By Esta Z. Lichtenstein, WLCJ International Vice President and Communications Chair
I recently returned from a five-day quilting retreat. I love attending them and try to do three annually.
So, what is a quilting retreat? Usually held in a hotel or resort-type venue, it is the chance to spend time solely focusing on something I love for up to 15 hours a day. This one had 60 attendees, 57 ladies and three gentlemen.
Once we all arrived, Nancy, the retreat organizer, went over the rules: no full-size irons (we might blow a fuse), no mention of politics, and you must participate in our dancing and exercise breaks. We were also challenged to find the “mystery quilter.” This meant we needed to talk with everyone in the room. This gave us the opportunity to meet everyone in the room.
This retreat had quilters from California, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Florida . . . get the idea? There were new quilters and seasoned ones—a group consisting of four sisters, groups of best friends that travel together, and a lot of complete strangers (many of whom would become friends during the retreat).
It felt like a perfect preview of WL Convention 2026: a global gathering of members, from long-time veterans to brand new faces. Whether surrounded by old friends or meeting fellow quilters for the first time, we know everyone will come together for the same cause, united on equal footing.
I brought along what we quilters call “UFOs”—”Unfinished Objects.” I reviewed my inventory to be sure that I had everything I needed: the correct thread color, the pattern with sewing instructions, batting (the fluffy middle layer that makes the quilt warm), the fabric that would be used on the back, and much more.
Setting up in the function room, we were allowed to request who we wanted to sit and sew with. We each got an eight-foot-long table. Some of the attendees brought their own chairs, and we all brought our own sewing machines. Many brought the coveted Singer Featherweight—a vintage machine famous for being tiny and portable. In contrast, I hauled in my modern heavy-duty machine: the PFAFF Quilt Expression, a 22-pound workhorse that is anything but a featherweight!
After breakfast in the hotel, we could go down to the quilting room any time after 8:00 am and begin sewing. I stayed each night until 11:00 pm.
One of the best aspects of the event is the networking opportunities afforded the attendees (again, much like WL Convention). One could do fabric swapping and giving advice on pattern directions (this is a huge topic in the quilting community!). We liked to share, consult, and, as each of us finished a project, do a “show and tell” followed by clapping and cheering.
I made a baby blanket, four dinner napkins, a modern quilt, and a windows quilt. I was quite pleased with what I accomplished. Of course, I had brought two more “UFOs” with me that didn’t get finished, which is nothing to worry about as my next retreat is February 5!
Shabbat Shalom,
Esta Z. Lichtenstein
WLCJ International Vice President and Communications Chair
elichtenstein@wlcj.org
