Quilt Camp
A hands-on, four-day retreat for quilters, artists, and anyone interested in exploring how quilts can hold stories, memory, and history. Guided by Cody Cook-Parrott, you’ll spend time sewing, learning, and discussing the quilt as a living archive — how it documents time, care, and community.
Itinerary:
Arrival: Friday 4 – 6pm Check in and join us for a welcome dinner.
Saturday and Sunday: Full days dedicated to sewing sessions, informal lectures, group conversations, and time to view Cody’s exhibition THE QUILT AS ARCHIVE, which will be on display at Cedar North during the retreat. Weather permitting, we’ll take breaks to swim or walk outside.
Departure: Monday morning — breakfast and packing up, check out by 12 PM.
In this retreat:
- Develop or continue your own quilting project alongside others.
- Learn how quilts function as archives of personal, cultural, and collective history.
- Connect with fellow artists and makers in an intimate, supportive environment.
Meet Your Instructor:
Cody Cook-Parrott
Cody Cook-Parrott is a writer and artist living on the Leelanau Peninsula in Northern Michigan. They facilitate a weekly writing group called Landscapes and teach classes about writing, quilting, and creative practice. Cody has a BFA in Dance from the University of Michigan and is an MFA candidate at the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University. Their work has been featured in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Dance Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more.
Stitching Together:
This Spring, Cody taught “Quilt in a Weekend” at Green Door Folk School. This was the first in-person quilting class they had taught since February 2020. As nine students snipped, ripped, and stitched their improvisational quilts together over the two-day course, it was undeniable: there was something in the air. Something between joy and madness. Fabric scraps and threads scattered the floor, and machines were whirring up until the very last minute of class. Spent and proud, students made their way back home; and yet, we wanted more. More time, more quilting, and more community.
This is when we learned about Cody’s dream of Quilt Camp, like a summer camp for grown-ups. Cody envisioned four days devoted to quilting, with time not only for crafting, but for connecting. Just as the pieces of the quilt are stitched together, the hope is that learning and crafting alongside one another will imbue the retreat with shared stories, discovery of who we are, and understanding of the ways in which we are shaped by collective experiences.
Green Door classes are immersive and intentionally long. We find that over prolonged time together, students form deeper bonds with each other, the craft, and their instructor for an overall more impactful experience. Even if you are a Traverse City local, the intention is that these classes feel a bit like a retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you are visiting from afar, the experience can be even deeper.
Class Details:
Where is the class held?: Quilt Camp is held at Green Door Folk School in Cedar, Michigan. On-site housing is available at Cedar North, just steps away from our classroom. Please fill out the google form upon registration to learn more about the available options for housing.
Cost: $750 (Includes: 8 meals -Friday dinner through Monday breakfast- and all necessary tools and materials)
Date/Time: September 5th – 8th
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- No prior experience required.
- Ages 18+
Booking Information and Policies:
What happens after I book the class?: After you book, we will send you a confirmation email that you are IN! A week out from the class, we will send you an email with more details about our meeting locations and some housekeeping items.
Due to the nature of this retreat style class, we are unable to offer any refunds for cancellations.
If the class is canceled by the school: In the event of inclement weather or other disruptions, we will issue a full refund and do our best to offer a reschedule option.
Policies:
Go for it! Whether you’ve made many quilts or have never used a sewing machine, this is an opportunity to relive your days of summer camp bliss, form connection with other creative individuals, and be present and embodied for four days of handwork, dialogue, and learning.