How can you quilt in your RV?
When traveling full-time in our RV, a question I get asked often when they find out I’m a quilter is, “How can you quilt in your RV?” With lockdowns caused by Covid this past spring, I have spent lots of time figuring out the best way to be creative and productive inside our RV!
Quilts in amazing places! 
Quilt photography is fun!
Here are five things to focus on so you can enjoy your quilting hobby when you quilt in your RV. These are geared towards quilting, but can easily be adapted to other crafting you do as well.
1) Your RV’s Floor Plan
One of the things to figure out before you purchase your new/used RV is to focus on the RV’s floor plan. It needs to be compatible to allow you to sew/quilt without getting in the way with others living in the RV. There were lots of floor plans to choose from, but our Tiffin Allegro Red 33AA motorhome was the best choice for us because it has a large dining/living room area when the slides are out. It allows me to use the dining table for my sewing machine when I am quilting and Mark still has plenty of room to do whatever he wants to work on.
Sewing blocks 
Ironing fabric
2) Storage Space
Storage is essential when you have a quilting hobby. It’s hard to have a huge stash of fabric, but I can still spurge on fabric when I see something I like! There are two storage places I have. First, the storage under our bed gives me lots of room to store my projects, fabric, and notions. And, secondly, our bedroom closet provides room to store my sewing machine, cutting mat, and rulers.
My fabric stash 
Rulers and cutting mats
3) Making Your Space Larger
Living in an RV and having a quilting hobby makes you be creative! As your quilt grows, your space needs to grow as well! I look for unique places to spread out. First, I can bring my sewing machine outside on a portable table and sew my fabrics together. It brings me a change of scenery as well as some fresh air too! Secondly, if we are at an RV park that has a crafting area or room with tables, I take the opportunity to cut out fabrics for my next project, put together a quilt sandwich (quilt top, batting, backing), and square up quilt tops. This can all be done in the RV, but it sure is nice to have some extra room to do these things!
Sewing in KOFA National Wildlife Refuge 
Cutting out fabric
4) Connect With Other Quilters
Living in our RV full time has opened an entire new world of opportunities for me and quilting! When traveling, I enjoy searching for the nearest quilt shop to check out new fabrics, patterns, and notions they have. Since Covid-19 has caused most everyone to lockdown, there are now many opportunities to purchase fabric online, take classes online, and even sew along with others online. My quilting community grows every day – it’s hard not to just quilt 8 hours every day!
Quilting Sisters in Benson AZ 
Quilting Retreats
5) Donating Your Quilts
A new purpose for my quilts is to donate some of them to others that may have nothing. A quilt can be a lifeline for them to help them get back on their feet. Each quilt I make now has a story of where we have been when making the quilt. I call them my “journey quilts.” Recently, I dropped off one of my journey quilts at a church in Mandeville LA and received an email that the quilt had gone to a person that had lost everything. This confirms I have a purpose in my quilting!
Quilting in an RV is not only possible but also rewarding, especially in 2020. It is important to find something you can put your heart and soul into. It will help you process what is happening in the world around you and we all know, it’s not easy right now.
In the comments below, share what your “something” is to get you through these tough times.
Previous blog: “Stay-at-Home” While Living in an RV
Always good to hear from you, Heidi. Your posts have become more infrequent. I guess that’s because you’ve been doing all that quilting. They look great. Please continue to post to your blog.
Thanks for reading our blog. Yes, I’m going to change that and blog more frequently! Let me know if you have any topics that you would be interested in reading! Happy trails!
Do you change the type of pattern or quilting technique because of the lack of room to spread out? Are you machine quilting (not just piecing) or hand quilting? Do you use a frame for that?
I’ve been using up fabric scraps and cutting up my husband’s now-too-small 100% cotton shirts for masks. It’s one of the things I’ve done through this longest of years. I also am the outside monk for my 84-year-old mother, and for two aunts in their 80s who live in a senior retirement complex. I run errands and buy what they didn’t get from their grocery delivery. They are all lonely — and scared.
We go full-time in Summer 2024. I figured I’d put my old Bernina in storage. Now I wonder if I could get it in our 34-foot gasser motorhome. Its weight alone might be a factor. It’s heavy.
I replied to you directly via email – I am machine quilting without a frame. I bought a new sewing machine which makes it a lot easier. Good luck going full time in Summer 2024 – that’s just 4 1/2 years from now! Congratulations – it is great being on the road. Definitely bring your Bernina with!
I have lived in my travel trailer for more than a year. I moved into it shortly after my wife lost her battle with cancer. I have made a quilt top every week since I have moved into my TT in April 2020. I have made quilts in sizes from crib to king and used quilt block from 6″ to 12″. I have made other patterns that didn’t use a quilt block and have never had problems during the making of them. I have used a large embroidery hoop to quilt the crib size quilts but nothing larger. I have a neighbor who allows me to connect to their home to do the quilting on my long arm quilt machine and frame. Size is not the issue if you have been quilting as long as I have, 50 plus years. Finding a new person or group to donate to has been solved for me with hurricane Laura and Delta happening less than 30 mile either side of where I live. I have been living on $160.00 or less a month for this full year and few months. Material has come from a stash that has been overflowing for years. When that ran out I did as my wife suggested I do after her passing, use the cloths she left and didn’t need anymore just like my grandmother and teacher did in days of old. The first one I made from her clothing now keeps me warm in the winter and offers comfort the rest of the year. My Brother PQ1500SL, my last Christmas gift from her, will travel with me wherever I go. The quilts I make with it will be gifted to those in need. And the love she gave to me will be shared with all who’s path I cross. Size doesn’t matter when quilting in a TT, RV or boat. What matters is how much love you put into the quilt you are making and sharing with others. I plan to start traveling sometime in 2022 when my SSI checks are scheduled to begin coming to me. My quilt making will slow a little at that time but I will still keep giving them to the people I find along my journey that have need of them.