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.

Yes, label all your tools. One rotary cutter or ruler looks like another. Keep track of them.

To be honest, I don't do my best sewing at retreats, but they sure are fun! I would take what you feel like working on. It's probably best to have things cut out in advance and I wouldn't recommend a complicated pattern that you have to really concentrate on. There is much laughter and talking and you want to enjoy all that as well as sewing.

Thanks all for replying to my question about the QUILT RETREAT (not guilt, although some quilt police are horrible, and always seem to be less experienced!). Anyway I have decided to take both UFO's and find a fun project for me there. This is only 3 full days, run by a wonderfully talented lady, right next to a fabric store with everything, plenty of space for cutting, pressing, etc. and best of all good friends.
Now, tell us about quilt retreats you have attended please.

I attend a couple of retreats each year. Although space is limited many ladies bring a small folding table and compact iron which they set up next to their sewing space so they aren't hopping up to go to one of the ironing stations. I always bring several projects with me including something I know I can finish quickly; I call it instant gratification, usually it's a table runner size. If there's a technique you aren't sure of a retreat is a good time to work on it, usually someone else attending has experience and can help you. And as someone else mentioned, make up kits before you go. In my experience there's nothing worse than someone using the limited cutting mats for hours at a time. Have fun!

My neighbor goes on retreat every couple years when it nears her birthday. She usually has her projects ready for sewing, already cut. She only needs to assemble but she also takes embroidery for her quilts and some hand quilting projects.

I go to a quilt treat every November. I usually bring several projects to keep me busy. If I take a new project, I will do all my cutting at home. Keep your projects simple and varied. I bring paper piecing, redwork, even a quilt to bind, quilts that have the blocks made and need to be put together and quilts cut for a simpler pattern. Our retreats are usually lots of chatter, laughter and eating so anything too complicated stays home ;)

I have not yet had the pleasure of attending a quilt retreat...I would only take one of the UFO's if it was still in the piecing stage, but if it only needs a binding or border, I would leave it for home. I agree with Brandonsnana and I would imagine it would be cumbersome hauling a large quilt around and maneuvering on a sewing space you might be limited to.

Lucky you! I usu take projects that are already cut & ready to sew. That way, if there are limited cutting or ironing tables, you won't miss any time sewing. Of course, if you do get to wait for an ironing or cutting table, you can always make a new quilting friend & learn lots of stuff. Take whatever makes you happy doing. And be prepared w/extra machine needles, thread, bobbins, cuter blades, etc. Stuff even happens at retreats but I would be there would be others quilters who would be willing to share. Take chocolate too. Just have fun & let us see what you've done. Kathy

All the replies in this post are great! I attend two retreats every year. I prepare a few "kits" and rotate working on them. When I find myself getting a bit sleepy or tired working on a project, I switch to another one,kinda like going back and forth.

If your finishing a project already started includes free motion quilting I would pass on that, My experience with retreats is you will not have the space needed. I would look for some small projects for yourself or gifts, Table topper, small wall hanging?

I just returned from a quilting retreat in Pinetop AZ. There were 6 of us. They only take 8. I brought two quilts . Only finished one. I also brought some handwork to do. I never get as much completed as I hope. But I don't want to run out of things to do. Try to precut your blocks. Less room for error. Have fun!

The only retreats that I've ever taken was I got to chose what I wanted to take and then all of the supplies were included. The exception being this year they had my favorite garment teacher, I still got to chose which classes, I did two of hers and then I had to buy the fabric for my top but the $20 pattern was included. I had such a great time.

The first retreat I went to was also the retreat that I was co-chair of. My trunk and entire back seat was full of projects. I got smarter after that. I organized projects in boxes and bags and they were cut and ready to sew. Some only needed borders or to be set, others were cut and ready to go. I did not get bored. I also made a doll at one retreat and went shopping for fabric to complement a piece that I brought along and ended up making a trip around the world. Bring extra projects just in case.

Best advice ever: For my first quilt retreat I was told to bring something fairly mindless. You will be so busy looking around and talking with friends that any project that needs a thought process may be put together backwards. Have your project all cut out and probably take two unless you have a large project. I took 5 comfort quilts ready to sew and finished all 5 tops because I didn't have to think too hard about any of them. I had the time of my life and can't wait for next year!

This retreat is bring your own project, or try one of theirs. Included are meals by the hosts husband who is a fabulous cook! We stay overnight at local hotels and the pools are a good way to stretch after sewing all day.

I like to take hand and machine sewing projects. Its always nice to stop and sit and work on something by hand. I always bring several projects, mostly UFOs. I noticed that some people take the same UFOs away every year and only work on them on retreats. I take several because I never know what I want to work on. A word of advice is, if you want to start a new project, do all your cutting at home before you go away. You don't want to waste your time cutting and you never know if the space will be available. Have a blast!