Swaps encourage quilters to try out new ideas, get their creativity flowing and finish something on a deadline, which can be a good motivator! Swaps and both feature a specific project or theme, but are differentiated by who receives the finished item.
Block Builder Swap Group
Block Swap Groups are a great way to increase your scrapiness quotient for making quilts. For the most part you get great blocks and you can make happy quilts.
If you do join a swap...
- Start small - most swaps are set up so that you can send in as many blocks as you want, and you get back the same number you send in. If it's your first swap, try signing up for just a small amount of blocks, maybe 5 or 10. See how you like it!
- Give what you'd like to receive. Use your favorite prints, do your best work, follow the pattern, press your blocks, package them well for shipping/trading.
- Think of this as the golden rule of quilting - give blocks unto others that you would want others to give to you.
- Don't procrastinate - Don't wait until the day before the deadline to start your blocks. Trust me on this one. You'll be stressed, and the whole experience will be a lot less enjoyable.
- Use Social Media- if there's a way to communicate with the group (group text, Facebook group, Instagram hashtag) do so! Encourage others, comment on their posts, share your progress. This is where you get to know your fellow swappers and make friends. Encourage everyone to share photos and talk about what they received.
Swaps - Who is Participating?
Swaps can be set up and organized in a few ways:
- Within your guild
- With a nearby guild
- Nationally or internationally under a specific guild or group of guilds
The further your swap participants are from each other, the more time and more organization is required from the organizers of the swap. Keep in mind the additional costs of postage to mail internationally. You might want to restrict swappers to YOUR country. Even mailing from United States to Canada incurs an extra expense.
- You will get back the same amount of blocks that you mail in. You can make any number of blocks, but I'm going to recommend sets of 12 blocks (12, 24, 36, or 48)!
- All blocks must come from a SMOKE FREE home. Some might require a "pet free" home.. Keep in mind that if you have a cat, no one wants to recieve cat hair with their blocks.
- You must include return postage. Please send a self addressed stamped envelope; it's much easier for me.
- Please mail your blocks in a gallon** zip-sealed plastic bag. Please put a note inside of the bag with:
- Your Name
- Your Mailing Address
- Your Email
- How many blocks you sent.
Great Blocks for Swapping
- Nine Patch - Pick a size (ie, 6". 9" or 12"), then next swaps can be Snowball, Hourglass and so on.
- Signature (Siggy) Blocks (once participated in a Siggy swap with quilters from around the world. One of my favorite scrap quilt.)
- Churn Dash - Easy for you to make several of the same block, swap with others for variety.
- Garlic Knot - Simplified block, easy to piece.
- Sampler Blocks - Easy for YOU to make several of the same block. Swapping with others give you the scrappy look. Quilters Cache is a great place to find blocks. Be sure to mute your PC if you are at work. They have obnoxious background music! Be sure to indicate what fabrics are to be used.
- SnowBall - Easy block, just add triangles to each corner.
** Note - for swapping strips or smaller items, a smaller zip-lock might be appropriate.
Click on this link for more details about the about Block Swaps.
Back to Guild Program Ideas
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Updated: November 2022