By Diane Harris, HQ Stitch Brand Ambassador

I hosted a quilt retreat in Colorado last week. Today I’m sharing a few highlights of our time together.

A colorful ombré jelly roll became this colorful quilt top.

I had never seen an ombré jelly roll made into something so lovely as this quilt top. Now I have my eyes peeled for one so I can make it, too. In all the excitement I’m not sure who made this or who published the pattern. If you know, please share in the comments.

You can see that Meredy wasn’t having any fun at all as she displayed her batik quilt top, ready for quilting. She is holding the backing, and we marveled at how perfect it was.

Here’s a detail. I don’t have the pattern information but if you know it, please share it in the comments.

Jamie and her Take Five quilt top

This adorable twenty-something quilter joined us middle-aged ladies and sewed her heart out on a Take Five for her home. Take Five is a popular pattern by Kathy Brown of The Teacher’s Pet. Late one night, she accidentally sewed the final border on inside out. We all felt her pain because we’ve been there!

My friend and guild mate Barb used the floor to lay out her blocks. The pattern is Kira by my friend Gudrun Erla of GE Designs. It’s easy sewing that yields a dynamite look! Barb used a new Minick and Simpson line from Moda Fabrics called Crystal Lake.

Barb and another retreat friend Pam both work at Prairie Point Junction in Cozad, Nebraska.

Jan and her t-shirt quilt top

I was delighted to be able to catch up with my cousin Jan at the retreat! We don’t see each other often enough. She worked on a t-shirt quilt for her nephew and I love the three-dimensional look she created. It will be gifted in May and I know the young man will appreciate it.

Barb and Nova Star

Barb also made this Nova Star quilt top from a Hofmann Fabrics Dream Big panel. The design is by Cindi McCracken. You may be seeing these panels used as canvases for machine quilting samplers, but this star is a new idea to me. The charcoal you see is also a Hofmann panel.

There is much more to see but that’s a wrap for today. If you’ve never gone on a quilt retreat, you really should try it. Inspiration, endless sewing and new friends are some of the benefits. What’s not to love?!