Have you ever swapped and been disappointed? I sent 15 really nice charms and got back 15 disappointments, really only 1 usable. Should I pm the swapper and let them know or just let it go? This is the first time this has happened every other time it's been very positive.

Oh, so sorry! I dont really know, I've never swapped before....looking forward to hearing the answers!

I've been disspointed several times. I quit doing swaps years ago because of the various problems I've had.

Just let it go. I have participated in a couple of swaps and sometimes the fabrics were not as good as quality as I use but you have to decide if you still want to swap or not. Many times you get great blocks or fabrics or whatever. I am going to use some of my "swap" stuff for charity quilts.

Let it go, life is too short to worry about that sort of thing.

I say let it go. There are worse things in life. It's disappointing but it could be worse.

I agree to let it go. I've never been in a swap...mainly because I don't buy top of the line and don't want to disappoint anyone! I always worry that my skills are not as good as others too. Sounds like fun, but I think u get what ya get. Sorry you were disappointed!

Thank you for the charity quilt idea I will save any that don't work and use them that way. Awesome way to make lemonade from lemons!

I think I would let it go also...I am doing my first swap and I do hope I get in return what I have sent. If I am disappointed..I just won't do it again...a learning experience...

I agree let it go. When I first started I really could not tell poly cotton from quilt quality cotton ( hard to beleive). When I received my swaps I really began to see & feel the differance in good quality fabrics. So the more knowledgable quilters really helped me know better. If they don't take part in swaps it's going to take a lot longer for newbies to learn. A short time in the stores ( in their lighting) just doesn't cut it.
Thanks to all quilters who take part in swaps, you will never know how much you have helped me & others like me. I know I'm a much better sewer because now the blocks I get in the swaps are a great guide.
Trudy

I was in a block swap on another site and one of the women who swapped, did a very poor job with her blocks. The fabrics were really bad and the sewing was just awful. The ladies decided not to say anything and I thought maybe I could take it apart and resew parts and have a usable block, but the pieces were cut wrong and the fabric so cheap that it wasn't possible, so I just tossed the whole block. The next time we swapped, the woman in charge of the swap decided to send back the blocks made poorly by the one lady. She decided it wasn't fair to the rest of us to trade beautifully made blocks for poorly made ones. The rest of the women supported her decision, but regretfully, her feelings were so hurt that she quilt the site. It's a hard call... and I'm still not sure it was the right one. I think it might have been better to toss one block with each swap and not hurt someone. The last swap we did was a jewel box with jewel tone fabrics on a black background. I was disappointed in some of the blocks because some women did not understand what jewel tones were and used pastel yellow, pale green and baby blue. But when they were all sewn together, they made a really pretty quilt. The swaps are fun, and I guess you have to weigh the fun against the possible disappointment in the quality of fabric or workmanship.

Same thing happened to me. I swapped blocks of good quality fabric. My blocks were squared to the correct size. I used the colors required for the block, light/med/dark. The blocks I received were not usable. Some blocks weren't even the right size, too small. The fabrics were so thin I could see through them. Some blocks didn't even have the dark/light 4 patch right. Out of 14 blocks there were only a few I could use.
I ended up making most of the blocks myself for the quilt top. That was my first and last swap. Maybe you should mention the poor quality of the blocks to whomever hosted the swap.(?)
Definitly a lesson learned.

There is some guidance on this subject on the general Rules for Swaps link that appears at the beginning of the block swap section:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-20154-1.htm

You might find something helpful there.

Hmmm...Its a hard thing, but I'd have to say that I wouldn't say anything. Swaps to me are more about the social experience and making friends and having fun than they are about what you get back. I've done lots of swaps on this board and also do the Round Robins and the Doll quilt swaps. Do I LOVE everything that I get back?...no, of course not..but when the quilts are done...its amazing how wonderful those "less than perfect" blocks/fabrics/borders/etc. add to the beauty of the final product. The best part are the friendships made. Its something to consider.

I loved the only swap (birthday) I participated in. The only thing I found a little disconcerting was people dropping out after they'd received their blocks. But there are so many kind people on the site, others were found to step in and take their place. It meant making a few more blocks than anticipated, but that was fun too. It was a lot of fun to get the squishies in the mail and almost all of the blocks were excellent. I appreciated that I got blocks with techniques that I don't know how to do. In a block swap you always have to take into account the skill level of others. In a charm swap, not so much. But I wouldn't say anything to the other person. That may be the best they can afford, or they may not be that knowledgeable about fabric quality.

You could set up some rulers for your swap. Lile it should all be of quilt shop fabric. That way you want get $2.00 walmart for $10.00 quilt shop fabric.

I can relate to your disappointment.

I'm not sure how to deal with the one-on-one trade. I definitely would not deal with that entity again - But the rest of us would also like to avoid trading with that entity.

If you were doing I Spy type squares, some fabrics really should be fussy cut to get the maximum picture value from the fabrics. I realize that it takes more fabric that way.

So the question is - and there is no way to know the answer - did the sender really not know any better - or was the sender knowingly sending - what's a nice word for "crap"


If I understand the group swap guidelines correctly, they basically say if one gets disappointing things back in a swap, "It's put up and shut up"

But it seems reasonable to me to expect that if the swap says blue and yellow, to get back blue and yellow, not blue and pink.

It also seems reasonable that if the guidelines say 12.5 unfinished, that it be somewhere in the vicinity - not more than 1/4 inch one way or another. (My personal standard is plus or minus 1/8 inch)

I have come to expect some of what I consider "duds" in the charm swaps. I think some of the swappers just cut the fabrics with absolutely no awareness of what the individual squares look like. Whether this is due to frugality (cheapness) or inexperience is hard to determine from this end.

I won't even use some of them for a charity quilt - especially for a kid. If a kid needs a charity quilt, I think that kid should have at least one thing that's nice in his/her life.

Off my soap box.

Thanks for the feedback. I have had great swapping experiences and my heart told me let it go and you all are confirming that. I will still do swaps it's fun to get to share with others all over the country.

Personally, I learned from another forum to just get what I want for fabrics myself and stay away from swaps and those things. It is unfortunate; but some gals out there just aren't trustworthy and I learned it the hard way. Sorry it had to happen to you.
Please know this is not intended to disrespect the honest gals on here who participate....just my personal experience.
Happy Quilting!!

I agree with Sandpat, swapping is a social thing too. You of course, want to make each item to the best of your ability. After all is said and done, know that someone at least tried. We won't know if it is there best or not, and have to remember, we also don't know their circumstances. This may be the best they could do and they are proud too. The swaps are meant to meet and makes friends, if we are lucky. I have definitely met friends, some do good, others...not so....But I let it go and look forward to the next one. Hope this helps.

i recommend that you read or reread points 7-9 of the swap rules. That may help you decide what to do or not to do. It is disappointing when the quality or craftsmanship is not what you expect. All in all, my experiences have been good and fun. Few exceptions and I will remember to never swap with that person again.

Numbers 4, 5 and 6 are equally good.

It's important that ALL guidelines are followed by ALL who participate for the swap to be a success. It's one thing to send out something that is to the best of your skill level and "best" fabric when that's all you have and you are happy to share as opposed to someone (it's never happened----right?) who just wants to be picky and show off the superiority of their skills and fabric at the expense of another quilter. Nor would it be appropriate for one to join to get "better" blocks with the attitude of "I may not be able to afford it but So-and-So can, so I'll take their blocks."

Just thoughts and totally fictional references.

OK After seeing the numbers of the rules we should read etc. I went to the rules and read them. Number 9 specifically says no posts to complain about any swaps....so I am not coming back into this one. You were right , read all of them and this would not have been necessary. I want to participate in more so don't want to break any "rules". Thank you everyone

I think that's the risk you take. I would not send anyone fabric that I wouldn't use myself. We sometimes end up with poor quality.

You never know others circumstances. Maybe that is all they had to offer. Quilting is a luxury nowdays, not a necessity.

So - if one has a disappointing experience - and it's not okay to publicly express disappointment -

What, if anything, can be done to avoid it? Or to not have it repeated?

Besides not playing/participating?

Giving/donating something is one thing. I expect nothing back, but I do appreciate a "thank you." If/when the person can do a "pay it forward" - that's great - but sometimes one gets in a position where one does have little or nothing and surviving is about as good as it's going to be for a while.

When I do a trade/swap - I do expect something more or less equal in return.
By the way, I'm not a brand snob. I've purchased some fabrics from WalMart that are as nice or nicer than some I've purchased at a LQS. Price paid is NOT always an indication of quality.

So - now you-all can go beat me up.

Not at all. Sometimes good is good enough. I always purchase the best I can, top quality, but know others cannot. One of my very best friends is Hazel. She is 94, a widow for 53 years, and I love her dearly. She has given me black raspberry starts, those stupid barn cats that will not move of the porch, and love. If she gave me one little scrap of fabric, I would treasure it, knowing that it is a poly cotton blend from the 60's. I love my Hazel, and she loves me.

A swap is a social event to share with one another.

The blocks should be usable, but you should expect them to come from both ends of the skill spectrum. You are going to get someone's best effort that is not as good as your poor effort. I have been that hard worker, poor product person.

Swaps are Lottery participation activities. You pays your money, you laughs, you cries, you makes new friends, and you has a lotta fun.

If you don't have that spirit, try to find it, or keep yourself happy and do not swap.

I really, truly do not expect to have a well designed quilt when I finish a swap, I expect to have laughs, smiles, and fun. But, it will BE a QUILT.

The ugliest quilt I ever own may be the funky chicken throw, or it may be the best. I don't know yet, because I have not had time to design the layout, sashing, and borders. But man! I can't stop talking about those crazy chickens. The effort of the swap already paid for itself, and I do not even have a quilt yet.

Good luck, have fun.

Hugz and smilez to each and everyone of you.

Aardie.

Well said! I like the swaps! There are some blocks I've gotten that I would have never put together (color/pattern) but when they're with the overall product - it's amazing how great it looks. Besides -- the swaps are just a way to "meet" people from the board -- give more of a personality to a name.

=)

I participate with the doll quilt swappers and have never been disappointed but did one other swap for block and couldn't believe the fabric used...and I got one of my own back which may not have been a bad thing LOL I don't join alot of swaps because I don't prewash my fabric 90% of the time.

I swap charms at my guild meeting every month. Now these are women who know their way around fabric. But every once in a while I get back some cheap quality fabrics. Not often, but enough to make me wonder. However I put the bad ones aside and keep the nice ones and hope for the best each month. I think you should just forget about them and keep on swapping. It's fun!

8-)

a rule like that would be forbidden in a swap on this board. we encourage inclusiveness. a swap designed to leave out or embarrass members who can't afford quilt shop prices has no place here.

the same goes for skill level. i find it hard to believe that a quilter would deliberately send her worst-made blocks just to get rid of them. which means that every swapper is sending the best work they can do with the nicest fabric they can afford.

anybody who cannot appreciate the effort and intent should not swap here.

period.

i rarely swap with strangers.

not because i don't want to risk getting "inferior" fabric.

because i don't want to be judged and criticized if my tastes or budget don't match those of the other person.

Thanks for the information

If you are going to swap, it is best to lay down the ground rules like those stated here. I have only participated in one swap and it worked well because we established rules first and it was at the quilt shop. Good luck in the future

The point of my comments were:

Guidelines are set down at the beginning of a swap.

I think it's helpful when the participants follow them. Sometimes it appears that the participants either did not read them or chose to ignore them.

How many newbies are going to know to measure a block before using and some of the ways of making different size blocks work together? (I know there are tutorials and illustrations, but as a newbie - how would I know I should know that?)

I'm also very tired of people slamming WalMart and JoAnn fabrics. Yes, there are sleazy ones available at both places. There are (were, in the case of WalMart) decent ones available, also.

If, say the blocks are supposed to be turquoise and purple, and I get one back that's black and white (lovely as it may or may not be) -

To me, that's like going to a restaurant and I'm expecting to be served a beef steak - and the waitperson brings out a chicken breast. Probably nothing wrong with the chicken, but that wasn't what I was expecting to get.

thanks very much, bearisgray. you've made some very useful points. (somebody needs to get us an emoticon that hugs. i'm afraid the best i can do is a :thumbup: )

i think in cases where a swapper sends something that doesn't fit within reasonable and clearly stated guidelines, the swap coordinator should not feel mean-spirited for sending it back. i know the return would be explained with kindness.

after all, it's entirely possible the swapper is in more than one swap and mixed up her mailings. you might be doing her a favor.

i like the steak vs. chicken analogy.

if you're swapping steaks and will shriek at the sight of anything less than a kobe filet mignon on a platinum platter with dom perignon, then you should stick to swapping with your own little clique of friends and not go public. if, however, you can look at your paper plate full of chicken-fried cubesteak and appreciate the exercise your jaws will get while chewing it ... you are a good sport. ;-)

when it comes to chicken, the whole free-range organic vs. not is just too complicated and confusing to discuss. :lol:

Thanks for the discussion everyone. This was a private swap so I was not familiar with of all the group rules. Clearly the rules are helpful. I was not aware of the no complaining bit so I apologize for bringing this subject up. I have really enjoyed this group and would not want to put that at risk by breaking the rules. Sorry, sorry, sorry and let's close this topic please.

all discussion is good on any topic or am I wrong

:lol: