Spring 2009 Quilt Block Swap

Spring 2009 Swap!

I love sampler quilts, but I often find its time consuming to cut each block individually and piece them one at a time. So, in efforts to have another sampler quilt and to CeLEbRaTE my 1^st year anniversary blogging at www.reannalilydesigns.blogspot.com : I’m hosting a Centralized Quit Block swap. Here’s how it works-

A centralized swap is one where you mail all 9 of your blocks to me, then I swap them out and mail them (8 others + one of your own blocks) back to you in your PROVIDED self-addressed stamped envelope. Take your finished blocks to the PO without sealing the package. Have them weigh your bundle and buy that amount of postage, plus $.20 to be certain, and stick on your return envelope. Place that envelope in with the blocks and send it on its way.

International players are more than welcome to hop in. I will be shipping from my US Post Office (73521) - so the “return stamp” needs to be US or you can send paypal in the exact shipping amount of your return postage, and I’ll just buy the stamp for you when I mail out the swap packages. {If you have a better method for International Return Postage, please email me! I'm open to suggestions.}

The swap is a Rainbow Sampler.

1. Maroon
2. Red
3. Orange
4. Yellow
5. Light Green
6. Dark Green
7. Light blue
8. Dark Blue
9. Purple

The Details: You pick the color you want to work with, from the pallet pictured above, and one block, from www.quilterscache.com. Then you make 9 identical monochromatic blocks. The blocks should measure 12.5” square, so that they will be 12” square when sewn into your new quilt. The foreground color should be the color you selected and the background color should be white or tone-on-tone white. Please use 100% cotton fabrics. You do not have to sign the blocks if you don’t want to, but please do include a paper name tag pinned to the back of EACH your blocks, so the recipient will know who else has generously swapped. Name tags should have your first name, city and state.

edited to add: Your colors can pattern or solid, as long as your blocks "read" monochromatic + white/tone-on-tone white. You can see my Yellow block here.

The swap is designed for 9 total players per section. If we have more than 9, I’ll open up a second section. I will be linking all the players in the side bar of my blog, so even if you see 18 or 27 names, you’re only making 9 blocks.

Skill Level: Since you get to pick whatever block you like- it’s a good swap for all skill levels. If you are a quilting master, sure pick something with a lot of triangles. If you are a beginner, go with some kind of modified 9-patch block. Quilter’s Cache has blocks for every type of quilter.

Sign Up: Email me or post a comment with your color choice (by number) and block choice. If someone has already chosen a color you desire, please choose a different one. You’re runner-up color; that way we’ll still get the rainbow effect per section. Can you join twice to yield a larger quilt? Sure- but you’ll have to make sure you are in two different sections in order to yield 18 blocks. In fact, if you’re considering joining twice- you might want to wait to sign up the second time- to see if we need to fill in some sections. {Please check the side bar where I've listed the Swap sections to see whats available.}

Time line:

There will be 3 weeks to sign up. Sign ups close Jan 26^th, at the end of the day. I’ll add all the names & links in on the 27^th.

There will be 8 weeks to finish the 9 blocks. Blocks need to be in the mail by March 23^rd. I will swap them as soon as each section is received and drop them back in the mail as quickly as possible. Depending on how far the mail has to travel- Hopefully, we’ll all have the makings of a sampler quilt right around April 15^th, USA Tax Day.

Think about it. Tell your friends and grab a blog button to enjoy the fun! Oh, if you want to go all html crazy and link your blog button- you can link it to this post or to this blog. Thanks!

Thanks for playing. I look forward to virtually meeting you! ~jen~

Update Jan 5, 2009: Section 1 is officially full. Section 2 is open for your choices.
Update Jan 9, 2009: Section 2 has TWO spots left, Yellow and Dark Blue. Section 3 will open soon.
Update Jan 11, 2009: Section 2 is officially full. Section 3 is now open with ALL color choices available. Tell your friends and grab the little SWAP blog button.
Update Jan 14, 2009: Section 3 has ONE color left - DARK GREEN. As soon as its taken, I'll open up Section 4.
Update Jan 14, 2009: Section 3 is full full full and Section 4 is wide open!
Update Jan 21, 2009: Section 4 will be THE LAST section in the swap. As of this morning we still need 6 players. Tell a friend!
Update Jan 24, 2009: Only two days left for sign up! Section 4 is still open and has 3 color/spots left! Jump in with both feet. First-time-swappers are welcome.
Update Jan 26, 2009: Ok, the swap sign-up is officially closed. To my delight, we ended up with 4 even sections, and my real-life guild. That's 45 total players. Thank you so much. Check out my blog or the blogs listed in the side bar to view some of the sewing progress! You can also see more blocks from the swap in our flickr group.

NOTES: If you missed the swap and the sign-up deadlines, you can still join a similar swap, hosted over at Jane's Fabrics and Quilts Blog.

Spring 2009 Quilt Block Swap