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Taking a Sewing Machine on Vacation

We Carry
by Sara Snuggerud in Projects, Sewing Machines, Sewing Tips

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When this blog posts I will have just returned home from a trip to Oregon. With any trip take I always hear a little voice in the back of my head asking, “Is there room to take a sewing machine.” “Could I get a little sewing in while I am there.”

I have planned to take some sewing projects and I have listed my most minimal supplies I have packed in the suitcase. When I return home I will post my findings at the end of this blog post as to whether or not I got any sewing done, did I take the right amount of supplies and projects and what I should have done differently.

My goal was to take the least amount of sewing supplies I needed. Here is a picture and description of what I packed:

Tools to take on vacation

Small rotary cutter mat
Small ruler – 4” x 14”
Rotary cutter
Pins – 10 -12
Thread – neutral color
Seam ripper
Marking tool
Seam Gauge
Scissors – small
Scissors – large
Extra sewing machine needles

As I type, a Janome Jem sewing machine that was recently traded-in to Heirloom Creations is being trucked via USP from South Dakota to Oregon. It cost me $30 to ship it. It is due to arrive the day after I arrive. You can visit USP’s website and calculate how long it will take a package to arrive so you know what day to ship it. If you do not own its original box, drop it off at the UPS store and they will pack it for you.

If you don’t have an extra sewing machine to travel with contact the local sewing machine store and ask if they have rental machines. It could be cheaper than shipping your machine back and forth. Twila P., an Heirloom Creations’ customer and Sewtopia Sewing Club member, described her experience of renting a sewing machine from a local sewing store delightful and much cheaper than shipping her machine. She had 5 days in a hotel room while hubby worked in the city. The cost of the rental and the cab ride to get it was a much cheaper solution.

People often ask us about checking their sewing machine as luggage with the airlines. My answer is no. With the price of luggage and not being able to insure the sewing machine for its full value detours me from going this route. If you have no other option, this is my last resort. But, if your sewing machine is small enough, see if it will fit in a small carry on suitcase. Wrap it in bubble wrap or your clothes to keep it protected while traveling.

What projects and how many projects to take? This question is never an easy one to answer. No matter what you decide, plan to pre-cut as much as possible. I never know exactly how much time I will have to sew. This particular trip I will be traveling with my 6 year old daughter and meeting up with my father for 5 days. We have plenty of catching up to do but dad wants me to teach him how to sew. I will be gifting the sewing machine to him at the end of the week. Kate has never seen an ocean so the days will probably be spent mostly on the beach. Sewing will definitely not be my first priority, but if I don’t take a sewing machine I will wish I had.

We will be staying at a vacation home on the beach outside of Tillamook, OR that I found via AirBnb.com.

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When vacationing the location will dictate whether you can sew or not. Of course, I do remember my mom and I going camping when I was young and we both backed our sewing machines! Picnic tables worked great as long as you have a long enough extension cord. Place your foot control on a towel or something other than in the dirt.

Sewing outside on a deck overlooking a body of water or a green meadow could also be just what you need to get your creative juices going.

Hotel rooms can be a little tricky depending on the room set up. A nice studio set up with an office work table now offers tons of more electrical options these days then years ago. The lights in a hotel room will probably be your biggest challenge. Check out the new SewLite LED lights that runs on batteries. This small item will be worth its weight in gold when you get to your destination.

Where was the best vacation spot you took your sewing machine to? Post in the comments below!

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Follow Up blog post from the trip: 

I had high hopes of ending this blog post with pictures of me sewing while looking over the ocean. Telling you I had packed just the right amount of supplies and finished all the sewing projects I had packed. But somehow UPS missed getting my sewing machine delivered. It went missing. (Sniff) After filing a report that it was never delivered, it showed up back in the system three days later when it was scanned back in at a Minneapolis UPS depot. WHAT!?!?! How does that happen with all of today’s technology. Oh, well.

Twila, you were right. Guess I should have just rented a sewing machine from the local quilt store.

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