Curious - Do you swap blocks and why?
03-07-2011, 04:13 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Ontario
Posts: 1,228
I did participate in a block swap a long time ago with some forum friends.We swapped homespuns to make a rag quilt and I did get mine finished. When I wrap up on a chilly night it is like getting a hug from all my great forum friends.
Sass
Sass
03-07-2011, 04:16 PM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western MA
Posts: 2,720
Originally Posted by Annaquilts
I can related to all the points you mentioned plus the cost of shipping is getting to me.
Originally Posted by dsb38327
I am happy for those who do enjoy the swaps. I enjoy seeing all the wonderful blocks and quilts. I am not tempted to participate. I believe the first reason is my insecurity of offering/providing something that would live up to the receivers expectations. The second reason is because I like to choose my fabric, decide on the pattern and make my quilt. I think I would feel like it was not my quilt.
03-07-2011, 04:27 PM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,458
I don't because I'm too slow. LOL I know I will never be able to meet
any deadline. I quilt for relaxation and the last thing I want is to turn into
stress. That's just me. I wish I could. I envy those who can do it...
specially the doll quilt swap. Maybe one day. ;-) I'll have to make one
in advance before I commit. :-)
any deadline. I quilt for relaxation and the last thing I want is to turn into
stress. That's just me. I wish I could. I envy those who can do it...
specially the doll quilt swap. Maybe one day. ;-) I'll have to make one
in advance before I commit. :-)
03-07-2011, 04:32 PM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 1,705
I am doing the quilt in the new year swap. You are paired with a partner who would like to make a similar item. I personally thought it would be interesting to request a 12" block in 30's (or similar)-their choice and at the end of the year, I would have a variety blocks to put together in a quilt. I also requested a scrap of the swap block to be able to do a border with all blocks represented. I personally am not expecting the "perfect" block. If someone was willing to make one for me-that made it perfect for me. Some comments came across as not thinking anyone could match their surpurb quality of work expectations and thus render anything useless-somehow your high standards would somehow be compromised-how sad.
03-07-2011, 04:43 PM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington state
Posts: 4,303
Originally Posted by fabric_fancy
i used to swap and be a hostess but every single time there was a smoker involved even though smokers weren't supposed to join in.
people would complain about the smell and when i was the hostess i had to keep those blocks away and spray the room with febreeze trying to remove the smell from the blocks.
so needless to say, i do not bother any longer.
people would complain about the smell and when i was the hostess i had to keep those blocks away and spray the room with febreeze trying to remove the smell from the blocks.
so needless to say, i do not bother any longer.
03-07-2011, 06:19 PM
#36
Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Troy, MI
Posts: 95
I've always wondered about swaps myself. I'm like EasyPeezy. Why stress myself with more deadlines? I have too many other things that need that kind of attention. My quilting is done either for gifts or charity. And I never see the end of UFOs finished.
The other reason - I hate to stand in line at the post office to send something off. I know there are squishy paks, etc. I just quilt for enjoyment and an avenue for some creativity. When I do a quilt, I don't feel the need to ask for blocks from someone else.
Right now -- I'm really into scap quilts and want to try so many different techniques.
I will send a block if one is requested for a joint quilt for someone who is ill, and I try to follow the requests for size and color.
I do understand the pet hair request and carefully scrutinize the quilt tops I get from my sewing group for baby quilts for a local charity. I can wash or take care of that problem, before assembling the rest. We have no smokers.
All the more power to those who love swaps. It is just something that I can live without.
Good
The other reason - I hate to stand in line at the post office to send something off. I know there are squishy paks, etc. I just quilt for enjoyment and an avenue for some creativity. When I do a quilt, I don't feel the need to ask for blocks from someone else.
Right now -- I'm really into scap quilts and want to try so many different techniques.
I will send a block if one is requested for a joint quilt for someone who is ill, and I try to follow the requests for size and color.
I do understand the pet hair request and carefully scrutinize the quilt tops I get from my sewing group for baby quilts for a local charity. I can wash or take care of that problem, before assembling the rest. We have no smokers.
All the more power to those who love swaps. It is just something that I can live without.
Good
03-07-2011, 06:24 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Las Vegas NV
Posts: 1,250
I belong to the BOM swap block here. Why do I do it?? It is fun getting a surprize that is soft & squishy in the mail. I enjoiy the challenge of coming up with some thing I probably would not do. It makes me work out of the box, and a chance to create something unique.
03-07-2011, 06:37 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,712
Originally Posted by Lobster
If there's a demand, maybe someone should set up a swap that specifically states that it's OK if the blocks smell of smoke or have pet hair on them?
I did a birthday block swap last year. It was fun, but I'm not planning to do it again. I just don't have the money, for starters. In the UK, quilting fabric generally costs about £10/m and international postage costs (everyone else was abroad) are high, even if you try to send batches of blocks to someone to redistribute every few months. The main problem, however, was that my birthday is mid December and a lot of the participants had stopped bothering by then. I really had to beg to get remotely near the number of blocks I'd sent out, and only got them because some kind people who weren't even in the swap made "angel blocks" (one person made five, bless her).
So it was interesting and fun as a one-off, but too many problems to want to do it again, even though it's supposedly better-organised this year (after the one person who said her birthday was in Feb and got an awful lot of blocks before we realised that she'd scammed us and not made a single block for anyone else). I asked for crazy quilt blocks with a female sexuality theme (one person took this fairly literally!), you know, the shape in the middle and the colours and such. I've just started sewing the blocks to the sashing tonight, it's shades of red and deep pink and orange and the back will be red. I'm really looking forward to the quilting: appropriate motifs (I don't think I'll dare post the quilt here, judging by the zombie quilt people will be too shocked by it!) and it'll be my first foray into big stitch quilting with perle 8. The quilt is going to this charity: http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/, it's a subject I feel passionately about.
I did a birthday block swap last year. It was fun, but I'm not planning to do it again. I just don't have the money, for starters. In the UK, quilting fabric generally costs about £10/m and international postage costs (everyone else was abroad) are high, even if you try to send batches of blocks to someone to redistribute every few months. The main problem, however, was that my birthday is mid December and a lot of the participants had stopped bothering by then. I really had to beg to get remotely near the number of blocks I'd sent out, and only got them because some kind people who weren't even in the swap made "angel blocks" (one person made five, bless her).
So it was interesting and fun as a one-off, but too many problems to want to do it again, even though it's supposedly better-organised this year (after the one person who said her birthday was in Feb and got an awful lot of blocks before we realised that she'd scammed us and not made a single block for anyone else). I asked for crazy quilt blocks with a female sexuality theme (one person took this fairly literally!), you know, the shape in the middle and the colours and such. I've just started sewing the blocks to the sashing tonight, it's shades of red and deep pink and orange and the back will be red. I'm really looking forward to the quilting: appropriate motifs (I don't think I'll dare post the quilt here, judging by the zombie quilt people will be too shocked by it!) and it'll be my first foray into big stitch quilting with perle 8. The quilt is going to this charity: http://www.forwarduk.org.uk/, it's a subject I feel passionately about.
Oh i ment to comment on another post I seen of yours that I LOVE the Isis avatar quilt. I really struggle on here sometimes to keep my tounge harnessed lol. ( I lean toward the pagan side of things )
:shock: :shock: I know as shocking to some as allergies and smoke lol!
PS,
I loved the Zombie quilt and I loved the winning ugly fabric choice,yikes I'm a freak,it's out now :lol: :lol:
03-07-2011, 06:37 PM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Grants Pass, Oregon
Posts: 3,360
I only joined one swap and that one is recently and is the 1.5" swap. I actually had fun making all those little squares and I have a bunch for another swap of the same size and as I sew I have been cutting up more and just putting them into a plastic container for the next swap. I don't have any problem with cat/dog hairs or smoking. I just appreciate the fun of doing this and meeting new people. ;)
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