I don't have a problem with a variety of fabrics washed or unwashed, inexpensive or expensive. I usually say though that you should include fabrics that you would want to receive. When I finally get to using my collection, there will surely be some pieces left behind for one reason or another. I think the fun of these type of swaps is that you can take it or leave it when it comes to a block and not sweat it too much! Some of the other swaps, though very fun, can be somewhat expensive!

Thank you so much "keepmelaffn" I think I got it now. Whew wipe sweat from me brow. I have lots of material from my sister in laws quilt shop, PLUS some I bought through JoAnn's a few years ago. lol... Some washed and some not. I also like what Karenbarns posted, It's for fun and not to sweat it to much. Basically if we make to much work out of it it cease to be fun. I was looking for something fun without a lot of money involved and this sounded good. PLUS I've seemn some postage stamp quilts posted and they are beautiful. no stars and triangles but beauty of it's own. I'm on and I got it. Thanks for the help gals. Blessings me. :)

Would love to join...don't know how I would go with the postage from Australia though. If I put a SASE it would be in Aussie stamps...can anyone help with this as I have never done this swap before.

International swappers either send me US $$ to pay for their postage or send me fabric to cover your return postage. It is fun to get the international swappers so please think of joining.

As I cut I set up my piles/sets the last time. That way I don't have to handle the small charms again.
(You can easily get 26 1 1/2" charms from 1 40" strip so I'm aiming for the maximum set allowance of 20 sets.)
As I cut I place one charm on each pile. I'll pull my fabric yardage or strips in groups of 10 or 25 and leave them out so I don't use them again.

It really didn't take long to do the piles/sets the first/last time I participated. I'm glad the number of piles/sets has increased this round! Thank you!

pm'd you Missi, will be fun.

Good Morning Swappers!

Missi suggested that I take a poll asking who would want to make "siggie" blocks to be included in each of the "sets". I had asked her if we were going to do these, she said it hadn't been done in the past, but I think it'd be a kewl way to label our finished quilts we make from these postage stamp blocks. That way we'll always remember who contributed to our quilts. Please post a yes or no a.s.a.p. Thanks!

Ok Thats fine with me but just one thing...what is it and how is it done? Sorry, still sorta new to the language! Ha!

That's quite alright "Momma"...I was just introduced to them about 6 mos. ago.
"Siggies" are signature blocks.
You make them by piecing three one-and-one-half inch x three-and-one-half inch strips together to make a three-and-one-half inch square. The top and bottom strips are made from the same colored print, solid, tone-on-tone fabric, the strip in the middle is made from white muslin. When the squares are finished, you write your name, the date, etc. on the white muslin strip using a waterproof fabric pen...wahla!...a signature block which once you and the rest of us complete the project using the blocks in the swap, the siggies are sewn together using 1/4" seams and attached to the back of the project. That way you'll always remember who contributed to your project.

I'll post a pic of one of mine on here later today.

Hope this has helped! Sandy

Sandy, Geee after reading all of that I was hoping you would say you'd post one!! Yes that will help and thank you so much!! I appreciate that! :P

Here ya go Kathy...

AHhhhh Now I see what you're talking about! Ok thanks so much!!! :thumbup: :-) :P

I think that sounds like a good idea, I vote yes.

Good idea for keeping track of things but I probably wouldn't use them. Nothing personal, I have only just begun doing labels and that feels really strange to me! Not sure why...

I plan on using mine in mini projects and I too would not use these, so I vote no. But I will include if majority wants.

I wouldn't use the label either--it's a "no" here, too.

I'd vote no also. I'm planning to use my postage stamp squares for more than one project so won't be able to use siggis to accurately label. Also, one of the main things that appeals to me about this swap is that there's no sewing involved, which makes it quick and simple to participate.

Several "no" votes here...I think what I'll do is send a siggie block (since I've made them already...keep many on hand) with my sets...if Missie doesn't find it too much trouble...maybe she could send mine on to those who HAVE included siggies and send me the ones who have siggies...make sence? If you happen to get a set of mine with my label in it...just toss it...I won't be offended. Have a good hump day tomorrow! Sandy

No, not for me. :thumbdown:

No for me, too. What I like about this swap is it's fairly quick & easy to participate in. I don't want to have to sew something in order to participate.

I just noticed you live in Orange, Sandy. I'm in Buena Park. I bet you are in the Guild down there. I'm in Acacia. Just got going there in September. Been quilting awhile - from 2000 to 2006, then off tll this fall and now on again to stay. I'm goin all out - have an accuquilt and I love, love it - more and more as I use it.
Anyway, about the siggie. I have never done one and don't know much about them (just what you said). I always like to try things new, even if I don't understand them. Do you mean to include one with each set? Seems to me that it would take a lot more than one set to make a quilt, so I'm a little bit confused.
I am more of a visual learner and can't picture a big label and all those little squares (how big a square do you get when you put 50 1.5" squares together?
It would be interesting to hear a little more about it. Thanks Sue

I was wondering, about how much yardage does it take for 50 1.5 squares?

If you were to cut 50 squares of the same fabric, 3 inches would do it. From a 1.5" strip of 42" fabric you can get 28 squares; so from 3" you would get 56 squares.

Hey thanks!! That helps a lot...thats not near as much as I thought it would be. :P

NO.

Hey ya'll I think the best way to handle the siggie block is if you want to do it mail them with your sets and I will swap out those of you who include them. If you send me 10 siggie blocks and only 3 total swappers send them I will return your unswapped ones. Make sense?

I've gotten all confused which doesn't take much these days, I'm going to do the swap but think I'm going to pass on the sigs. Hope thats ok...

Thank you Missi...as long as it's not too much trouble for you.

When will you be starting to accept our sets by mail? I'm finished with mine and will mail them to you as soon as you'd like.

Hi Missi, Ready to post mine too let me know when.
I was hoping more would like the siggie block but I have decided to make my own when I get the returned blocks as we are adding our board name and area anyway.

I will be trying to use mine in one project and will make the siggie blocks for the backing.
Can't wait now...

If you are ready to mail them to me send me a PM so I can get you my address!

Swappers - I have heard from members of the fall swap who are using their squares and noticing that some of the blocks are not the correct size. If they are little bigger they can be trimmed down but when they are too small - all we can do is trash it. If you catch this before you sew it not a big deal but when you have nice patch and realize the center block is off - big deal.

Please, please, please double triple check your squares.

I do a lot of small piecing and have found that the Creative Grid rulers (some as small as 2 1/2" square)are very accurate. They have very visible fine lines. One has to be careful when cutting multiples; sometimes you don't see that one of the lower fabrics has slipped.

Sending PM

The Accuquilt GO will giive you PERFECT 1,5" squares every time and it goes really fast too. I've been really happy with mine.
There also is a smaller one - the GO BABY, but I don't think they have a 1.5" strip cutter yet, but they are adding new ones for the BABY every day. The BABY is six inches wide and the GO is ten inches wide (thats the only difference)
I am finding the BABY very easy to use (I have both) cause it is much smaller, but the handle is larger,, therefore easier to turn,

I'm glad I went back and checked this out! I went and bought more fabric to make the stamps. I thought we were to have a stack of 50 of the same fabric! I just read that each block in the baggie is different?! Is this right??! I needed to know before I started cutting, I would have made a huge mistake if I didn't do some investigating! Someone set me straight please.

[Edited] Also, I signed for 15 stacks, can each stack have the same stamps as the other baggies I make? Like, can I cut 15 of one fabric, 15 of the other and so on? Then I'd have 15 stacks of 50 different sets but all 15 bags are the same? Heck I don't know...Help please.

Morning! MOMMAK - giving an answer so you can start.
EACH bag *must* contain 50 DIFFERENT squares.
The bags *can* contain the same (or different) 50 different squares. In other words the bags don't have to be exact.
You *cannot* duplicate within a bag.

When I did the first swap, I cut a strip into squares and then made my piles. As I cut 1 strip I added it to the pile. I easily kept track of how many were on the pile on a piece of paper. That way I didn't have to touch the small squares again until I placed them in the little bags.

PS I was confused at first too - the cutting goes quickly. I used my 2 1/2" strips, cleaned them up to 1 1/2" and subcut them into 1 1/2" squares. EASY!

Ok I think I have it now, every bag has 50 different squares. OK I'll cut 15 pieces and have 15 stacks. Thank you so much, that helps a lot! Really appreciate it. :P

50 pieces of different fabrics in however many you signed up to do. Great way to finish off the fabric from any project!

Count me in on this one too please!
I'm in for 10 sets, but will probably go up to the 20. :) I love tiny squares!

This was a great way to use scraps too. Since it doesn't take much fabric to cut 1.5" squares