Signing
SHERYL'S SWAP TUTORIAL
Everyone who joins a block swap is excited about getting new blocks back.
Being a swap hostess">
Signing SHERYL'S SWAP
TUTORIAL Everyone who joins a block swap is excited about getting new blocks back.
Being a swap hostess, I have the opportunity to see all levels of workmanship.
If you're a beginner don't be afraid to test the swap waters. We all have to
start somewhere and participating in a swap is one of the best ways to learn new
things. It saddens me however to receive poorly done blocks into my swaps .
Fabric is an expensive item and our time is worth so much. It is my strong feeling that blocks that don't measure up to standard are the
result of not knowing the do's and don'ts of swapping. There are many swappers
who say they swap for the fun of it and don't care what kind of work they get in
return. That's fine for those people, but knowing how much time, effort, and
money is involved with swapping, it doesn't make sense to me. I want to be able
to "use" the blocks I receive in return. In an effort to help swappers learn
what most hostesses look for, I have assembled this tutorial on swapping.
Please know that it is not meant to be a criticism of anyone's work. It is a
sincere attempt to provide a learning experience and help improve the quality of
our work. There will be actual photos of work but names will never be given out
except for my own. If you have ideas you would like to share, please e-mail
me. REMEMBER: It is YOUR responsibility to follow the guidelines.
If you choose not to do so, don't be upset if your blocks are not accepted into
the swap. It is not up to the hostess to police you every step of the way. GETTING STARTED: 1. In General: a: The most important thing and first thing you should do is to
read the guidelines carefully. The guidelines are the "rules" of the
swap. Your hostess has spent a lot of time planning the swap and she expects
everyone to comply with the guidelines. They are not open to individual
interpretation. If you don't agree with the guidelines....don't join the swap. If you are not willing to accept the hostess' decisions....don't join the
swap. b: If you ever have a question about something, don't hesitate
to ask your hostess. It is much better to ask....even if you think it is a silly
question. There are no such things as silly questions. c: Print out a hard copy of the guidelines and start a folder where
you keep them. Computers are prone to crashes and errors. A hard copy will
save you much time and frustration. 2. Due Date: Your hostess has checked her calendar to find the
convenient time for her to complete the swap. Please respect the due date she
has set. Know where you are mailing to and make sure you mail your blocks in
time to reach their destination. 3. Signing Up For The Swap: There may be a signup deadline specified
for the swap. Some hostesses use them and some don't. I don't usually
designate a signup deadline but request that all interested people, notify me so
I can put them on an update list. Before you sign up for a swap take a few minutes to think about your
other commitments. Consider everything in your life before you decide to join.
Don't join a swap on a whim. Think about it carefully and if you believe
you can realistically fulfill your obligation to the swap by all means join it.
If not then it's best to let that one pass by. There will always be another
similar swap later that you can participate in. I've seen swaps that had huge
numbers of signups and then many drop-outs occurring at the last minute. Some
of those hostesses were so discouraged when this happened to them that they
never hosted another swap. Probably one of the worst things you could do to your hostess is to join her
swap...decide not to participate....and never let her know. :-( We all have
things happen in our lives that are out of our control. Hostesses understand
that. Just be courteous and let her know if you need to drop out. 3. Fabric: Not everyone can afford to use 100% quilt shop quality
fabrics for their blocks, but you should try to use at least one high quality
fabric. It makes your blocks nicer and is always a plus with the hostess to see
that you care enough about your work to invest a little more money in the fabric
you use. 4. Colors: When I plan a swap, the first thing I determine is the
theme of the swap. Then I decide what color scheme I want to be used. If your
hostess has stated a color preference, it is your job to make sure you follow
that color scheme. Pay special attention to the background color if one is
specified! If she says "No WOW"....that's what she means. Here are some
background colors you will frequently see designated in swaps. WOW.....white on white Bleached or Unbleached Muslin Off White....there can be a wide variety in this....from parchment to light
tan 5. Patterns: Your hostess will usually state what type patterns you
may use. Generally, it is acceptable to use any of the following: Traditional Pieced......Paper/Foundation Pieced.......Appliqué If she hasn't stated a pattern choice, please ask to make sure that what you
plan to use is acceptable. 6. Number: The hostess will specify how many blocks you are allowed
to submit. Some hostesses also have a minimum number. In this category, she
will usually also state how many identical blocks may be submitted. Frequently
what you will see will be something like this: "We are swapping in sets of 5. Make 6...keep one for yourself and send the
other 5 to the swap. Each set must be a different pattern and/or different
fabrics." This increases the variety of design in the swap and makes it easier for the
hostess to swap the blocks. If you disregard her rule here, she will more than
likely return the blocks that were in excess of the "set #". 7. Theme: This is my favorite part. This is what excites people
and gets us to join a swap and is also usually the easiest thing for us to
comply with. Just follow your hostesses theme and you should be fine in this
department. 8. Size: Pay close attention to this section. Swaps can be either
a determined size or "sampler" swaps where there is an acceptable range of
sizes. If the size is stated in whole numbers it is a given that the whole
number stands for the "finished" size of the block...rather the size of the
block after it is sewn into a project. If the size stated with ".5" after the
whole number, it is a given that the size states is the "unfinished" size.
So.....If the size is stated as a 10" block...you can safely assume that means
the block should be 10.5" square...raw edge to raw edge. 9. Labeling: 10. Packaging 11. Mailing 13. International Swappers: I always welcome swappers from outside
the USA into my swaps. Many times they have access to different fabrics and
have different styles/methods. I just ask them to send me either fabric or
local goodies in an amount they think will cover my cost of return postage for
them. If the hostess has not stated her policy on international swappers,
please ask her to be sure. 14.
Signing the Block and other info regarding the use of markers 15.
Quality 16.
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Sheryl Till.
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