Quilters Retreat Guide

Start a Quilters Book Club!

A lot of good novels have been published that have quilting themes and quilters as heroines. From heartwarming family tales to mysteries to historical quilt stories, you'll find a quilters fiction book to enjoy.

On your next retreat, take along a book of quilting fiction for pleasure reading when you're done with sewing for the day. Many of these titles are even available as e-books for a Kindle or as audio books for listening while you quilt.

Another idea is to hold a quilters book club discussion as part of the retreat, choosing a quilters novel for everyone to read in advance. This can be a fun activity during a meal -- and be sure to ask everyone to recommend another great quilting book!

To help you find these books, here is a list of authors and search terms for Amazon.com:

Perhaps the most prolific quilt fiction author is Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the very popular Elm Creek Quilts novels. She has even created a series of Elm Creek Quilt Patterns based on the characters and quilts in the novels.

Amish quilters are the subjects for novelist Adina Senft and Cindy Woodsmall in their Amish quilt novel series.

Do you enjoy a good mystery novel? Now you can combine it with your love of quilting in these enthralling quilt mysteries.

If a romance book is more your style, you'll find love stories and wedding quilts in these quilters romance novels.

Check out all of the latest novels for quilters.

 

Books with Great Ideas for Quilt Retreats

Many quilters use quilting retreats to work on UFOs (unfinished objects) or charity quilts. All good -- but how about treating yourself to a fun, new project, especially one that you can finish easily in a day or two?

These books contain many patterns and ideas that would make great retreat projects:

Written for group retreats, Time to Quilt: Fun Quilts and Retreat Ideas for 1 or 101 presents quilting projects from napkins to wall hangings, recipes, activity ideas, and organizing tips.

Plan your retreat travels to see how painted quilts have become a folk art phenomenon in Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement, full of fascinating stories and beautiful photographs.

 

 

 

There's nothing like the satisfaction of completing a quilt. You can do it in a weekend retreat with the ideas in these books: Weekend Quilts and Simple Style: Easy Weekend Quilts

 

 

Hoping to use that retreat to take care of all your gifting needs this year? Look at the great ideas in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts, organized by the amount of time involved. 

 

 

You couldn't resist that gorgeous bundle of fat quarters in the quilt shop ... but now what do you do with it? Look at the appealing projects in Small Stash Sewing: 24 Projects Using Designer Fat Quarters. 

 

 

See how many fun projects you could complete in a weekend with the book One-Yard Wonders. Includes ideas for apparel, home decor, and gifts for everyone...all with a contemporary flair. 

 

Full of lively, contemporary designs for your home, office, or gifts is The New Handmade: Simple Sewing for Contemporary Style. Easy projects are also great for learning new skills.

 

How about organizing a study group on color and fabric choices? Two great resources for this are the book: Get Creative! with M'Liss Rae Hawley: A Beginner's Guide to Color and Design for Quilters and my "take it with me to the quilt shop" color guide, the 3-in-1 Color Tool.

 

It covers many other crafts, and definitely has a sassy, urban edginess, but Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty with Your Friends All Year Long has a variety of ideas for organizing craft activities that can be applied to a retreat.

 

 

Want more ideas? Take a sneak peek at these soon-to-be-released quilt books from Amazon.com. 

 

Online Fabric Stores for Quilting Fabric and Quilt Supplies

A fun retreat idea is to visit nearby stores. And if you are in a new area, that quilt fabric shopping can be fun indeed!

But sometimes you need to buy fabric or supplies for a quilt project before the retreat. Yet you may not be able to find everything you need in your local quilt store.

That's when it is handy to know about the deals on fabric and quilting supplies offered by online stores, which also offer sewing machines, sewing attachments, quilting notions, and quilting accessories. These sites also regularly promote special sales and shipping deals that are available only online.

Amazon.com: You probably think of Amazon as a great source for quilting book bargains, both the latest releases and those older or out-of-print treasures that can be hard to find elsewhere.  But who would have guessed that Amazon is also a great source for quality quilting fabrics?

Independent sellers (many of them quilt shops) offer a wide range of fabric by the yard, jelly rolls, charm squares and other fabric packets. If you are looking for a particular designer or fabric line, enter the name in Amazon's search box. Otherwise, the selection changes daily, so you can have the fun of discovering a treasure in the fabrics currently available.

And Amazon is also a great place for quilting deals on sewing machine needles, thread, and other quilt supplies.

Gifts for Quilters

You have the best intentions ... to finish that quilted wall hanging, table runner, or tote bag for a special quilting friend or the members of your quilt guild.

But time is running short ... now what do you do?

Check out the Quilters Wit & Wisdom shop, full of fun quilt-theme designs for T-shirts, hats, bags, and sewing room decor ... coffee mugs and journals, even an adorable teddy bear!

Designs shown here: Quilter at Play! and Love Me, Love My Fabric Stash

Better yet, these gifts are ready to go ... you can also ship them directly to your friends!

PS:  Look at the unique "Real Men Quilt" designs for the male members of your group and the "Quilt Widower" choices for those patient husbands!  

Treat Yourself at a Quilt Retreat

Of course, sewing is the focus of any quilt retreat, but while you are on a getaway, why not enjoy some other fun activities?

Readers of this site have submitted ideas such as arranging for a yoga instructor or a massage therapist to visit a quilting retreat.

What ideas do you have for making a retreat a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone?  Share them by entering a comment on this post (click on the "comments" link below).  

  

What's important when choosing a quilting retreat center?

What are the most important factors to you when choosing a retreat center, either for yourself or for your group? 

Maybe it's a location that is close to home ... or maybe you want a distant spot so the retreat feels more like a vacation. 

Maybe you want a "luxury" experience, with a facility that's designed specifically for quilters  ...  or maybe you are willing to accept rustic accommodations for lower costs. 

Maybe you want a cozy space for a small circle of friends ... or a center that can hold a large group.

You can help organizers and owners of quilt retreats improve their offerings by sharing your comments on this post.