2026 Stripology Virtual Retreat

 On March 11-13, I participated in the GE Stripology Virtual Quilt Retreat! I was in Session 2, which included 180 quilters on Zoom. If you combine the quilters from Session 1 and 2, there were 410 virtual retreat quilters total, from 7 countries, 47 USA states and 4 Canadian provinces!

We worked on 3 quilts over three days:

A couple weeks beforehand we received our retreat boxes full of fabric and goodies:

My friend Lynn sewed with me, therefore there are two boxes. ⤴️

The retreat booklet ⤴️ included the schedule and interesting facts about the three countries we visited by "super yacht"--no seasickness reported! Slippers, bucket hat and two custom quilt labels...

We received treats from the three countries we "visited"--Greece, Jamaica, and Brazil. Thread, ruler stickers in 3 new neon color ways, flags, a bingo card--we played bingo all three days.

Here are the fabrics I choose from the 10 different options, Balisong, from Zen Chic. ⤵️ This might seem surprising, but I ended up not using these fabrics and am saving these for a different quilt or two down the line.

Gudrun includes enough fabric for us to make 2 throw size quilts, plus a table runner. I made 3 baby size quilts instead, from 3 different fabric groups, since there's always a need for baby quilts!

My Quilt Info #1:

Pattern: Hera from GE Designs

Size: 42" x 56"

Batting: Quilters Dream 80/20

Thread: Glide--Light Olive

Pantograph: Spring Green ⤵️ from OESD

This is the first quilt we worked on, Hera. All three quilts were new patterns that Gudrun designed just for the retreat and included 4 size options, and, in the case of Hera, 10 different layout options. 

According to Gudrun, this is the easiest of the 3 patterns, so she started off the retreat the first day with this quilt. 

I chose an assortment of sage green and grey fabrics with a gold accent for this non-traditional baby quilt. Flannel backing is my recent go-to for baby quilts.

I quilted this leafy baby quilt with leafy quilting, "Spring Green".

My Quilt Info #2:

Pattern: Rita from GE Designs

Fabrics: Stonehenge Eagle Pass from Northcott Fabrics

Size: 50" x 60"

Batting: Quilters Dream 100% Cotton

Thread: Glide--Graphite (blue)

Pantograph: Mountain High ⤵️ from Urban Elementz

This is Rita, a 2 1/2" strip quilt from Day 2.

These fabrics are "Stonehenge Eagle Pass". With that in mind, I quilted it with "Mountain High" quilting.

More flannel for backing. ⤵️

This is 1 of 2 eagles ⤵️ on the quilt--it was tricky to capture them in a 2 1/2" strip!

A very generous crib size quilt, going to a family that lives in the mountains of North Carolina!

My Quilt Info #3:

Pattern: Carmen from GE Designs

Fabrics: Bunny Hop from Lewis & Irene

Size: 39" x 47"

Batting: Quilters Dream 80/20

Thread: Glide--Blush

Pantograph: Love Fluff ⤵️ from Sew Shabby Pantos

This pattern, Carmen, was designed to be a table runner. But in keeping with my baby quilt theme, I doubled the amount of blocks and made a baby quilt!

With all the pink in this quilt, it has to be for a girl. "Love Fluff" is my new fav baby girl quilting design! ⤵️

I did a faux piped binding, in an effort to use up some narrow purple strips I had. I'm not sure I should've done that, but done is done.

Flannel backing ⤴️ And finished! ⤵️

Having fun with some collage maker apps! 

The GE Virtual Quilt Retreat was a real "treat". GE will host a one-day virtual retreat in September and a 3-day virtual retreat again in March, 2027!

Grace and peace!!! ~Nancy

You'll find more quilt inspiration at Patchwork & Quilts, Oh Scrap, Handmade Monday, Sew & Tell, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings, Wednesday Wait Loss, Needle & Thread Thursday, Put Your Foot Down, TGIFF, Off the Wall Friday, Finished Or Not Friday, From Bolt To Beauty.