Friday, October 4, 2013

Quilt Retreat & A Binding Question


Me and my project for the weekend
Last weekend I attended our local quilt guild's annual retreat with my quilt-y girlfriends.  I had a blast!  It's something that I look forward to all year long.  We talk, share, learn, eat, make new friends, and sew until we're exhausted. 

Christa working on her famous chevron blocks
Linda working on her oh-so-pretty 25-patch blocks
We had lots of room this year for all who wanted to attend - I think the number was around 130.  We were set up in a HUGE event tent outside of the hotel where we stayed.  Everything for the event was in there - sewing, eating, shopping and classes.   The lighting was not great, but we were allowed to bring our own lighting, so problem solved.  It was also cooler than usual that weekend, 70's instead of 90's, so it got a bit chilly in the evenings.  I doubt that will happen again, though, we live in the desert.


Christa giving a free-motion quilting demo during her Charming Chevrons class
We each had our own table, which was really nice for free-motion quilting, and that is what I did most of the weekend.  I quilted wavy diagonal lines on my scrappy-trip-around-the-world, and got it almost finished at the retreat.  (I finished quilting it a few days later at home and am now getting ready to bind it.)
  

My retreat neighbor Linda, worked on her pinwheel quilt, from the book Scrap Basket Beauties by Kim Brackett.  Coincidentally, I've been wanting to make the same quilt from that book, using my leftover American Jane fabrics (seen above) with a dark blue background.  She said it went together really nicely.  Can't wait to start that one. 

 

All the meal tables were nicely decorated with quilted table toppers and fun handmade dolls, and were given away after lunch on the final day.  Christa was thrilled to win this pinwheel topper made by a longtime guild member. 


Can't wait 'til next year! 

Now for the question -- have you ever used 2" strips for your binding? I have a dark blue stripe that is perfect for the binding on the scrappy trips quilt, but only have enough for 2" strips. (I usually use 2 1/4" strips.)  I'd love to hear what you use.  

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