Curious - Do you swap blocks and why?
03-09-2011, 05:44 PM
#91
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Port Lavaca, TX
Posts: 1,276
Once I participated in a round robin in a local guild.
It was my first round robin.
It was for a wall hanging about 43 inches, more or less! We were asked to supply pieces of fabric of the colors we liked at the beginning of the swap, and any requests.... My request was please, only blues and white.
We were allowed to add fabric, though.
We each started with a twelve and a half inch block
I supplied enough white to make a whole quilt of that color.
I put half yards and fat quarters of various blues in my paper grocery bag.
The others all chose nature's colors of browns, golds, greens, earth tones....
We kept all the work secret when we swapped bags of the fabric and partially finished tops - so nobody saw what they were getting until they were all finished!
We all ended up with really beautiful wall hanging tops!
I chose to make mine into the center of a queen sized quilt.
It was my first round robin.
It was for a wall hanging about 43 inches, more or less! We were asked to supply pieces of fabric of the colors we liked at the beginning of the swap, and any requests.... My request was please, only blues and white.
We were allowed to add fabric, though.
We each started with a twelve and a half inch block
I supplied enough white to make a whole quilt of that color.
I put half yards and fat quarters of various blues in my paper grocery bag.
The others all chose nature's colors of browns, golds, greens, earth tones....
We kept all the work secret when we swapped bags of the fabric and partially finished tops - so nobody saw what they were getting until they were all finished!
We all ended up with really beautiful wall hanging tops!
I chose to make mine into the center of a queen sized quilt.
03-09-2011, 06:13 PM
#92
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Port Lavaca, TX
Posts: 1,276
Ummm.
If you get some off sized blocks ...or off color blocks in a swap, how about making a lap sized, or nap sized quilt, a pillow or two, or a tote?
...and give them away for charity !
(Tell the swapper they were extra - and what you did!)
If you get some off sized blocks ...or off color blocks in a swap, how about making a lap sized, or nap sized quilt, a pillow or two, or a tote?
...and give them away for charity !
(Tell the swapper they were extra - and what you did!)
03-09-2011, 06:15 PM
#93
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mason, Ohio
Posts: 1,465
Originally Posted by jpthequilter
Once I participated in a round robin in a local guild.
It was my first round robin.
It was for a wall hanging about 43 inches, more or less! We were asked to supply pieces of fabric of the colors we liked at the beginning of the swap, and any requests.... My request was please, only blues and white.
We were allowed to add fabric, though.
We each started with a twelve and a half inch block
I supplied enough white to make a whole quilt of that color.
I put half yards and fat quarters of various blues in my paper grocery bag.
The others all chose nature's colors of browns, golds, greens, earth tones....
We kept all the work secret when we swapped bags of the fabric and partially finished tops - so nobody saw what they were getting until they were all finished!
We all ended up with really beautiful wall hanging tops!
I chose to make mine into the center of a queen sized quilt.
It was my first round robin.
It was for a wall hanging about 43 inches, more or less! We were asked to supply pieces of fabric of the colors we liked at the beginning of the swap, and any requests.... My request was please, only blues and white.
We were allowed to add fabric, though.
We each started with a twelve and a half inch block
I supplied enough white to make a whole quilt of that color.
I put half yards and fat quarters of various blues in my paper grocery bag.
The others all chose nature's colors of browns, golds, greens, earth tones....
We kept all the work secret when we swapped bags of the fabric and partially finished tops - so nobody saw what they were getting until they were all finished!
We all ended up with really beautiful wall hanging tops!
I chose to make mine into the center of a queen sized quilt.
03-10-2011, 12:35 PM
#94
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 703
I don't swap blocks any more. The last time there were guidelines about the type of material and the size. Some used non-cotton material and the blocks and the piano keys did not measure the size requested. I ended up taking some of the blocks apart and resizing them.
03-11-2011, 06:20 AM
#95
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,152
Oh, Diana you are missing the fun of trading blocks. I have a Block Trade in the classifieds right now and there is no danger that you will not get a block as you are exchanging with me.
It is simple, I make Log Cabin blocks, just about one a day and wish to trade with anyone who signs up. They would be making a 9 patch for me.
So if you are interested find the Block trade ad in the classifieds and sign up.
I agree with you re: the colors and designs. Not all of us can afford to go out and buy special fabric for a block and even if we can, mostly I don't even have a response telling me they receive it, whether they liked it or whatever.
The way I'm doing it is not complicated, Very simple and straigjht forward. You be my friend and I'll be yours and we will trade our Good Will.
It is simple, I make Log Cabin blocks, just about one a day and wish to trade with anyone who signs up. They would be making a 9 patch for me.
So if you are interested find the Block trade ad in the classifieds and sign up.
I agree with you re: the colors and designs. Not all of us can afford to go out and buy special fabric for a block and even if we can, mostly I don't even have a response telling me they receive it, whether they liked it or whatever.
The way I'm doing it is not complicated, Very simple and straigjht forward. You be my friend and I'll be yours and we will trade our Good Will.
03-13-2011, 01:37 AM
#97
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Queensland Australia
Posts: 1,388
Originally Posted by Hen3rietta
Do you swap blocks? and if not, why? My question is one of pure curiosity. - I don't any longer.
When I first started seeking fellow quilters on the web I enthusiastically joined a number of swaps of various sorts: FQ's, charms, friendship stars, 12 months, row X row, etc. Now, I find that I'm much less likely to engage in certain kinds of swaps, if any. These are usually the ones that require the use of certain colors or styles (30's repro for example) that change for each participant, or extend over long periods of time (round robins) where you have to rely on the persons preceding you to get your bit out in time. And I've found that with all the block or row swaps I've done, I've yet to assemble a single top from any of them and I'm at a loss to explain why except that none of them move me to want to finish them, even for charity. I donated a number of them to the block orphanage.
After much thought, I've concluded that the annoyance of keeping track of what I send and receive is the primary reason for me, followed closely by picky participants/hostesses who want not only a particular color but a style that I don't have in my stash or a theme fabric that is just not available for one reason or another requiring me to run around trying to find something suitable.
How about the rest of you non-swappers out there?
Diana
When I first started seeking fellow quilters on the web I enthusiastically joined a number of swaps of various sorts: FQ's, charms, friendship stars, 12 months, row X row, etc. Now, I find that I'm much less likely to engage in certain kinds of swaps, if any. These are usually the ones that require the use of certain colors or styles (30's repro for example) that change for each participant, or extend over long periods of time (round robins) where you have to rely on the persons preceding you to get your bit out in time. And I've found that with all the block or row swaps I've done, I've yet to assemble a single top from any of them and I'm at a loss to explain why except that none of them move me to want to finish them, even for charity. I donated a number of them to the block orphanage.
After much thought, I've concluded that the annoyance of keeping track of what I send and receive is the primary reason for me, followed closely by picky participants/hostesses who want not only a particular color but a style that I don't have in my stash or a theme fabric that is just not available for one reason or another requiring me to run around trying to find something suitable.
How about the rest of you non-swappers out there?
Diana
03-18-2011, 01:39 PM
#98
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 520
I was in a block swap for beginners a few years ago. Five of us from 4 states did a purple 7" square swap. Simply cut 6 7" sq. of any printed purple cotton that looked good together. Then we didn`t have enough sq. to make a queen size quilt, so we each sent 6 more, same rule purple printed cotton that look good together. 1st time we had 30- second time 60 each. In the end we each had a quilt which was part of 5 of us.I don`t know what the rest did, but mine looked nice and I will give it to charity.
09-29-2011, 12:49 PM
#99
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Appleton, WI
Posts: 738
Wow! Now I don't feel so badly about being unhappy with the swaps. I first participated in the one block a month swap. I got the first month's block from someone very nice and easy to please, and I liked what she sent. The next month I had a new partner. I used the colors requested, etc. and sent the block right away. I got a pm telling me she really liked it. I waited and waited to get a block from her. After a month, I asked about it. The person wrote back and said that she had just got the block from me that very day, a month after she had already thanked me for it. She said I would be getting a block shortly. I never did get it. I worked hard on the next swap, a 6 block one. I used the same animals that some of you have seen on my place mat pictures. What I got back nearly brought a tear. I must say though, that I absolutely love the sectet pal monthly package swap. It is wonderful. People are kind and generous and happy with the things I send, and I love the fat quarters, etc. that they send me. I am so glad I tried that one.
09-29-2011, 02:05 PM
#100
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 608
I did a few swaps in the past, the first one started out as a "anything goes" 12.5 inch block, next thing you know over 1/2 the people wanted something specific, the organizer just added it to the list. I completed my blocks, and the ones I received several went in the trash, a few in my "internet" quilt. I tried another swap, and it did not wor out either, many who signed up dropped out. I did do the millenium 3 inch swap from several states, and countries that went well for me.
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