Please join us in our “STASHBUSTERS NICKEL SWAP” due October 31, 2008. Any color. Any pattern. Just so long as come from your stash. But please read the "General Fabric Guidelines" below for some additional information.
And to give you an added incentive to dig deep, there will be a prize (a good one!) for the "oldest" nickel. If you think you have a winner, just scribble a note as to when you bought the fabric and any other interesting tidbits you remember about it. All on the honor system.
What's a "nickel" you say? A five inch square of 100% quilters cotton fabric. Nickels can be used in patterns specifically designed for them, such as Pat Speth’s nickel books (http://www.patspeth.com), the many patterns now being designed for charm packs, in any scrap pattern or just to provide a supply of "little somethings" to add to other projects.
General Fabric Guidelines:
We are swapping 5 inch squares of good quality 100% quilter’s cotton fabric. As always, home décor fabric, as well as fancy or textured apparel fabric (such as seersucker or brocade), twill or homespun fabrics, whether or not they are 100% cotton, are NOT acceptable and will be returned. Also no obviously juvenile or holiday fabric. They also will be returned. The nickels are likely to be cut down to smaller sizes, and as a general rule smaller patterns work better than larger patterns with nickels. It might be helpful to place one of your smaller clear plastic rectangle or triangle templates over the fabric and see if the pattern would be pleasing to you.
The quality of the fabric is more important than where it is purchased. This quote from Fons and Porter’s Quilter’s Complete Guide may be helpful: “Avoid fabrics that feel stiff, are loosely woven and stretchy, or are misprinted. Fabrics that would make a comfortable, durable blouse or man’s shirt are the right texture, weave and weight.”
And please remember the Golden Rule of Swaps: only submit what you yourself would love to get back.
Fabric Preparation:
Fabric should be washed and ironed before cutting. No scents, dryer sheets or sizing. Please remember to measure twice, cut once! And double check that those corners are square and that selvedges and frayed edges are trimmed!
Set Size:
We will swap 10 piece sets. Each set may be 10 of the same fabric, or a mix of different fabrics. However, only 10 nickels of any one fabric per swapper please. Although sets will be submitted and returned, nickels will be swapped one for one. So, if you submit one set of 10 of the same fabric, you will receive 10 different fabrics of the same color group back, swap submissions permitting. If you want pairs (or other multiples) of the same fabric back, PM me with that request and also note it on the packaging. I will accomodate if possible. I will try not to send any of your own fabric back if at all possible, but it will depend on swap submissions.
Please put all of the nickels of the same fabric in the same bag. It helps make sure no one gets more of the same fabric than they should and speeds up the swapping.
Set Maximum:
10 sets per swapper (100 nickels). This is the maximum, but please keep in mind that the more sets you submit the more likely you are to get multiples back if other people are submitting smaller numbers of sets. The math simply works that way. However, as a general rule I go into my own stash to the extent I can to keep the number of multiples returned to the minimum. If you really, really want to send more than ten sets, PM me and we can decide together in light of how submissions are going.
Packaging:
Please separate each set and place all of the sets in one plastic bag. You may place each set in a separate plastic sandwich bag or clearly separate them some other way, for instance with an index card or piece of paper between each set. Please clearly label the bag with your user name and how many sets you are submitting. A label on the front or an index card in the bag works well for this.
Please double check before sending that each set contains 10 nickels, that selvedges are trimmed and that there are no fabric flaws, smudgies or pet hair. We love Fido and Kitty, but not their hair.
Mailing:
Include a self-addressed mailer for the return trip back to you with adequate postage. No metered postage on the return mailer. Stamps only. This is a post office requirement. Sometimes their counter help doesn’t know that, but it must be stamps. Please put plenty of postage on your return mailer. The weight of the return package may be different because of the fabric others send in.
Due date:
October 31, 2008. The fabric must be in my possession on October 31 to be swapped. No exceptions. Please give yourself enough time to cut accurately and do a final quality control check before mailing. Also make sure you give the post office enough time to do that thing they do. The success of the swap depends on each of us doing the best we can do!
Sign up:
There is no sign up deadline, but if you are participating please send me a PM with your user name so that I can keep a running list of participants. Please also include your name and your address (home and e-mail). This will be kept confidential and only used to help in record keeping or if I need to get in touch with you about the swap. Please send the PM even if you post to the thread. Also, if circumstances change and you must drop out, please let me know that as well.
Please PM or post to the thread again when you send your package so that I know to look for it.
Beany, good quilt ideas. I have a template for the Axe Blade Quilt, but I have always heard it called Apple Core. I have a few cut, but never thought of using the nickels for more.
I mailed my 3 sets of nickels to you this morning.
In order to see the rainbow, first you must endure the rain.
January -- Neutrals, Patriotic and RW&B March -- Red, Yellow, Blue May -- Orange, Purple, Green July -- Autumn, Christmas
So generally by color. But, of course, it will be "scrappy" within the color. If there are less than 8 swappers for a single color one month prior to the due date, that swap will be cancelled. So, if on February 28, 8 people have signed up for red and blue but only 6 for yellow, there will be a red and blue swap but not a yellow swap. Hopefully, with a single mailing for multiple swaps and only every other month, it cuts down on the time and expense and encourages more participation.
Posts: 1329 | Location: Omaha, NE | Registered: Mar 31, 2007
Has anyone else found fabric they forgot they had while going through their stash? Just me? OK.
Still plenty of time to join the last nickel swap of 2008. Already so many wonderful nickels received that I'm a little perplexed at the best way to divvy them up to give everybody an assortment they will love.
Posts: 1329 | Location: Omaha, NE | Registered: Mar 31, 2007
I'm thinking about jumping in on this one. I plan to go through my stash this weekend and see what I come up with. And yes, I am certain that I will find things that I've totally forgotten that I have
when you start this back next year will it always be the scrappy theme? or by colors each month?
