Sewing Retreat – this weekend!

This upcoming weekend is the annual Sewing Retreat offered by the Atlanta Chapter of the American Sewing Guild and I’m getting myself organized.

This will be my second year attending the retreat, which is held  in Toccoa (which means “beautiful” in Cherokee). It’s about 90 miles north of Atlanta. And I will again start my days with a walk by the lake as the sun rises.

 

Last year I didn’t have any idea of how this whole retreat thing works. My only past experience with organized weekend getaways was political conferences, and I probably don’t need to tell you that the two have nothing in common.  I was surprised (and intrigued) by the people who sewed all night – all night. There is some socializing – mostly while sewing – but no requirement to sit around and drink coffee. People are there to sew.

Specific Plans

The retreat is a great time to either work on complicated projects where help is appreciated (fitting!), or do production line sewing.

My plan is to take as many as 6 projects cut out and ready to sew.  i know I won’t get to all of them (completing 3 would be great!), but it’s nice to have choices.

PLAID WORK TOP: I need tops for work, so first up is my second version of View A of New Look 6808 (blogged about here) in this soft plaid batiste. Other than the stupid lapped zipper, the hardest part will be matching plaids, which I have not done since 1985 (yes, 1985).

CREPE WORK TOP:  Then using the same pattern, a pink top made from this Triple Crepe in Patisserie Pink that I bought at Sew Over It in Islington this August. Maybe it’s a little heavy, but I’m going to give it a try. And hoping that third time is the charm for the lapped zipper.

COZY TOP: Vogue 8497 – View C – in this luscious midnight blue French terry that I purchased at Topstitch Studio – a fabulous new sewing store & studio here in Atlanta.

SHIRT DRESS: A third iteration of McCall’s 6885 shirtdress in a soft and drapey viscose I purchased from The Sewing Workshop’s booth at the 2016 Sewing Expo.  The fabric is a little drapey and soft, but it will also be great with tights in the winter. This is one of those precious fabrics that I vowed to sew in 2017.

QUILTED VEST: Last week I walked through Hobby Lobby and they had made up a sample of Simplicity 1499 (View A) in this prequilted fabric, using faux leather as the trim. It was so cute that I had to buy the whole kit …

I will also pack a box with fabric to make Christmas table runners (supposedly 10-minute projects) should I get to the point where I’m feeling a bit brain dead and just want to sew straight lines.

This is a lot and I’ll be really pleased if I get three garments close to completed.

But first, a couple of evenings of just cutting, marking and interfacing!

Do you attend sewing retreats? What type of projects do you work on?