Prism99

Do you just sew in company most of the time? I've never been to a quilt retreat, have no one to go with so wouldn't know anyone there, think maybe I would get tired of sewing nonstop all day for days at a time, and wonder if it would really be worth all the planning, packing, unpacking, packing and unpacking to go on one.

Those of you have gone on a quilt retreat, did you enjoy it? Was it worth the money? Did you know someone else who was going or did you go solo? Just wondering if I am missing out.......

Olivia's Grammy

I went on a quilt retreat about 7 years ago it wasto sew with Lynette Jensen designer of Thimbleberries fabrics. I shared a room with a friend. We actually sewed a table runner. Lynette was so friendly and warm. She did an awesome trunk show, had books and fabric you could buy. It was a great weekend (can't remember the cost). I would highly recommend it for anyone. The best part was that she was just like us, loved to sew.

lanagan

I have been to two retreats and knew about 50% of the people. The last one I took a friend who knew no one and she had such a good time, she didn't want to leave.

At our retreats we sew a lot, eat a lot but most of all LAUGHT ALOT. I haven't laughed like that since high school and that's been many years. It doesn't matter how advanced you are. True quilters are always willing to help beginners.

It's a great place to share ideas and tips.

I would highly recommend you go. Wish I could do one once a month just to get my laugh winkles working!

thimblebug6000

I am very fortunate: once a year my little group of 8 has a quilt retreat at a friend's cabin....all hand work as we have to get in by boat...we plan a menu & usually have 3 days of stitching. Each year one of us has to plan a game with a prize (usually quilt related but not always)

Each year I also go to the guild retreat which is just for the weekend, but members of the guild volunteer to "organize" it each year. This year there were 4 organizers and they each had a little mini project to share with us. One had made kits for us all & showed us how to sew a purse size hanky pack holder, another had designed a xmas card from fabric, another had a huge slipper type thing for us to make with towelling (used to wipe the floor up after your pet's wet feet) and then they also found a "home based" type of product that 2 ladies came...did a little demo & then gave each of us a hand massage. We each work on our own projects & have a show and tell the last afternoon. This retreat center serves organic type foods & everything is in one building so you can wear your slippers from the time you arrive until the time you leave. I always take my runners & do a couple short walks a day or I wouldn't be able to walk after 2 days of uninteruppted stitching.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend it! And I have already signed up for next years!

Scissor Queen

Quilt retreats are a blast. It doesn't matter if you don't know anybody when you get there you'll leave with a whole roomful of new friends!

You can take a hand project to work on when you don't want to sit at the sewing machine. A couple of the ladies that go to our retreats take their knitting for sitting and relaxing.

earthwalker

I've never been on one, but I do plan to one day. I am sure once you get there you will meet lots of lovely people. It will be easy to make connections because you will all have quilting as a link. Go for it.....I so wish I could grab my stuff and go....today! This afternoon I have hoards of people coming for a gathering to view wedding pictures (my stepson got married in Sicily)....haven't picked up my quilting projects for 2 weeks ....AARGGH!

kat112000

I haven't been to a quilting retreat, but would love to go on one!!

I went on a scrapbooking retreat and had a blast!!!!! I was part of a scrapbooking forum, much like this one and met tons of the people in real life, that was the best part!!!

eparys

Prism99

I had never been on one before two weeks ago. I went with the guild that I joined and quite honestly I knew only three or four ladies before I went. What a blast. We did sew from when ever we go up to when ever we went to bed. I sewed from 7AM to 9/9:30 both nights. I really got to know most of the ladies and hated to go home!! I really loved it but I am a "social" being!!

QuiltMania

I went on my first ever quilt retreat last summer. It was worth every nickel and then some. It was held in Hillman, Michigan at the Thunder Bay Golf Resort. You could quilt as much or a little as you wanted. There were classes but you could work on your own thing if you didn't want to do the class thing. My room was bigger and nicer than my first apartment. The food was wonderful. I'm planning on going again in July.

charismah

I love Quilt retreats...I have been on many. The thing about quilt retreats is this....

no responsibilty!
We have someone make our meals....do all the planning and all the retreaters get to sew, socialize and eat.

So for moms..it is good because we get a "break" from the normal everyday stuff. But even for the ones who don't have alot of responsibility at home it is good to get out and bond with other quilters. I have to say from some of those retreats I made life long friends so it was worth the packing and unpacking. But i guess it just depends on the retreat and the other people that are attending.