Help! Need info about "Shoebox" quilts
 

Hi all...Our guild is thinking about doing a shoebox quilt (round robin type). Has anyone tried doing this in your guild? Info we have is: "A Shoebox Quilt. What is it? Well, it's sort of like a round robin. There are usually 12 participants. Each quilter picks a block pattern that they are going to piece. Each quilter selects a variety of fabrics and places them in a shoebox. Then the shoebox travels around the group--each month you get a new shoebox. Using the fabric inside, you make a quilt block from the block pattern you previously selected. You put the quilt block and the remainder of the fabric back inside the shoebox and pass it on. At the end of 12 months, each quilter gets their own shoebox back with 12 beautiful quilt blocks inside. Each quilter then selects a setting for their blocks and stitches up a beautiful quilt." This was the only real explanation we could get when googled. So, we have questions that someone may be able to answer.
How do we come up with yardage amounts & # of fabrics? I would imagine that each person would designate the fabric in their shoebox to be the background fabric. I think we will probably pick some kind of a theme.
I'm hoping there are some of you that have done this & can help....Thanks.

The kind of shoebox quilt I worked on last year had all the fabric precut in the box, all we each had to do was decide how to put the shapes together. Another round robin "friendship quilt" I have done I provided one "required" fabric and a "light solid color of your choice" request (any size or shape allowed, so it was fun to arrange the results!).
Number of fabrics is individual, as is block size requested. Yardage should guarantee that the last person has enough to make a block! This is more of a challenge when you don't get the box back until the end of the year, instead of receiving a block each month. Have fun!

Yes, we have "Quilt in a Box" in our Ladybug Quilting Guild in Newark, DE. The person who owns the box (we use the clear or colored 12" or 14" boxes from JAF or A.C. Moore. I get mine from A.C. Moore in the paper dept. where they are cheaper.) picks her fabrics, maybe up to 10 if she chooses. She does not pick a pattern. She buys the fabric and inside the box she tapes pieces of her fabric, pointing out the feature fabric, the one she wants the least of, etc. Then on the front of the box is taped a list of all 12 members who will participate in this exchange. I believe we are up to #22 or so. At the beginning, all boxes are passed out, and then at each meeting, they announce that "at the break, the Quilt in a Box #22 will meet in the right hand corner to exchange their boxes". If someone is missing, they can make it
up or pick a box up in the neighborhood they live.
Then after all the boxes are done, about a year or so, we meet at someone's home, have a carry-in dinner, and exchange our boxes. What we do is call a name, and everyone puts that girl's blocks up on the flannel board for her to
see. Hardly anyone duplicates a block. All are different. But no one knows that in advance. Because of so many of us working, finishing the top is up to the owner of the box. Maybe it is years later when a top is finished.
Hope this helps. I would attach a copy of our papers, but I cannot locate one right now. Maybe later.

My guild did this. We had 12 participants, we had each chose a quilt block to make. We labeled the fabrics inside the box like ragamuffin stated.The end results were amazing

Never having participated in this, questions are popping up in my mind...maybe I'm not reading the process correctly..says each has a box with all fabric for 12 blocks inside - ???? That in itself could be so variable - is size of blocks decided prior? Next, everyone decides on a block to make - does that mean, say person 1, will make a "pinwheel" for each of the 12 boxes in the group? Person 2 does her predetermined block on and on so that at the end all 12 boxes have the same 12 patterns but colors are "their" original stack of fabric? What if someone runs put of fabric in their shoe box?

I think ours will not be precut...just our fabrics in our box. There will be at least 12 boxes to be switched around. Block size will be 12" finished.

Yes, all blocks will be different. Each person will make her "chosen" block with each person's fabrics that are in their shoebox. So in the end, each person will have 12 blocks done with their own fabrics. We usually have a "top done to show the guild" about 4 months later. That way we all get to see the tops put together, doesn't need to be quilted. We've done it this way for our BOM's & the reveal day usually includes a prize or two. The fun is in seeing how each person actually puts their top together...and some even make extra blocks to add to the others to get it to what they want.

Yes, 12" finished. And yes, you're understanding correctly. And, that's why I asked about what would be a good yardage & # of colors to start with, so no one runs out.

To clear it up......each box will have the same 12 DIFFERENT blocks out of their fabric. Then it's up to each person to put their blocks in their box together any way they choose, for show & tell.
Basically, is it good to say 6 colors (1/2 yd. each) plus 2 yds. background color? Does that sound about right? They should not run out this way. This would not include backing or binding. And they can add border colors later when they put the quilt top together.

if it's a 12" block, isn't 1/2 yard way too much fabric? also, too much fabric for background, too...i was thinking more in fat quarters....JMHO...so i guess there's no sashing?...cornerstones or borders? there's really a lot to figure out...maybe to have an idea of what your end product would be is the first step in figuring out the rest....

I've done this before.
The way ours worked is everyone picked the block or theme that they wanted. You could add some fabric in the box if you wanted, some did to maintain consistency. I picked one block and included the pattern for the block, wanted it scrappy so did not include fabric.

Here is what I learned;
The quality of some of the fabric (and I'm not that picky) was... umm ....... not so great.
Everyone's 1/4" seam allowance was different so I ended up adding a 1" border on all of the blocks to square them off.

One of the ladies chose a detailed pineapple block to do in black and white and provided the paper pieced template only to realize that half of the blocks had been trimmed and the last seam allowance was now gone.

So my advice is to choose a pattern/theme that is forgiving and do it for fun, to have a quilt that your friends have worked on.

I am involved in one right now. Basically there was no hard and fast theme. some put in only background fabrics and suggested a theme such as doors, shoes, portrait. Some included a variety of pattern templates , others just a piece of fabric and finished block size. In any case instructions were glued to the top of the box. As expected, there should be lots of finicky finishing since a 1/4 seam is not consistent. I completed one made while a member of a guild where I received 9 blocks that ranged from 6 to 10 inches. I added borders and filler blocks and ended up with a pretty nice quilt. There are lots of opportunities to exercise your brain with this project.

I've been in many "shoebox Clubs". Put your fabrics in a shoe box or other type of box and the boxes gets passed to others in the group. You always get another members box each month. I've turned into a "picky person" in my old age and for that reason I quilt doing the shoe box club. The last time I was not satisfied with the quality of work. I figure if I really make the effort to create a "perfect" block, others should do the same. I wasn't happy with the results in the last group. No straight edges, not all 12 inches, etc. I think everyone should try it at least once.

From the last few responses this could be a real role of the dice.........putting myself hypothetically in this arrangement....each month I receive a different box of fabric from which I am supposed to sew the block I have chosen...12 blocks/same pattern/different fabs......now being the pessimist I am I can see at the beginning...plenty of fab, but towards the end. Could be tricky, or maybe even not possible to do my block with what's in that box.

but, thinking the whole thing thru, whatever is in my box at the end.... Will either be a tablerunner or a bed quilt......hmmm, wonder if the guild I belong to would be interested.......

Oh, another thought...when beginning this is there a max of colors to be used/ put in the box initially(fab)... Say 4 colors...therefore each block could, but not necessarily have, 4 colors in it?

I would ask that at least one other fabric be added to each block. Will make for more interesting results.

We called ours a "Pizza Box" quilt. Pizza boxes hold your squares without wrinkling them.

Wow what a fun idea. I love this kind of stuff for our small (11 person) quilt group. Thanks so much for sharing. I'll ask the girls if this is something they would like to do.

This sounds like a lot of fun but because I still get a wonky block in every quilt I make no matter how much I try for perfection I would avoid the shoebox quilt so I didn't upset the quilters with more experience.

Gotta figure for 12 blocks of your fabric...leftovers could be used when the quilt is put together...I know I sometimes use that for cornerstones, stars in sashing, pianokey borders, etc. So, want to give the option. Also, if more blocks are wanting to be made to make quilt larger. It's up to each person how they want to put the 12 blocks together. That will be the fun of it at the end, to see what everyone comes up with for those 12 blocks. Just want to give options of still using what's in the actual blocks in the rest of the quilt.

Everyone will be using their own fabric, so that stops the problem of "no so great fabric" & also the quilt will be in the colors of her choice for her shoebox. The only thing friends will work on are the actual blocks. The box owner then figures out how they will be put together. I agree, everyone's 1/4" seam allowance may be different...I've added borders to swaps, myself...still came out with a nice quilt. And actually it turned out larger & with a whole different look...nice surprise!

Agree with you about the finicky finishing...we all need brain excersizing! :) & that's why I think theme & size of blocks will be decided at the beginning.

That's why I suggested 6 fabrics each 1/2 yd. And, yes, each block could, but not necessarily have all 6 colors in it. Hope your guild tries it, too.:)

Remember, it's the owner of the shoebox's own fabrics. I suggested 6 colors to have the variety, because, yes, it makes it more interesting.

I'm going to use a 13x13 scrapbook plastic box I got at JoAnn's. Also, a piece of cardboard cut about that size along with a couple clips, so the blocks can be clipped to it & no wrinkles. :)

Our guild is about 25-30...we're just feeling this out ourselves. Hope yours will jump on board & try it too. I'm going to print all this out so we can all discuss everyone's suggestions here & come up with the final "rules" for ours.

No one is perfect! We all realize that. We know everyone involved will do their best. That's just how our guild is. We have all different experiences from beginner to advanced. The "brain" will have to work overtime on some & not so much on others. One idea for you...make a 10 1/2" block & add border, then trim to the 12 1/2"...perfect block!:thumbup:

Thanks everyone for all the input...keep it coming! Looks like there are others maybe interested in doing it this way too.:)

How about everyone in the group doing up zip-lock bags with small amounts of their fabric in each bag? If a block had to be appliqued, a 12 or 13" background piece would be included. And if pieced, say a few 6" fabric-of-choice squares, noting of course which would be the background. Left-overs would be returned to the box in case someone needed a bit more.

Or would you specifiy the whole group makes pieced blocks, or appliqued, or embroidered? I think a mish-mash would be great.

This is the first I've realized what a 'shoe-box' quilt was, and my mind is running rampant with ideas. Will put this idea to a cuz who has a machine/quilting shop.

VickieM: My small group of 8 did this at Christmastime one year. We had great results. We each chose one pattern to make for everyone using their fabric. I think you are right on track with your plans: giving plenty of fabric choices and a designated background and ample amounts of fabric allow lots of freedom for the sewist. We were in weekly contact with one another and could ask for any more or a specific fabric if needed. And as you said, the extra in the kit can be used when setting the quilt together . We returned all unused fabric. Hope your group has fun, too. It was so neat to see how they were all alike, yet so different!

Thank you both. I think this is on the right track now. Love this group for a "sounding board"!