What should I do?
 

This coming weekend I am going to a guilt retreat with friends.
It will be wonderful, but my problem is in need of your opinions please.

Shall I take two quilts that are started and need to be finished,

Or start on something different for myself?

Thanks for your thoughts. :wave:

I have never been to a retreat and it sounds like a tough dilemma. Why don't you compromise. Bring one of the quilts that needs to be finished and the fixings to start a new project for yourself. If you manage to finish the one quilt then reward yourself by starting the new project for yourself.

First, I had to chuckle at your typo ("going to a guilt retreat"). Ha! Hope there's no guilt.

Second, what do you WANT to do? Think about what you'd really enjoy doing that would help you feel the money was well spent. I've never been to a quilt retreat, but from what I've read, people like to take a variety of projects (maybe 3 at most?) based on mood. Handwork, piecing, getting tops assembled, etc.

And many say do all the cutting before the retreat--ie. make your own kits at home where you won't be distracted and can cut accurately and you'll have everything ready and together (include thread) when you get there.

Enjoy--guilt-free. :)

Depending on how long the retreat is I would take all 3 projects. You may get more done than you think. It also gives you the opportunity to switch projects if you get tired of the one you are working on. Have fun.

I've gotten so that I take several projects to a retreat--at least one that just needs finishing, maybe some handwork that allows me to sit and chat while taking a break from the machine, and then some that are just for me and I haven't really started. My only criteria is I don't do any big time cutting at retreats--I make too many mistakes!

Take a couple of non complicated projects that do not require much cutting to be done. Space can be an issue at retreats. Sometimes you can achieve more than expected and other times less than expected.

Go and enjoy and do spend time looking at what others are doing for future inspiration.

I would take several projects, small and large.

If you want to get your UFOs finished - take them. A retreat is a perfect place to finish them up. If you are tired of them and don't mind them being set aside go ahead and start a new project. Just depends on your priorities. Personally I would love the time to wrap up those projects I have going.

Just got back from a retreat. What Itake depends on how the retreat is set up. At this one, I did not have a lot of room around me but had a large place to lay out (temporary) or cut out. The cutting table was a little tall for me so I was glad I did not have to cut out a lot.

So I took some paper pieced projects that were semi prepared, and simple blocks I could lay out one at a time at my machine and sew. I could have laid out a bunch of blocks but would have had to take them up and number them so others can lay out or use the table.

Irons are usually at a premium. Dont plan on ironing all your fabric or the whole quilt or anything that requires a lot of time spent at the iron at one time. It is also good to get up from the machine and walk over to the iron for some exercise. NOTE: very few places have the electric needs to run irons at individual stations. Dont bother bringing an iron of any size unless asked.

At our shorter guild retreats, we have a lot of space around our machines and huge floor space but a small amount of cutting out space and few irons. I also want to spend less time setting up because time is short. So there, I take very simple projects set up in bags ready to sew.

I would take several projects in various stages of effort. I would not plan to cut out a project because there is seldom space to set up that activity for any length of time. You would be occupying too much table space for too long a period of time. Take some hand work because it occupies little space and you can move around to visit with other people while doing it. Machine work is always good, especially if you have carefully cut and labeled sections for your pattern. If you chain piece your project you minimize time at the ironing station which is always a bottleneck. Be sure to label all of your stuff with your name so you don't lose track of it. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the fellowship.