"Ugly" Fabric Swap/Challenge
 

Hello Fellow Quilters,

I know we all have that "ugly" fabric in our quilting stash. We keep moving it from shelf to shelf never understanding why or how we got the fabric. I figured we could all challenge each other to come up with a quilt top with someone's "ugly" fabric. This will be both a fabric swap with a challenge with the swap. Lets get a few rules out of the way first off.
This swap/challenge is open to all experience levels. Please check the ugly fabric before sending to ensure that it is 100% pre-washed cotton fabric. You will need to send to me at least 1/3 yard to a half yard of your ugly fabric. Please include return priority postage of $5.30. Please remember that if you do not send enough return postage I will hold them until you send the difference. If postage becomes a problem please send me a PM and I am sure we can work something out. Do not send envelopes as I use padded priority envelopes which are provided free by the USPS. Checks, money orders or concealed cash (at your own risk) will be accepted for your postage/shipping costs. Deadline to sign up for this swap/challenge is March 23rd and the fabric must be received to me by April 6th. I will have it back in the mail to you by April 14th. If you get your fabric and you decide that your to busy or that you like the fabric and just want to add it to your stash then you are more than welcome too. You would just be participating in the swap part. The challenge part is just something fun to challenge our creative minds. Reminders and swap rules can be found here - http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-20154-1.htm

Ok ... so the challenge guidelines are as follows:

Finished size should be at least 40" x 40"

The 1/3 yard of ugly fabric has to be used on the front of the quilt. You can't just cut a tiny piece and say that is your ugly fabric.

You can add up to 6 more fabrics to your quilt.

You can piece, applique, embroider - anything you want to on your quilt

There is no absolute requirement for you to show us your project. We do hope you will, though. Please try to have a picture of your project posted by July 22, 2012. A photo of just the top will be fine if you haven't had time by then to finish it.

This is an opportunity for us to think outside of the box. This should be a fun challenge and I can't wait to see what others come up with. I will take a picture of all the ugly fabric but if you could take a picture of your ugly fabric and post it with your finished quilt top that would be awesome. Once you sign up I will PM you my address and you can feel free to send me your fabric as soon as you get my address. This should make it easier on you so that you don't forget to send out your fabric. I am so excited about this challenge. Feel free to PM me with any questions.

I'm not sure I understand.

Would I would choose one 1/3-1/2 yard piece of "ugly" fabric from my stash, and send it to you ... then you'd send me back one 1/3-1/2 yard piece of someone else's "ugly" fabric?

Or would I choose several 1/3-1/2 yard pieces from my stash ... say 5 pieces (for example) ... send them in, and then receive 5 different pieces back?

Thanks! It sounds like an interesting swap. :)

Good question Moonrise. You would look in your stash and find what you think is "ugly" fabric. Send it to me then when I get everyone's fabric I will send you back a someone else's "ugly" fabric. Then you make a quilt top with that ugly fabric using up to six other fabrics but you must use the 1/3 yd of the ugly fabric you get back. I hope that clarify's it for you. If not I can answer any other questions you have. This will be so much fun. Thanks for looking.

Okay, thanks! I'll look in my stash and see if I can find anything. :) I know I've bought fabric that was pretty at the time, but came back later and wondered "What was I thinking???" LOL! :D

Oh my goodness I think we all have or we have been given some fabric. I think it was the other quilters way of saying "this is hideous so I am passing it on to someone else". Send me a PM if you decide you want to join in on the festivities.

Sign me up. I'm in.

This sounds like fun! I'll go see if the piece I'm thinking of is big enough...it may just be a FQ.

So far we have four members joining us. I have done one of these before and they are soooo fun and make you think outside the box.

Oh goody! I've been thinking about 3 of the ugliest fabrics in my stash for about a week now. Wanted to show them and get others to show their uglies, without the thread becoming a venue for selling, so this sounds like a good challenge.

Separate thought though- I can ship 2 yards of fabric for about $2.70. I wouldn't want to pay $5.30 to have someone else ship a small fraction of that fabric amount. Couldn't you ship regular mail? A one third yard can go into a 6"x 9" envelope. That factor alone may prevent some from joining.