We are delighted to report that our zoom retreat hosted by OSQE and co-sponsored by SewBatik went wonderfully well this past weekend. The topic was Nifty Tabula Rasa Knit Tops and everyone who participated made something with a SewBatik cotton jersey kit. Carrie and I were busy beforehand sewing up samples of the 3 projects on offer. During the retreat we stitched along with our 21 students and offered tutorials on knit sewing and working with our Fit for Art Patterns for knits and their Variations.
Time to Sew, Time to Learn
There were plenty of tutorials, one-on-one design consultations, personal fitting and pattern adjustment assistance. Our structure allowed for two zoom rooms. Rae manned the room devoted to folks making a basic tee or the pieced tee.
Carrie manned the room where our advanced students were making the Tailored Cardigan and Tank Top from Twin Set Variations for the Tabula Rasa Jacket. They walked step by step from pattern work – combining their core patterns that fit with templates to modify the necklines and shoulders for the cardigan and tank top – through construction of two garments.
We look forward to see photos by our retreat participants of their finished creations posted over the next few weeks on Instagram and Facebook.
Benefits of the Online Retreat
One bonus of participating in a virtual retreat bonus is that each student will receive a link from OSQE to the recording of the activities and tutorials in both classrooms. They can access the recording for an entire year to watch the tutorials and sew along with all three projects.
Each day during lunch there was a little program. On Saturday we welcomed Bruce and Diane of SewBatik to discuss how their knit jersey is manufactured and printed with the batik designs. 
On Sunday, Carrie and I presented a trunk show of Tabula Rasa Knit creations that are embellished with special knit techniques. Later that afternoon, we spent some time as a group playing with knit embellishments using our fabric scraps.
There was also time to create a cute flower with scraps and a button or bead.
Join us at a Retreat in the future
We finished our two days of work and fun with some show and tell of our progress. It is always fun to see what everyone has accomplished and hear about what they are taking away from their retreat experience. What would you like to make with us on retreat? It is our hope that going forward we will have be able to resume holding live retreats as well as continue these fun virtual retreats which can reach more students who might have travel and time limits. Watch our newsletter and the blog for announcements of future events including our Enchanting France, Embellishing Fabric event in 2022. We love to sew with our friends!
Happy Sewing, Carrie and Rae
