Starting new Row Robin Swap...Anyone interested please add your idea for a name for our group and what your theme will be to me.
Swap closes on my 50th birthday -- March 6.
ROW BY ROW ROBIN:
A row quilt is a quilt where each robin member makes a row in a specific width or length, determines the theme and then passes the quilt to the remaining robin members of their group who each make another row until eventually the set of rows return to the quilt owner who puts all of the rows into a quilt. The quilt owner determines whether his/her quilt will be in a vertical or horizontal orientation, the widths/lengths above apply to both vertical and horizontal row by row quilts.
THEME:
Each quilt owner will decide on a theme for their quilt (ex: all blue, stars, gardening, Christmas, etc) and/or the colors you wish to use as well as the orientation of the row by row quilt, vertical or horizontal. The other robin members will decide on the specific blocks to use in their rounds.
PARTICIPATION:
As with any round robin or swap a row quilt involves a firm commitment for the duration of the swap. If you cannot follow the rules or meet the deadlines, then it is best to decline joining in. The key to a successful robin or swap of any type is commitment and communication. If you get stumped for ideas on your row ask other members of the group for ideas.
FABRICS:
You will make your first row of blocks using your colors and/or theme fabric. You can include fabrics with your robin but it is left to each individual in the group to use or not use them. It is recommended to include fabrics if you’ve chosen a color theme for your finished row by row quilt. You can always tie your rows together with sashing and/or borders when it returns home. Please remember to use 100% quality cotton, pre-washed fabric. Also remember that each top will circulate through many sets of hands and equipment as it travels the world. There may be a variety of techniques used as well. it's best to select fabrics that will hold up well under a variety of conditions and that can withstand repeated machine washing. Fabrics you can see through, that appear to fray easily, or that are loosely woven are not the best candidates for a shared project.
ROWS:
We will make rows in the orientation the quilt owner(s) decides on. Any row of any quilt MUST be the width/length the quilt owner decided on, as well as maintaining the orientation of the quilt, and each member has the option of determining the block size to meet that width/length requirement. It is recommended that your blocks/row widths/lengths are no more than 16” (16.5” unfinished) finished or no less than 5” finished (5.5” unfinished) – you are of course expected to use your best discretion in deciding the appropriate width for your addition. Do NOT attach your row to the previous row. Place your row in the bag with the other rows and the rest of the fabric, if included, and pass it on by the deadline. If you have fabric you want to add to the bag for others to use in their rows you are welcome to do that. By not sewing the rows together as the quilts progress through the groups allows the owner to configure the quilt to his/her liking as well as adding any additional sashing rows or borders when he/she gets it home.
LABEL YOUR ROW:
When you complete your row and before sending it on to the next participant create a label with your name and row number and attach it to your row with a safety pin so the owner can easily identify your round. You can be as elaborate with your label as you see fit or as simple. The quilt owner can also include individual labels if she wants something specific for her quilt label. A simple label like a 2” x 5” piece of muslin ironed to a piece of freezer paper with your name and round number on it will suffice.
BLOCK PATTERN & SIZE:
Each robin member will decide which block pattern would be best for the quilt as it comes to them. All blocks in a row do not have to be the same pattern or even the same size. Blocks don’t have to be square. The key here is to be creative, use sashing strips between blocks or add borders to your blocks or sections to get the width/length you need for the row. Maintain the theme of the quilt using your own fabric and any fabrics that may have been included. Traditional piecing, paper piecing, or finished appliqué will all work as long as the blocks compliment the theme and meets the width/length requirement of the quilt.
PHOTOS
We will be posting pictures with each round, unless you specify that you do not want to see your quilt until it is finished. For most of us…we just can’t wait.
JOURNALS/ROUND DOCUMENTATION:
It is highly recommended that you send a journal along with your row. It can be as simple as 3” x 5” index cards or as elaborate as bound journal. Include any notes to the group about what you would like. A theme…photos of a theme, fabric to be added, etc. We also encourage each quilt owner to include a label for each member of their group to sign with their name, round, and date. Again this can be as simple as a piece of muslin ironed to freezer paper or as elaborate as the quilt owner likes. Take a photo of your addition and add copies to the journal before passing it on to the next participant. When writing in the owners journal try to document where the idea for your row came from.
Please stay on target for the mailing dates. You will have approximately 2 months between mailings. If something happens that will cause you to be late mailing, please let the person who you will be mailing to and the leader of the group know. Specific mailing dates will be sent out with the group assignments once we have the final list of those joining in.
You will need to insure your packages when mailing.
SIGN UP – Now Through March 6, 2011
I will send out more specific details after the deadline passes and we know who many are in our little swap...Looking forward to organizing this for everyone.
***MODERATOR'S NOTES: Rounders, please remember to read and follow the rules that apply to all swaps. They will apply to this one, too:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-20154-1.htm
Also, please help your RR Host by sending your info to her in a private message. It will be easier for her to keep track of everything. :-)
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