What to Bring on a Quilting Retreat

A few weeks ago I went on a one-day Sew In with my local quilt shop, Little Foot Quilt Shoppe. It was a great time! I hadn’t gone sewing outside my home in a couple of years, so I had to really think over what I had packed in the past. I ended up only wishing I’d done a couple of things differently, so I wanted to share all of that with you. Here are my best tips for what to bring on a quilt retreat.

Quilt Retreat Big Items to Remember:

The things you cannot leave for a retreat with out are:

• Sewing Machine (obviously – but don’t forget your pedal and cord!)
• Cutting Mat and Rotary Cutter <– Even if there’s a cutting center, it’s nice to have a small one for your projects so you don’t have to wait
• Mini Iron
  • I have an Oliso Mini Iron
  • My friend Deanna (seen above) loves the Steamfast Travel Iron
• Mini Ironing Board – there was a shared ironing station for large things, but it is so nice to have heat at your fingertips
• Extension cord/power port – usually these are provided, but it’s nice to have an extra just in case
• Rulers – grab any specialty rulers you might want too
• Sweater <–I forgot to bring one and by the evening, when the AC kicked on, I was freezing!
• Rolling Bag or Cart <–If you’re driving to your retreat, something with wheels to get all your items into the retreat building is so helpful! Otherwise, you’ll have to make multiple trips!

Small Items to Pack

I also packed my Iris Travel Organizer with a bunch of small tools/supplies that I like to have on hand. I use these things every day, so as I finished using each one the last time I was sewing, I tucked them into my organizer so they’d be ready when I left.

• Pincusion & Pins
• Scissors for fabric & paper <–I had to borrow Deanna’s paper scissors
• Seam Ripper <– this one is my favorite
• Wonder Clips
• Hand Sewing Needles
• Favorite thread color / natural thread
• That Purple Thang <– I have several, and that’s my LQS!
• Continuous Mist Spray Bottle or Starch
• Quilter’s Clapper <– I forgot mine and I was so bummed!
• Glue Stick

Projects

Choosing what to bring to work at your quilt retreat on is usually the hardest part, and I admit I failed on this one a little bit this time around! I brought one partially worked on Twinkle Lights Quilt, a shirt that I am making into a bear for my friend (which ended up taking over half the time to just cut out!), and then fabric for a mini block I’m working on and a quilt that I hadn’t started. Here’s what I’d have done differently:

• Precut projects in advance/or at least choose the fabric ahead of time
• Bring something you can sew on mindlessly <–I grabbed some fabric for an infinity scarf and actually loved just sewing it up while chatting, wish I’d have brought more easy projects

Be Remembered at the Quilt Retreat

I brought some of my favorite quilty stickers to share with new friends so that they could find me online later. Since the stickers don’t have my website, I used address labels to stick it to the back of the sticker. This was a fun way to share about my business without being overbearing or passing out business cards. Everyone loves a fun sticker and if you found me at a quilt retreat, welcome!

Want to get your own? Sticker Mule and Custom Stickers are my favorite places to get some custom stickers!

Reader Submitted Ideas:

I asked readers in my last newsletter what they’d include and here are some great ideas!

• Have a “to go” caddy.   have a small caddy with duplicates of things in my sewing room for a quick pick-up and go to sew with a  friend (day sew) or overnight retreat. This way,  I don’t have to pack/re-pack/unpack my items in my sewing room.
• Pack project(s) in a clear project bag or box: I put all of my material, thread, pattern and speciality rulers (if needed) in a plastic project box/tote so that everything is together.
• DON’T OVERPACK !  I’ve gone to more retreats and sew-ins (one day) than I can count and although you think you may want to pack more “just in case” I have found I RARELY dig into the extras.  If I fear I’ll run out of things to do, the one thing I DO pack is a box of scraps and I just do some crumb quilting, or string quilting, or whatever.  Turn those into table runners, pot holders, placemats or whatever.
• Handwork – Bring a hand quilting or EPP project for when people might be sitting around socializing.
• Precut – Come with projects pre-cut so you don’t have to wait for the cutting mat.
• For Overnights: Earplugs if you share a bedroom with someone.
• Layer UP! Clothing layers in case the air conditioning is super cold and it’s super hot outside. 
• Painters Tape – Perfect for a makeshift design wall or to keep cords out of the way.
• Snacks – Especially if there’s something you like, also I find that when there’s a snack table, it can be mostly sweet, it’s nice to have a savory option as well.

Let’s Meet Up

Thinking about a quilt retreat but not sure where to find one? I’m excited to announce that I’m a teacher for the Crafty Monkies USA Midweek Retreat in June of 2024! There are still a couple spaces remaining and I’d love to see you there!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you purchase using my link. I only recommend things that I fully endorse and would buy myself. I appreciate your support if you chose to use my link for purchase.