One of the truly fabulous aspects of our chosen craft (wait - you are a stitcher/quilter/fabric fanatic, right? Ok - good!) is that you can often take it with you. Since so many of us are hitting the road or the skies this summer, Kate and I thought we'd share our thoughts on travel projects. Head over to Kate's blog - wait, not now! But when you finish my post - ok, THEN head over to Kate's to see what she has to share on traveling and stitching!
So traveling and quilting. Now I get that hauling the sewing machine around may be a BIT cumbersome - but there are other projects that are terrific for toting on the next road trip or family adventure.
I thought I'd share my checklist for a successful road trip project - you may find this helpful in preparing your next mobile stitch project.
Organize
Think kits.
Pull out that new project that you have been putting off because you just haven't had the time to work on. Or that special project that you save for quiet times, or when you need a bit of busy handwork. Side note: I had a needle turn appliquéd, hand quilted wall hanging that I worked on for TWO YEARS! It was my go-to travel project, and I pulled it out every time I would fly to visit my parents. I finished it - eventually, and it helped to pass the time.
Read through the directions.
Do they call for any techniques that will require special rulers or tools?
Read the supply list.
Do you have the fabrics and other supplies needed to work on - or finish - the project?
Shop your stash.
Pull what you need from your available supplies. And then - rats - darn it all - go shopping for everything else you need (take a list!).
Think travel friendly.
Clover binder clips are awesome and can work as well as pins - without the sharp points that might poke little fingers - or a fellow traveler in the next seat. Check FAA regulations before bringing scissors or other cutting implements with you.
Downsize
Where possible, go small. Small scissors, small spool of thread, small hoop for embroidery. Size it appropriate to the task, but as small as you can easily work with.This will ensure you are comfortable - and so is everyone else around you.
Pack
Embrace the Bag Lady look.
I LOVE closed storage. Zippered totes and bags are simply the best. They keep things in place and together. And when someone slams on the brakes (hey - it can happen), supplies don't get tossed or roll under the seat, only to be discovered next Christmas!
And more than one zippered bag is great. Group your supplies by task. If you are binding, put all of your binding clips, your fav needles for binding, and that awesome spool of neutral thread all in one compartment - or even better, in their own bag.
What's my current travel project? You just saw bits and pieces of it - a motif driven hand embroidery project - that yes, I've been working on for a while now. I LUV my zippered pouches, because I can fit one inside the other, but organize my fabric squares (someday they will all be embroidered, and then stitched into a quilt!), my must have Aurifil floss, my Colonial needles, and my adorable, teeny tiny scissors into their own little compartments. Nirvana!
Ok, so none of this is rocket science. Actually, it is just a bit of preplanning for the trip so you can complete projects - or start a new project - and add even more enjoyment to your trip.
Whether you are traveling just a few hours, or for an extended road trip, happy trails to you - and happy stitching!
Come back next month for more Adventures in Quilting with Kate and Tammy!
AND....come back July 9th. The Creative Spaces Blog Hop begins July 9th and runs for six weeks. 16 different designers - yep, you read that correctly! - will be giving you peeks into their design spaces and sharing tips and tricks on organizing. And a little bird told me there will be giveaways too! Mark your calendar!
Thanks for sharing the quilting passion with me. Happy stitching!
If you are interested in having me teach at your shop or guild, please contact me!
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