sew!

You will have a great time. Remember, space is a premium so don't buy too much fabric at those wonderful shops. You know how we are...we call it stache.

I did it when we were living in our motor home during a move where it took us several months to find/buy a house. I only had what I needed for one project at a time, used my featherweight & did hand quilting. The hardest part was giving away the excess fabric rather than store it but I found a guild that could use it for community service projects. Worked out great!

I lived in a 22ft caravan after our house sold and before we found our new home. Space was tight, but I managed to sew lap quilts. We had an awning on the side of the van where I put a table with my fold up ironing board on top. Only real problem was my DH hunger pangs and having to put everything away once the meal was ready!

I have very high regard to you and your DH for choosing this way to live. DH thought he wanted to be a RVer so we rented a big one for the summer. He couldn't wait to get it unrented. I learned I needed my sewing room. I'm sure you'll figure out a way quilt.

I don't think I could even pull fabric for a quilt project in a tiny house. I find the show on HGTV interesting but never could live in something that small.

We have a 40ft that we live in for 4 months in the summer. I try to cut everything out I am going to make and put each project in a zip lock. I make all kinds of items, like aprons, purses, bibs. baby quilts,placemats, and more. I put my bernina on the kitchen table and we do most of our dining outside. I have a small three drawer light weight thing to put all my patterns, thread cutters, pins and other notions. Keep the cutout fabric items in a plastic tote and keep that in the truck on on the patio. I have a small table top ironing board. It is crowed even with a 40 ft but I manage. Have a great time. We live in AZ and go to the White Mountains in the summer.

I recently talked with a woman who spent winters in an RV park in Arizona which had a good size group of quilters. They would get together in the clubhouse which has large tables and space for them to work together. They eventually went together with the owners and bought a longarm machine to use. Sounds ideal, don't know how often that happens.

I am interested in the same thing. Hoping to live if not full time in our 5th wheel at least many months a year in it. When we have camped for just a week or two at a time in it, I have taken my featherweight and items for just one quilt with us. It's great if you are camping someplace with a hall or even a group of picnic tables under a wood awning so you can gather with a bunch of other quilters. Yesterday I just read on one website where a woman tows a utility trailer behind their motor home specifically set up for her quilting. That way she had plenty of room and a permanent setup. However you need a motor home so you can tow that utility trailer. Since we have a 5th wheel we can't tow a utility trailer for me...darn. Please post how you end up dealing with it or ideas you find. Thanks.

I have a small caravan I eat in the awning and sew on the dining table in the caravan. I have made full size single quilts as the table is 5' long and about 2' wide. I do travel alone with 2 dogs. I take two or three projects and the notions I will need. I have a great time. I do practice my fmq in the caravan on small scrap pieces.

Many parks have a community room that can be used by residents on a scheduled basis. This was the case at a Colorado park we stayed at last summer (quilters/sewers have the building for one or two days a week) and a local park in Florida where some quilting friends live/lived. Others set up on a table under their canopy, as other posters have noted.

DH and I lived in a 40' 5th wheel for 3 years. I loved it and would be very happy if we were still in it. Moved into a house so grandkids would have room to visit. They never stay. Long story short. Living in the 5th wheel was when I really "got into" quilting. I made several queen size quilts, a king size, a boat load of baby quilts, and a whole bunch of table/dresser toppers. The hardest thing was sandwiching the king size quilt. I ended up taking it to the club house and using several tables. I sandwiched the queen size quilts on our bed. I did all the quilting with a domestic machine on our little table (Puget Sound is not conducive to leaving machines outside). I learned my true calling as a quilter. The hardest thing in Arizona is crossing the miles between quilt shops. If you will be in the Phoenix area there are plenty, but it takes a hour+ to cross the Phx metro area, and that's just one way, another hour to get back. Quilting in an RV is totally possible.

Yup, I quilt in my RV! 34' 5th Wheel. I have a piece of 3/4" plywood about 24" X 18" I covered for an ironing surface I use on the kitchen counter or put on a folding table. Tucks away when not in use easily. I travel with my Janome 6600P that is great for piecing and quilting and sew on our kitchen table and have a padded travel case for. My big cutting mat sits under it when I sew in case I'm cutting big pieces here and there and I also have a small mat for trimming that works on a small fold up table. Store the big one behind the couch when not using. While we're parked I keep my machine in the padded case under the table to the back out of the way when not in use, and under the bed when we travel. My fabric and tools are in totes that fit under the bed and are easy to tuck in here and there. Several RV parks we've been in have really nice craft rooms set up for quilters and crafters to use which is nice for those big projects and the social aspects of quilting :). I've cut and trimmed fabric on the patio outside too. Anyway, you get the gist. Very doable to quilt in an RV! Enjoy!

Our 5th wheel is now parked at hubby's family farm. 3 out of 4 seasons, we spend long weekends there. While, he is busy doing farm things, I have time to quilt. Because we eat most meals at the house, my sewing has taken over the eating area. In the beginning, I had my machine on the dining table. After a while, the dining chair started bothering my back and I started making changes. I've replaced all the rv furniture. Now we have 2 recliners in the living area. I wanted a machine that I could leave in the rv. I found a vintage Brother at an estate sale, no electronics to worry about and heavy duty enough to mend my MILs horse blankets. I removed the dining table and chairs and found an old machine cabinet and an office chair at yard sales. I also added a smaller table that I use for pressing and cutting. I use the upper storage for my rulers, books, fabric and tools in the living-dining slide. Quilting is very doable in an RV, you just have to figure what works for you.

we lived in our 32ft.class A for about 2 yr. I sewed in my dinette. Only did baby and lap sized and only bought what I needed for each project. Can be done, but you have to plan carefully. Hardest thing was sandwiching the layers in the confining quarters. We lived in a park, which had a community room, so could put the tables together for this. Byw, I loved living in the motorhome, but it just was't enough room for a permanent residence, great for short term.

This is my first year spending 3 months in Florida in a 35 foot RV. I use a beach towel and old ironing board cover that I fit over the double sink for a pressing area and then set up my cutting area next to it over the stove. I wish I had
stored my quilting in several smaller boxes that would fit in the bottom of my closet and stack. My large box is too heavy and is too heavy and slants in the closet. I do like having my cutters, small scissors, seam ripper, and small
stuff in a small kids plastic pencil box that I can grab quickly. Be sure you have all the pieces to your projects, I found
in my haste to leave after Christmas I missed some!

Houseboat
 

I Have a 40 ft, House boat in KY. My home state. I go up every yr, from Fl (winter HOME), and stay from May till Sept. I leave a machine on the boat and i take up one top and one new cut quilt, to sew. I am a widow , and live alone, but have lots of friends at the Marina, and several , liveaboards. I like to hand quilt at night , watching tv. and piece by machine on Rainy Days. sunny days I go fishing.hehe. I take up with me 1 tote with supplies and usually come home with two finished quilts, Unless I give on away..
I dont usually quilt in FL as its too hot . so it works out great. My fav saying is "as you sew so shall you RIP. CMARAS1234 PS. THE LAKE IS HERRINGTON. 35 MILES LONG

I hope the transfer to a 5th wheel is a good choice for you! We are down-sizing now to move into a retirement center--2 rooms. I don't know how in the world I will survive, but my health is "dicey" now and it has to be done. No children near to move equipment to, so reality is setting in.

For over 10 years I have quilted in a camper. I always took my Bernina with me but this time it's an older Singer I've used for years. I have had various campers and use a small fold up table for my machine, the ironing board goes over the sink. I keep my stash under the mattress with the extras in a large sewing basket. I only do this for 3-4 months at one time however. You will have to be frugal with your things, only so much room for fabric. Good luck.

To Cmara1234..........

Sounds like heaven on earth!!!! you are living the real life!!!!

Did the RV thing for 20 years and it never stopped me from quilting. The cutting mat lived under the mattress, used an ironing mat instead of an ironing board and the machine lived in the storage under the bed. If you are a member of the SKP,s you might check out their Southern California Jojoba Hills Resort. Love it! Large sewing room with wonderful helpful quilters. Good luck and happy travels.

I have quilted many times in a RV, the only downside for me was like sewing before I had a sewing room. I was constantly having to put my sewing up because it was all over the place. We live 5 months in a Park Model in TX. I have a little more room. I also cut out projects to bring with me and it is much easier that way. But go for it, where there is a will there is a way.

Our van-RV is our "home away from home". We both love it but I lack just enough room for my portable Featherweight box. I have a small plastic shoe-box-size container for hand sewing my quilt-piecing. It contains all the 'little' tools and some fabrics I'd need, incl. a small cutting mat and small rotary cutter.

So far, that has kept me happy. Iron? NO! We're on vacation and I can do that when I get home. But living in a 33' RV 5th Wheel, even with bump-outs ... I can't imagine NOT finding a place for storing equipment (even a pressing board instead of a large ironing board?) When you move again, you'll have to 'stow' the stuff, so it doesn't fly around in case of sudden stops!

Good luck and enjoy your AZ stay.

I feel so encouraged after reading all your responses. When I first wrote, I thought we would be here year round but we've decided to decrease the time to 6 mos. a year. We're at Lake Havasu City, AZ on the island and have a community center and I know they have arts and crafts groups. I feel sure I can arrange to sandwich my quilts there. We're currently in a park model, but have bought the 5th wheel for future vacation stays. I like the idea of cutting the quilt pieces before we come. I think the weather here will allow outside dining every day which will leave the kitchen table free to sew on. Thanks for all you tips on how you have managed the tiny space. I'm getting excited about our new life.

I guess where there is a 'will' there is a 'way'. spent 3 months in our motor home, and I never could get the hang of feeling comfortable with my quilting stuff. But, pop had us on the move usually after 2 days in any place. which drove me crazy..... I sooo prefer my big ole farm house.

40 FT HOUSEBOAT IS MY oLD Kkentucky home
 

Yes.I am happier there than anywhere else on Gods green Earth. EVen FL, altho i do live on a river in FL, and have always had a boat. Its a 24 ft. Pontoon,and most of the time I have friends and Family aboard. Who want to see the FL flora and fawna. gators birds, orchids , wild flowers etc., I tell them to bring a camera for the wildlife tour Its the magnificant ST JOHNS RIVER. . I just dont want to deal with the Snow and Ice The Boat has a gas furnace, I would still have that four letter word to handle(snow) HEHE
CMARAS1234

Found this website with pictures, hope this might help you as you think through what will work for you in your space, happy Rving & quilting! https://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguid...ts_hobbies.php