redstilettos

May 5” Charm Swap – Theme: Batiks!
Sign up ends Friday, May 18th. Swaps need to be in my hands by May 31st, with final distribution by June 2nd.

***The Theme for this month’s Swap is Batiks!***

1. You may swap up to 12 bags with 15 different 5" square charms in each bag. Send the kind you hope to receive. Only send 100% quilting cotton squares!

Do Not Send: thin fabrics, homespuns, dotted swiss, denim, flannel, polyester or polyester blends, eyelet, wool, linen, fleece, knit, broadcloth, seersucker, Etc. Only send 100% quilting cotton, please.

2. Take your time cutting and be sure you have correctly cut 5” squares. No one wants wonky squares! We’ve had some issues in the past, but I think we’re all set, right ladies?

Cutting/Packaging Method:
We will be sending 15 Different fabrics in each bag we swap. Make sure they are different patterns. Many batiks have different colors but the same patterns. Batiks can be like that. Just make sure people are not getting repeats and all will be well. All your bags can have the same mixture in them, or different, but you cannot repeat fabrics in any one bag. We will be swapping bag for bag, so there must be 15 different fabrics in each bag. Please put your board name & location on every bag you are swapping. For instance, "Redstilettos, West Bend, WI".

3. Put all your swap bags in one big ziplock then affix a tag on it that includes your name and mailing address, as well as your board name. That will keep them together in your package and if it happens to get torn open in shipment - your address will be there for the P.O. to return to you. Padded flat rate envelopes are the best shipping method, the paper ones have a tendency to break open. You can order the padded flat rate envelops from the post office online, in packages of 10, and they are free. The cardboard type seams to rip too often for them to be reliable.

4. Postage: It costs $7.25 to ship the padded flat rate envelop. Please include a USPS Money Order for $7.25 in your big ziplock to pay to return ship to you. Very well hidden cash or stamps are okay as well. I cannot ship back to you until I receive payment. No personal or company checks, please. Also, Please put your board name on the outside of your package. I don't open these until I am ready to distribute, and having your board name on the outside allows me to keep track of any I may be missing, or allow me to give feedback to you when your package has arrived.

5. If I receive All swaps early, distribution back to swappers will be early, too!
Let’s aim to be early! If I do not receive early, distribution happen by June 2nd.



I’m looking forward to having you!


If you have questions, please PM me,
Thank you!
Red

redstilettos

Hi all,

Thank you for all the well wishes for my mom and my family. Mom is resting peacefully in hospice, and we are appreciative of all the prayers sent her way. Let's agree, Cancer Sucks.

So with that going on, I'm a little late, so please forgive, but go forth and have fun with batik's. I didn't have my hat to pull from, but I do recall several last month hoping for batiks, so that was the first that popped into my mind when I was at mom's bedside.

If you have any questions, please ask! Have your friends join, let's keep this swap going, as I personally have fun with it!

Hugs!
Chris

hav4boys

I am in for 12!!! I hear a trip to the fabric store calling me.

Crispy_Frog

Hi Red!

I am so happy that you are back. If for any reason you need a break, let me know! But for now, Batik therapy for all of us!

Stafar

in for 12
sorry to hear about your mom but glad she is settled in Hospice, they are such a great group

PamelaOry

I'm wondering are the batik fat quarters sold at JoAnns considered acceptable or no? I just looked at what I have and I have several quilt store batiks and a few of the JoAnns fat quarters. Not sure if it's OK to include them or not.

Darcyshannon

Well, if you want general information about the fabric, the difference isn’t in the pattern and how it is dyed, such as a batik print. The difference is in the greige base that it is printed on. This is why you can see the same print on different quality cottons. I am not sure what the requirements are for this group but I wanted you to know depending on what you planned for that fabric. Although in general, all batiks need a tighter weave to print well, the different greige base is a consideration. I hope that helps.

Faintly Artistic

Glad you are back, Red. Hope your family and mom are at peace during this time.
I am tentatively in this month, I love batiks and am always happy when I get a few in the color swaps. I am in the final week of realtor school and will hopefully be taking my school test, then state/national test next week. Lot of studying for someone who hasn't been to school in 30 years!

Batiks do vary in the greige goods they are printed on. JA's batiks will be similar in quality to their other fabrics. Moda batiks are printed on their greige goods, as are Kauffman or any other manufacturer. Feel them and maybe test them for color fastness before sending as charms won't be prewashed by the recipients.

MaryMo

I'm in for 10 for sure ... and 12 if I have enough batiks. Thank you, Red, for selecting batiks ... I've been dreaming of a batik quilt and didn't want to have to buy more for the variety needed for a scrappy batik. Blessings to your family, and especially to your mother. I wish I had talked with mine more when I had that opportunity.

Faintly Artistic

I wanted to show y'all an in progress quilt that I am using some of my swapped charms in. 2 charms makes 1 block of 4 HST's. A lot of the dots were perfect colors for this top and I have even started to pull out some of the greens, blues and softer reds that I received. I really like the scrappy look of using 100 or more fabrics in a quilt and swapped charms means I get just that! (it's also helping my charm box that overfloweth) My oldest daughter has claimed this one, so it looks like it will be a twin size. I have made 77 of the 200+ blocks that it will take.


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