Lorchen wrote:
That reminds me of my camping trips as a teenager. I'd make the most comprehensive lists I could think of. My stepmother never let me forget that the first item on one list she found on the counter was "car."

Yep, I'm a compulsive master-list maker. Here's my retreat list:

• Chair (optional)
• Sewing machine with foot pedal, power cord, accessory kit, and manual
• Needles
• 50-foot extension cord
• Power bar
• Dazor light with base
• Ott light
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Rotary cutters and spare blades
• Scissors
• Cutting mats
• Basic sewing supplies (pins, seam rippers, small ruler, glue stick, hand needles, etc.)
• Thread
• UFOs
• Design wall—remember the thumb tacks!
• Fat quarter for the fat quarter exchange
• Scraps to share
• Quilt for bed
• Pillow
• Towels
• Face cloths
• Pajamas
• Slippers
• Toiletries
• Sweater
• Kleenex
• Toilet paper
• Medications
• Glasses
• Reading glasses
• Camera (with extra batteries)
• Books and magazines
• Coffee mug
• Tea mug
• Coffee bag—remember to fill it with coffee and tea
• Spoon
• Water
• Napkins and plate for snacks
• Snacks and treats to share
• Money for nearby quilt shops

I have started taking a desk chair with wheels on the bottom (it will break down into sections easily) or a cushion for my chair. Tuck in your manual for your sewing machine, an extra spool of piecing thread. I usually take along many more projects than I can possibly do however, I only take in the one that I am working on at a time. As long as you are driving you can leave the 80% you take for "just in case" and only unload the 20% you will need inside.

When we were raising a family (5 kids in 9 years), I had a Master shopping list so nothing got left out. I had a Master camping list for outings. Sounds like time for a Master list for retreats to me!
I am working on one from this forum thread.
Diane/Wyoming

I once went on a retreat, only to find that I had forgotten the power cord to my sewing machine. My husband got busy and overnighted it to me. I spent that first 24 hours cutting up a storm and was really ready to fly when the power cord got there. I got 2 quilts cut out and an entire quilt top pieced that weekend!

BethMI

kathyst2 wrote: Kathy, I think with what is going on at airports lately with all the scans and pat downs, and so many things that used to be supplied that are no more, I'm only ever going to fly if ordered to by my bosses!!! I've traveled all over the world in the past and used to love to fly. Sigh.

But I'm retiring in the fall. So, that means I can take bunches of stuff when I go to a retreat or quilting conference because I'm going to drive.

Lorchen, what you say about only using about 20% of what you brought is true! On the other hand, the retreats I've gone to have been hundreds of miles away, and what if I need something I forgot to bring? Okay, at Empty Spools seminars they have a mini quilt shop right on the premises. But, at Ricky's retreat in Colorado, the nearest quilt shop was about 80 miles away. I make a list because I can't remember what I decided was important to bring. Then, I compulsively read it over and over to make sure I didn't miss something. Probably has to do with anxiety about the retreat rather than about whether to bring my tweezers

And, what about those seminar/retreats where they tell you to bring all this stuff and then blithely explain when you get there, Oh we're not using that now.

Thank goodness I haven't had to take a plane to one of these, I'd probably be paralyzed trying to figure out what to leave out!

Kathy

Making a list?? If my sons and friends could hear that they'd be rolling on the floor laughing. I am brilliant at making a comprehensive list for almost anything, with everything on it (that's the Germanic genes). I then normally put the list somewhere and promptly forget where I put it so it never gets used.

It always amazes me when I go to workshops how much 'essential' things the average quilter drags into the building. Often 80% of what they bring never gets used. I always try to travel as light as possible.

kathyst2 wrote:

Hey Betty Jo, our mini-group had a little retreat in Palm Springs, about 100 miles from where we were. Many of us have Janome 6600's. One of us forgot the power cord. So we passed around the power cord so she could sew too. Believe it or not, she made 2 quilt tops that weekend. This is still a story we tell to the new members in our mini group meetings
It's good to make a list.
Kathy

If you are taking your machine, be sure you have all the power cords and foot pedals, etc. Ask me how I know. :shock:

I take the whole top drawer of my rolling cart with me - pencils, pens, marking "pens", seam ripper, tweezers, bobbins, extra needles, etc. Saves a lot of thinking about what I need.

I always pack a lot of my supplies into a plastic garbage bin so i have a nice big wastebasket right next to my machine!

BethMI

CHOCOLATE

Don't forget your projects! Thread, extra task lighting, extension cord/surge protector, definitely need something for garbage, something for your small scraps - if you are doing any cutting and save them for other projects, zipper plastic bags for units that you have completed but haven't made it to blocks yet. Is that a good start?