catpawski

Ok now to post the fabrics I'm sending this time..........


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Neesie

The previous I Spy swap was my first. I sent in 6 sets of colorful, kid-friendly charms, four of which I bought specifically for the swap. Among them were Hoffman California and Timeless Treasures. I don't remember the other manufacturers but none of them were low thread count or see-through. I used a Shape Cut ruler and cut them all very carefully, to 5" square. You can see most of them, in last month's swap photos. All I expected in return, was for the majority of my received charms to be suitable for use. I really don't see how that is so unreasonable. I received many very nice charms. However, like already mentioned by others, a lot of the others were cut incorrectly, several with rounded corners or jagged edges. Those cannot be used, period. At least one had a selvedge still attached. That one cannot be use, period. A good handful are thin enough, to see through to the squares beneath them. They look as if they're of very low thread count and are starched, to hold them together. I will not use a charm that looks as if it will fall apart, in the wash. Then there are those that I simply would not put into a young child's quilt, such as skulls, 'hot' lip prints, faded out prints, along with many that are otherwise just not at all interesting, to young children. I didn't count the usable ones but would be very surprised if there are even half as many charms, as I sent. Now, I had no intention of sending back the badly cut ones, as I wouldn't wish those on anyone. However, I was hoping to send back some of the 'pink princess' ones (a little girl needs only so many of those), as well as some other similar charms and the ones geared more toward older children/teens.

Charlotte and Sandra have been very understanding and generous, about this issue. However, it seems quite a few of you resent the fact that I asked about returning some of the blocks. Therefore, I'll withdraw my request, as I would never, ever expect special treatment, from any group. I do thank you, for letting me know your feelings.

As for using the unwanted charms in charity quilts, I would never give a lesser quilt to charity, than I would give to a friend. But that's just me.

catpawski

Sewmany.................the twist is 10 pairs (two of the same fabric) of I spy squares in one baggie..........you can't use the same fabric that you used in your 6 swap baggies............

sewbizgirl

Neesie, there is nothing wrong with asking! I didn't see any badly cut charms in the 6 sets I got, but I did get back several of my own. I am not upset... just figure it is pretty confusing to swap for so many people without mistakes!

I think we all are going to get a few that don't quite fit the bill for us. Maybe we should label those seperately if we are sending them back in, if the coordinator is willing to pick them out to send to new people. I wouldn't want to get the same fabrics over again.

I think it should be up to the coordinator to make the rule to re-swap or not to re-swap, as it's more work for her to be sure reswaps go to new people only.

Just my two cents... I will live with it either way and still enjoy the fun!

moonwork42029

I guess I'm confused about the returning of squares...if you are allowed to have a mixture of fabrics within the set of 20 how would anyone know if it was from a prior swap or if you just had a hodge podge of squares in one baggie? If they meet the swap rules I'd think a mixed baggie would be fine.

To not expect to get back some fabric from a prior swap would require the memory of 10 elephants for the poor hostess...I don't see how anyone would ever know who got what previously. I'm in awe of their abilities to sort and swap them anyway I tip my hat to all the hostesses.

6 sets of 20 each is 120 squares. If your set of 20 is all the same, things are a little simpler...if not then it really gets hectic.

6 sets from 20 different swappers (keeping the math easy here for me) is 120 different fabrics (if they are all the same fabric). I can't see how within that 120 fabrics there won't be a few duplicates. (Increase the number of swappers and that increases the number of possible duplicates)

This is a swap...you take your chances at what comes back so you can have a variety of fabrics to choose from to use. We say "thanks for swapping" and use the ones we want and re-purpose the others. If you aren't getting back what you think you should, I'm sorry (even though I haven't swapped squares this year) you aren't happy. I'd like to think everyone IS sending the best they have and wish to swap with.

I was going to sign up but now I will rethink it for a little bit ... these use to be fun but they seem to have become some what well, un-fun?

charlotte37830

catpawski - thanks for answering Sewmany's question. I have been really busy today.

Sewmany - Sorry I didn't respond to your question. Hope you join our swap.

charlotte37830

Thanks for your input. Since this is my first time hosting, I haven't had to do the swapping yet. I think Sandra has done a great job. If I get a charm that I sent in, I just figure that someone else also sent in that fabric too. I hope you do join our swap. I think it usually goes smooth, we just hit a hiccup. Everything will work out fine.

charlotte37830

Thanks Owlvamp for your post to help clear thing up.

There is 14 days left to sign up for this swap. I hope we can get some more to sign up. Lets all have fun and swap some fun fabrics.

If you have signed up and your name isn't on the list, pm so I can get you listed. Thanks

Annaquilts

Those look like cute squares catpawski!

givio

oh? Can we have a mixture of prints in one baggie? I thought each bag should contain all the same print.

Moonwork42029-- C'mon and join! It is fun! It's fun to choose a print, it's fun to mail it and wonder what you'll get back, it's fun to be in a group of other like-minded hobbyists who are creating something too, like you. :-)

If everyone uses the swap rule 'send something you'd like to receive' then, sure, it's fun! I thought about some of the comments here today... and now I like all the fabrics I got, even the ones I wasn't keen on before. When I look at each one, I think-- this woman (or man?) has taken the time to choose this fabric and cut it for me. She's either spent her time shopping and paying her hard earned dollar for it, or she's looked through fabrics at home that's she's collected one way or another. She's made the trip to the post office for postage, she's packed it up for me and mailed it. Maybe she's young and full of energy. Maybe she's quick. Maybe she's well-to-do, can afford to buy what ever she likes, has a rotary cutter and whipped out the charms in rows and finished cutting in 15 minutes. Or maybe she's elderly and slow... maybe she's living on social security, maybe she took a fabric from her closet she had for 20 years and now at last she's decided to use it. Maybe she has arthritis in her hands, who knows? maybe she's using a scissors to fussy cut areas she selects, and leaning over her table, cutting each squares separately from that pile of pieces for two hours has made her back ache... I've come to appreciate all the charms I received. It might be someone didn't like them and I got some returned ones, but originally they came from somebody who hoped they would be well-received. :-) They sent something they'd like to receive!

I'm glad for the opportunity to be in a group of people who are sewing and making things and sharing. I have been to a couple of countries where the people were poor and there was economic struggle. Believe me, orphans love even a piece of paper! Any quilt made from any kind of fabric would be a wonderful treasure to them. Check out this blog-- they would love to receive your work if you haven't found another outlet yet for your donations: http://quiltsbeyondborders.wordpress.com/