My First Quilting Retreat--Kind Of

I am going to my first quilting retreat next week.  I will be attending an abbreviated version of the retreat.  Patti invited me a couple of months ago.  She belongs to a quilting group that has been meeting together for many years.  They are very unique.  Everyone is a different personality and their love of quilting and fabric brings them together.  The work they do is amazing to me.  They are inspiring women not just in quilting but the other parts of their life as well.

It is being held in Midway.  I will stay at the cabin, since I could throw a paper airplane from it to the resort that is hosting.  That presented an issue for the quilting shop that is hosting/sponsoring the event.  They feel it is important for everyone to stay on-site.  I couldn't justify the $400 to sleep in a bed there just to be a part of each single event and sewing time.  In talking with them, I decided to choose one class a day, pay the individual tuition and supply fee and 'get my feet wet' so to speak.  I will go back to the cabin to sew for the evening.  That option actually turns out to be a win/win for me after all. I can get the feel and learn some new things at the classes I've signed up for and spend some alone time with Duff at the cabin.

Since I am a novice at this quilting stuff, I signed up for a class called It All Starts With A Square.  They assured me it was for beginners.  Then I got the prep work in my email and wondered about that.  At the bottom it said to bring patience and a sense of humor--we will need it.  Haha.  I asked Patti to come and help me get the squares all cut and ready.  She came over this morning after taking Tyler to school.  We had a good time and she taught me some very good tips in using the rotary cutter, rulers, and cutting mat.  She showed me and then had me do it.  I appreciated her taking the time to do that so I could learn.  I noticed how she uses lots of math skills.  She could add up, take away, visualize, use geometry, like a wiz!  I guess I had a glazed look come over my eyes and then she laughed and assured me that it is acquired with repetition and practice.

The class will be teaching us 9 different kinds of blocks.  I put each set of fabric in it's own labeled baggie and then all together in a large ziploc.  Speaking of the practice part:  One of the blocks requires 2-12" stripped squared up squares.  I sewed them together later in the afternoon.  They were off by 1/4".  I checked my seam allowances.  They were correct.  I called Patti.  We talked it through and figured out that we made a very slight, but significant calculating error.  I cut 2 1/4" strips instead of 2 1/2" strips.  That little 1/4" made all the difference.  She gave me a couple of options of how to fix it.  I cut another strip and sewed it to one of each of the ends of each block and then squared them up again.  It worked!

I will be taking these classes:
Tuesday:  Knitting a potato chip scarf.  I haven't knitted in decades and the project is darling.  Hoping I pick it up quickly.
Wednesday:  Peony Wreath wall hanging.  It is with a felted wool applique and small 9patch blocks around it.
Thursday:  It All Starts With A Square.
Friday:  Sample Canvas Board.