Think Spring Paper Pieced Block Swap With a "Twist" - Signup is Closed
 

"All Things Spring" Paper Pieced Block Swap with a "Twist"!

Are you getting a bit tired of winter and snow and maybe ready for a bit of Spring in your life? Do you love paper piecing, or want motivation to give it a try? Do you like to make friends and share ideas? Then I hope you'll consider signing up for this swap!

Theme: All things Spring!!!
Blocks will be grouped in sets of 4, same pattern, different fabrics okay (all blocks will be swapped out)

Use spring colors (greens, pinks, lavenders, blues & yellows) in pretty pastel shades with white/white on white backgrounds for this swap to keep them cohesive! This is not a bright swap, nor is it a muted swap...let's keep our colors crisp and pretty for spring! :)

You may make up to six sets or 24 blocks total to exchange. All blocks will be swapped out. There is a limit of 4 blocks of any one design without prior permission.

Block sizes may range from 4 1/2" unfinished to 8 1/2" unfinished. This allows you to find a large variety of patterns to work with, and there are lots of free ones on the internet. Keep the papers on!Blocks must be constructed of prewashed 100% good cotton fabrics (no muslin, flannel, see through or poly blends) & have¼” seam allowances with no open areas or “holes” where fabric was not caught in a seam. This also includes tears, or cuts in fabrics and blocks. Please make blocks that you want to keep...that's a good indication that others will love what you've made! :)

When stitching your blocks, make sure you use a tiny stitch length to allow the papers to be removed easily.

Okay, now for the Paper Pieced "Twist"!

You may also make up to 3 sets (four per set) or 12 blocks of 3 ½” paper pieced blocks with the same Spring theme if you like. These will only be swapped out with other 3 ½” paper pieced blocks. They are not part of the original swap, but are an additional swap or “twist”! Same rules apply to these block sets as above…only one set of any one design, and if you join in the “Twist”, you must have different designs than the regular Block Swap blocks.

Packaging and Labelling your block sets
Every block needs to be labelled in some fashion, with your real name and user name included. Each set of blocks needs to be enclosed in it’s own ziplock type baggie. Package well and send your best method taking into account that the post office isn’t always gentle on packages.

Mailing
Sometimes packages arrive with tears in some envelopes, so take care in your packaging so I get everything you send to me. I encourage you getting delivery confirmation…this will allow you to track your package and know when it arrives. I cannot be responsible for packages lost in the mail. I will post on this thread as packages arrive. Please include proper return postage.

I will mail your blocks back to you in padded flat rate envelopes, which I will provide. The cost will be $5.95, as the cost of priority mail will be going up as of Jan. 27th, 2013. An enclosed priorty stamp is best, but I will also accept well hidden cash if you prefer. Please do NOT include delivery confirmation! I have a shipping program that allows me to do this for FREE! No return mailing labels are required either, as long as I can read clearly your address on your package.


Signups will be open through February 28[SUP]th[/SUP] with blocks to be in my hands by March 18[SUP]th[/SUP]. Blocks will be swapped and mailed back to you as quickly as possible after blocks have been received. I'm good about getting these back quickly to you. :)

Please pm me to sign up and let me know the # of sets you plan on making and if you're going to join in the "Twist" and indicate the # of sets for that. Include your real name as well.

All general rules for swaps are here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-20154-1.htm.

Come join in the fun!

I am interested in signing up, but will you give examples of color schemes. I have pastels but mostly 1930's type prints and they might be too muted. Another question, can you clarify what type of blocks the 4.5-8.5 sized blocks should be, these should be regular pieced blocks only right? and the twist is for only paper-pieced blocks? This will work well with a current project I am working on to add to the blocks I already have. Another question: Would the 4.5 inch blocks be swapped one for one with larger 8.5 blocks, or 2:1?

Thinking...thinking.

Sorry if this is a repeat, but here are some very cute flowers for spring!
http://piecebynumber.com/pastbom/archbom.htm#posies

And ... scroll to the bottom for free ones
http://www.winnowing.com/patterns.html

And, question: does it have to be a "spring design"? Like flowers, grass, chicks, etc?

OK. Then I'm ready to roll. Love, love, love paper piecing!

Yes you can count me in, not sure how many set I will make yet.

Yay! Mary is so talented!

This sounds like a good swap. I am probably signing up for too many swaps but I can't pass this one up. I want to sign up for 3 swaps and will send you a pm later today.

Agree, Thinking thinking thinking, Will have to see what the next few weeks bring before I commit. But oh I love them, and since I have the last ones waiting to be put together. Robbi

Sign me up 6 sets in the regular swap and 3 for the twist. I love the 3 1/2 in. blocks and hope many people will sign up for the twist. These paper piece swaps have been wonderful, special thanks to rwquilts for hosting and to all that swapped with me in the past in other paper piece swaps. I can't wait to see what people are working on.

I looked at the colors. I hope I can hit it right on. Sometimes with computer pictures colors look different so it seems there are some brights, center blue, in the pastel and the fall group peach seemed like I might have put it in the pastel. I am thinking Easter colors? Was the question answered about the 1930 reproduction fabrics?

I'll also pm.

You say "Block sizes may range from 4 1/2" unfinished to 8 1/2" unfinished. " Does this mean blocks can also be 5" or 6" or anything in between or just the 4 1/2" unfinished or 8 1/2" unfinished?

OK I though I had a pile of 3 1/2 in. blocks but they are 4 in. blocks. Would they fit in either one? Please don't tell me it is the only size that can't be used.

OK I will need to think about it. I think I ran into this before. I am using linda Causee's book
http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Qui.../dp/1402740417
Unfortunately she has tons of small blocks that are 4 in. unfinnished none 3 1/2 in. unfinnished and none 4 1/2 in. unfinnished. I know odd size the 4 in. unfinnished. Adding just 1/2in. , quarter inch all around sounds hard to me. You talked before about having a swap that we could use this book so I thought this was it. I need to see what I can come up with. Also thank you for pointing out we can use geometrics etc. I prefer the more thematic but maybe I can find some free designs online of the geometric or traditional blocks that fit the size requirements. How you explained the colors is very helpful. I had gathered all pastels but a dash of slightly brighter fabric will really add.

I'm thinking about this. I do like to paper piece but I have a lot in the pot right now. Another place that has free paper pieced patterns is
www.quiltiger.com Thinking......

And don't forget about www.quilterscache.com She lists her patterns by size and tells you if they are paper pieced or traditional or a combination and how difficult they are.

Love the lure of pp.

Thank you dottie for the free links.

Anna, I posted four sites with free paper pieced blocks in post #3 and Krystyna also posted two free sites in post #9 you may want to look at as well? As for Linda Causee's book...you can use the larger blocks as they fit within the size requirements and you can add more than a 1/2" border to the smaller blocks...they don't have to be 4 1/2"...they can finish at 5" , 5 1/2" etc. Just not huge wide borders, but you can add borders that aren't tiny. So technically, you can use every pattern in your book! :) (I have the book too and maybe we'll be doing the same blocks? Ha ha ha! ) Hope this helps. :)

Ronda, I thought about adding a wider border but since the block is 4 I was thinking maybe it would look out of proportion. I might try one and see how I like it. Maybe it will look OK also since this time around we are doing traditional and geometric shapes too.

Gotta finish a couple of things first. Sounds like fun.

As a suggestion also, you can enlarge the patterns on a copier so they finish out larger. I've done this several times for paper piecing and it works great. I have enlarged many 6" into a 12" this way. I don't care to work with the tiny pieces and this helps me so much.

Also, I wouldn't be without the "Add a Quarter" ruler for paper piecing any more...it's terrific!

Have fun... I'm over booked as it is or I'd be tempted too.

thank you rwquilts, im looking forward to this one, im in a few but only doing one set , of many of the swaps that have sets, so as to get in a few more, and then i have the 2 that all year long, but that keeps me busy and happy and all , so im enjoying all this eye candy, with the different blocks, and is the block on our pic as u, the drooping tulips i think did u make that , and if so what is the name, please

I am VERY tempted. My schedule is open this spring, and I LOVE paper piecing! I have just about every book ever published, old issues of Foundation Piecer, Sew Precise CDs, and lots of patterns that I've snagged off the internet. I use newsprint paper (you can buy it by the ream at any good paper store), and it makes tearing off the foundation backing much easier than using regular bond. It's cheaper too since you don't waste as much paper when printing. I can enlarge and reduce on my printer also, so I can do any size. What fun....
I'll PM soon.....

I've been looking through some pp patterns I've saved to me computer over time, but ... the ones I like most say they're a 3" block! Ronda, I am so clueless. You'll have to help me.

I think your card trick would be great. It works out well in spring colors