***We officially have our 20 people, WOW! However, there are still 2 people that originally said they were interested that I haven’t heard back from on this sign-up (Dionne and Caroll D). Since we filled up so quick, I’ll give them 24 hours to still join if they want to. Also, I’d like to have a few alternates so if someone has to drop out at some point, we’ll have someone to fill their hole. So if you’d like to be an alternate/back-up person, leave me a comment and let me know. Thanks so much for all the positive comments! Yall really sound excited! That makes me even more excited. 🙂 ***
So here, finally, is the details about the ‘Quilt Around the World’ swap quilting bee. To officially sign-up to participate, please comment on this post. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please let me know those as well. If you told me you were interested on the previous idea post, you still need to official sign-up here. If you think it sounds like fun, send all your friends over to look…the more the merrier. You can sign-up until May 15th 8th,or until we have 20 people, whichever is first. (*Update: We’re full! I’m so overwhelmed and excited with this turn-out! We may get our 20 people in the first day!) (*Update: Should have thought of this before, but please leave where you’re from in your comment so we can see how ‘around the world’y it’s getting :)*
This is the first swap I’ve organized, so these details are very wordy. I’m trying to explain it really clearly and cover all the bases. Please bear with me and read this whole post very carefully before you sign-up. We want everyone to have fun.
The result of this swap will be that every participant ends up with a unique quilt top that has traveled around the world, and has been worked on by lots of people. The number of quilt blocks in your final top will depend on how many participants we have. (for example, if we have 20 participants, there will be 20 blocks) The size of the finished quilt will depend on you.
Each participant will do this, but I’ll use me as an example. I will make a quilt block, however I want, whatever pattern/style/colors/prints I want to use. I will make the block whatever size I want. I will then send my block on to participant #2. #2 will then look at my block, and make a block that they think will look nice with it. They can use whatever style/colors/prints they want to use. The only thing that has to be the same as the original block is the size. The block you add must be the same size as the one sent to you. #2 will sew their block onto the original, and send it to participant #3. #3 will do the same thing and send it on to #4. Once it gets to the last person, they’ll add the last block, and send the completed top back to me. So each participant will be making 1 block for each person’s quilt. (*Update: I forgot to mention, but yes, I want everyone to somehow attach to the block you make, who you are and where you’re from)
I’ll be arranging the participants in a specific order, #1 through however many. I’ll arrange them by where you live, so it’s a big loop. You’ll always be mailing to the same person. #1 to #2, #2 to #3, etc.
This is already going to be a fairly long swap. To ensure it doesn’t go on forever, you’ll get one week to complete each block and send it on to the next person. (*Update: I’ve had several people mention they’re taking a vacation this summer but still want to participate. I don’t want anyone to miss out just because of a trip, so we’ll find some way to accomodate this. Just know that this could potentially add more time until you get your quilt.)
Now, these details may change slightly depending on how many people we have sign-up. The way it is now is based on 20 people participating. That would be a quilt top that is 4 squares across, by 5 squares down. If we only have 10 people sign up, we can still do it, but a top that is 2 squares by 5 squares isn’t very substantial, so in that case, we may make 2 squares for each person’s quilt. We’d still be making the same number of squares overall. If we have a number in between, like 16 people, we’ll probably just make a top that is 4×4, and do 1 each. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
Things to think about:
- You’ll know how many people are participating, and therefore how many squares your top will have. Decide what size top you want to have, and use that to decide what size you want to make your blocks.
- This is a great stash-busting project. You don’t have to buy any fabric for this if you have a stash. Use what you’ve got.
- We want people from all over the world to be involved. It won’t be a quilt around the world if everyone is in the US.
- There will be shipping costs in this swap. Please remember that before you sign up. If there are 20 participants, you will have to mail something 20 times. I”m going to try to arrange the order so that you are mailing to the closest participant to where you live, but some people will end up having to mail internationally, one person from each country, I’d imagine. I’ll volunteer to be one of them. If you really don’t mind mailing internationally, please let me know. That way someone who would rather not doesn’t get stuck with it. However, remember you’ll end up with a quilt out of it.
- This will be a fairly long-term swap. If there are 20 participants, and you get a week to make each block, then that’s 20 weeks right there, plus the shipping times involved. I know things come up, and if something comes up in the middle of this and you can’t finish, please let me know. But know ahead of time what’s involved, and only sign up if you truely think you’ll be able to complete it.
- I want lots of people with different levels of experience to sign-up. That’s the great part. You don’t have to have a lot of quilts under your belt to do this. However, you should have a basic sewing skill set to do this. If you’ve never sewed a thing before, this probably isn’t the swap for you. I’ll be posting the basic quilting rules later, ex: use 1/4 inch seam allowances, etc.
- Please remember that while you’re working on someone elses’s quilt, someone else is working on yours. But please don’t use your ‘ugly stash’ on these. Make them nice. You wouldn’t want someone else using up their ‘ugly’ stash on yours.
- Please don’t make all your squares in advance. You don’t know what’s going to look good with the quilt you’re working on, until you receive it. It’s okay to use the same pattern for each square you complete, but you won’t be able to choose colors until you see what you’re working with.
- I’ll have to have an extremely reliable way to get ahold of you if you participate. Along the same lines, I’d like you to have a current blog to participate. We want to meet other people through this and I think that’s easier with blogs. If you don’t have a blog and you feel really strongly about participating, or if you’re someone I already ‘know’ through email and want to join, let me know.
So have I scared you off? I hope not. It really will be a lot of fun I think. I just wanted to make sure it was all clear as mud before you signed up. No surprises here. 🙂
I am interested – but what about holidays – if we only have a week to complete and we go on holiday for 2 weeks during the summer can we still be part of it? Whatcha think? x
I am most definitely in. I’ll blog about it tomorrow as well, and see if you get any traffic that way!
I’d like to do this. I live near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
I’m also interested, but have a few reservations about the week timing. Let me know if you need to fill up the group. (PS-Katy’s blog post sent me over)
sign me up! I have enough fabric in my stash to make a million quilts, so this sounds like a fun way to share them with the world!
I found this from Katys blog post too. I’m definately game!! I’m on holiday for 2 weeks in June but hope that doesn’t throw a spanner in the works?
P.S. Blogger hates me too!
am still interested so count me in!
x
Sounds like wonderful fun!! Count me in!
I am definately in too from the UK but I too have a school trip to France next month for week ( with 88 students!) Also could a pie of paper with the makers name, location, address etc be attached to their block with a safety pin as it adds a personal touch when it is opened and then added. W do that with the creative swaps and it is nice.
ok…you did ask for different levels of experience, right? I’m a sort of newbie but I think I’d like to participate. In California…
Victoria in Florida emailed me that she wants to particpate, but couldn’t leave a comment. Counting her in. 🙂
I want to participate!! I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I would like to participate in this. I quilt, have tons of fabric, summer’s coming soon and it sounds like a great summer project.
I don’t have a blog right now but i may soon. I would still like to participate.
debby
I am so excited!!! I cant wait, what a great idea!
I dont mind mailing internationally-or receiving internationally! 🙂 (Cool stamps!)
What a wonderful idea, thank you for organizing this!
Hi, If it is not to late I would love to join, also should we sew the blocks together or let the person at the end get 20 blocks and do it herself, just in case they might want to add shasing, or a plain block in between? Or not be the exact same size? I live in Illinois and have a blog. I came from Katy.
I’ve never done anything like this, but I certainly have the stash. My son is getting married this summer, but what the heck! Count me in. Indiana here!
Wow – this sounds like a fantastic idea!! I am in the US (New Hampshire) but don’t mind mailing internationally. Thank you for thinking of this great swap idea & organizing!
I am still working on the first BIG quilt I ever made so I don’t think 20 blocks in 20 weeks is something I could cope with !!!!!!! I will be watching with interest though 🙂
Count me in! Hopefully I made it into number 20
By the way…I found my way here via Jane!
I blogged about it, but I dont thing we have any more spots for more people! 🙂 I think I posted to late!
I forgot to say, I am from Virginia!
This sounds like a great idea. I’m with Trashalou, I don’t think I currently have the time to get a square a week done on top of the other things I promised myself I would get cleared out of my work space before I started something new.
I’ll be keeping track of how things are progressing. Perhaps if this is a success and you try it again, I’ll be able to join in then.
I would love to participate…! Sounds fab and a great idea.
This is going to be a really fun swap…doesn’t matter the time….I hope that I am one of the lucky ones to be in it ! One thing though, I don’t have a Blog…but my daughter is coming the end of May, and she could probably set it up for me…
This is a great idea! I’m looking forward to getting started! Let me know if I can help out in any way with any details. Jan from TN
P.S. I’m in Leeds, UK.
I´d love to participate on this, but it seems to be too late, is that right? It´ll be so much fun!
If it´s really not possible to sign in, you can count on me as an alternate/back person, though.
I´m in Piracicaba/São Paulo – Brazil
thanks!
ps, I’m just down the road from flossyblossy, in Wakefield UK…
Hi there, this swap sounds like so much fun. Please count me in as an alternate/back-up. I live in BC Canada.
Hey there!
Sorry to be late — I wish I heard about this sooner!! 😦
I’d love to fill a spot if one should open up! Please keep me in mind! It sounds awesome!!
Thanks!
:)S
Not sure if you still need any backup people, but if you do, I’d be glad to stand in – or would love to sign up for another round if you ever do it again. 🙂
I would love to be a backup person. I see that I missed the original sign up.
Great idea!
Micki