Whatever I take it is precut! I just plain 'ol don't cut well with others. I'm too distractable. Also, I don't want others telling me how to do it. I bag my projects so that I can easily find what I want.

I like projects that can be done with the chain piecing method. It seems to go faster for me that way.

If there is a TV at the retreat site it is also nice to take some handwork that you can do while watching your favorite show or movie with friends.

ali

If I am taking my machine, I make myself a kit with everything all cut out. (I do take the extra fabric in case I have a whoopsie) Sometimes, I just prepare a lot of hand work if I don't want to lug everything on a plane. Have fun!

I take something that is simple and all pieces are cut out and ready to piece. Nothing complicated or anything I have to "figure out".

I usually lurk and don't post, but I did want to add something. I try to take already cut and ready to go stuff so that I feel confident in what I am doing, but sometimes I also take something that makes no sense to me at all and ask for help. The retreat I go to is at a small bed and breakfast in Hamilton NY and the owner specializes in quilt retreats. She can only take about 6 participants and so with such a small group it is easy to get help and feel good. I always come home refreshed, excited and feeling good about my quilting abilities. I just went there last weekend; now I am back to the real world of work and trying to fit in some quilting.

This reminded me of a retreat I went to - one of my friends brought a pattern that NONE of us could figure out!!! It looked deceptively simple, but the instructions were not clear and it was incredibly hard to figure out which way the pieces were supposed to go from the illustrations. There were 14-15 of us standing at that design board, reading the instructions, turning the pieces this way and that. 200 years of quilting experience in one room, and we could not figure that darn quilt out.

QB is great, you are giving me so much to think about. Counting down to next Friday. It sounds like most of you take pieces cut and ready to go sew/quilt. We will be on the Oregon Coast and plan to walk on the beach and take many pictures. And of course, CHOCOLATE, I don't drink wine but other do and that's fine for them.

Wow, that's definitely time to hunt up the designer and get clarification and let them know nobody could figure out the instructions!

Somebody almost always brings a pattern or quilt they're stuck on to retreat to get help figuring it out.

Thanks Peckish and Scissor Queen, taking a difficult pattern is a good idea, even if I don't take the fabric to make it.
QB is great:)

I try to bring UFO's, unfinished objects. That way, some of them get done! LOL :) My friend runs a retreat for us gals twice a year, and we agree before the retreat on a quilt pattern to all work on as well, or she will teach us a new pattern. On my first retreat with her I had packed SIX UFO's plus the fabric for the quilt she was going to teach us. I realized no way was I going to be able to do all that in 3 days!!! Over-reaching again! Or, maybe being optimistic. So, I brought 2 small projects and the one we were learning and that was just right. But, even if you bring more than you can work on, you can still have a show and tell with your projects. I hope you have fun!!!

Always UFOs. It's the only time I have for finishing these up. And, like others mentioned here, plenty of them so I don't run out of things to do. Better too much than not enough!