Susan, I'm sure that would be the best way to pack your machine in the original packing. And yes, it is such a blessing to go to Ricky's retreat...truly changed my life....I saved for five years to go the first time, and then I just had to go again.

Dana and Gran, thanks for the suggestions. Sometimes I just need someone to smack me so I can say Duh! I have the original packing for one machine which would be the most reasonable to ship, as long as there is a location on the receiving end. 3 retreats??? What a luxury!

Hi Susan, I've been out to La Veta to Ricky's retreat three times. Each time, I shipped my Bernina by FedEx. I wrapped the machine in two inch foam and then bubble wrap, and packed it in a 20 inch square box with fabric and more foam all around it....it has been fine all three times. Good luck and have fun traveling

I kept the box with all the styrofoam that my machine came in. When I went to a Ricky Tims retreat I packed it and shipped it ahead of time by UPS. I put fabric all in the open space of the machine. It was kinda pricey, but well worth it.

For those of you that fly all around the world to quilt classes, how do you pack your dsm? I'd love to take a class or two on the west coast (I'm on the east coast) but I have no idea on how to get my dsm there.