In collaboration with the great ladies at Paperpieces.com (see
their contact information at the end of this post), we will offer you the
opportunity to join a fun swap with other quilters and save 20% not only on
your precut shapes of English paper pieces, but for all other merchandise on
their website! Please note this discount doesn’t include the shipping charges.
They offer an extensive collection of hexagon books to spark your interest and
especially recommend “Piecing It All Together” and “English Paper Piecing”.
This a fantastic bring-along project while waiting in the doctor’s office,
sporting events, watching TV, etc. The hexies just about make themselves! Check
out the http://www.paperpieces.com
site for lots of motivation, books and patterns!
We will be swapping 1” hexagons (Paperpieces item # HEX100). Please note that
these measure 1” on each side. Each “set” will be of six of the same fabric
with the papers left inside. This will allow you to make the outside edges of a
flower and use your own center fabric to bring consistency to your finished
project. You can view the tutorial at http://hexagonswap.blogspot.com/2012/12/basics-for-hexagon-swap.html
Each “set” is six (6) - 1”
hexies of the SAME fabric. You can send in a maximum of ten (10) sets of the
SAME fabric
We will have TWO themes—STASHBUSTERS AND GENUINE 30’S REPROS
You can send in a
*maximum* total of 100 sets per theme. For those of you doing the math, that is
600 hexies! The *minimum* amount of sets you can send in is 35 sets per theme
Due to the amount of work to swap out, we do need to have a 30
player limit for this swap. If I get an overwhelming response, I am open to offering
another swap with a staggered playing date. It is my hope to have additional
swaps offered during the year. If so, I will offer a poll so you can vote on
your favorite themes, such as certain colors, holiday prints, florals, etc.
**You can join one or both, but be aware if you only join one and
all the slots are filled/or swap sign up deadline has passed you cannot join
the second theme swap!**
Below you will find what seems like a copy of “War and Peace”, but I run my
swaps with open communication so there are no surprises and complete
consistency from all swappers. Follow the guidelines? Great! Don’t follow the
guidelines? Your swap will be returned. I need to be fair to all swappers who
play. And I know what you are thinking and yes, I am a type A personality, lol!
Just remember for the TRUE 30's repros, this is for only genuine
30's repros, not just small floral prints that look like repros. You will find
"Circa 1930" on most selvedges, and you can search the following
websites for 1930 reproduction fabrics. Just remember the prints we would use
would be small scale prints (see both acceptable and not acceptable) prints on
the blog http://hexagonswap.blogspot.com/
You can also check out
the following links for TRUE 30’s repros:
Still interested? Please
read on…
*PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES CAREFULLY BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE SWAP OR CUTTING
YOUR FABRICS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK! *
*YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THE SWAP NO LATER THAN MARCH 15, 2013 IN ORDER TO PLAY* (Or
until the 30 playing slots are filled).
*SWAPS ARE DUE TO IN MY HANDS NO LATER THAN MAY 25, 2013 TO SWAP OUT*
*PLEASE SHIP IN PLENTY OF TIME AS ANY LATE PACKAGES WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO
YOU UNSWAPPED AT YOUR EXPENSE!* I will be sending out a “gentle reminder”
notice two weeks before the swap is due.
This swap is for either washed or unwashed fabric. HOWEVER, if you use reds,
black or indigo colors, please take the time to wash with a color catcher to
ensure no bleeding fabrics in our finished projects.
As a member of the HGTV Quilting boards, you are invited to join us by clicking
on the HGTV registration link on right side of the blog page. After you sign up
(this is free!), you can join us on the “Quilting & Needlework” board. Any
problems, just contact me. I will have a running discussion there if you want
to communicate and share with the other swappers.
To sign up, please email me at 2013hexagonswap@gmail.com with your HGTV board
name (if you have one), real name, address, phone and email address AND what
themes you are joining. I will forward you the same. All information sent to me
is confidential and will not be shared. DO NOT SIGN UP ON THE PAPERPIECES
WEBSITE OR THE HGTV BOARDS—only emails to the above address will be officially
considered signed up! Remember, first come, first served! You will be notified
by return email once you are officially a player.
I will also send you the coupon code for the 20% discount so you can order your
paper pieces from Paperpieces.com. These are fantastic as they are precision
cut and just the right weight to allow the needle through the paper.
While I advocate using Paperpieces papers (#HEX100), you can also take magazine
subscription inserts or lightweight card stock and cut your own. You cannot use
regular computer paper or cardboard for this swap as they are subsequently too
light and too heavy ensure a sharp point when turning corners and will be
returned! If you do use your own inserts, be sure they are consistent while
cutting. I will be doing a spot check to be sure they are not too small or too
large and that once you sew down the corners they are not pulling up the tips.
Your swap guidelines on how to make of the hexagons will be posted on the blog.
Please DRY press your hexagons when
finished. Be careful NOT to use steam if using printed inserts as the dyes may
come off on the fabrics! Yes, we will be sewing through the paper, but as you
see in the tutorial, it will be easy to remove the papers for reuse once you
sew your hexagons together and remove the basting stitch.
As mentioned before, each set will be six-1” finished hexagons of the SAME
print with a knotted basting stitched
(PLEASE USE THE SMALLEST NEEDLE POSSIBLE TO AVOID HOLES!) down the middle to
hold each set together (with papers left inside each piece). You can only send in 10 sets of the SAME
print! (Total of 60 hexagons of the SAME print) to ensure a nice variety of
prints. I found cutting 2 ½” strips of fabric and sub cutting them into 2 ½”
squares work PERFECT for this project to ensure there is enough fabric to cover the hexagon.
**NOTE: You cannot use
the same print used in 30’s repro swap for the Stashbusters swap as we will
have many of the same playing in both swaps.
We do, however, want to keep the prints to SCALE so that we have a nice visual
when the hexagons are sewn together. *Pictures of “naughty” and “nice” prints
will be posted on the blog so that you can use that as a guide. If you have a
question on a fabric, please do not hesitate to contact me or post a picture on
the HGTV discussion board A couple of rules of thumb for this swap:
*Use only 100% cotton fabric.
*NO solids, homespun, glitter, novelty print, children prints (see note for the
30’s swap), flannels, thin or plastic-feeling fabrics.
*NO large prints, batiks, check, plaid or stripe fabrics.
*Be sure when cutting directional fabrics they do not end up looking off-bias
or wonky once the hexagon flowers is put together.
**For the 30”s repros,
you can use all colors and acceptable children and novelty fabrics IF they meet
the guidelines of photos shown on the blog. Contact me if you have ANY
questions!
*Be sure to REMOVE your selvedges BEFORE cutting your fabrics. Check fabric for
flaws, such as runs or stains. Since the sets will be stacked and tacked by a
thread, I will not be able to double check your work. Remember the golden rule
of swapping—do not send anything in that you wouldn’t want to receive in
return.
NOTE: I know life sometimes throws you curve balls, but it has happened that
people get excited and want to play, only to wait two months later when the
swap is due in a day or so to say they didn't have time. By that time you
should have already been ready to mail the package. That leaves me hanging to
replace your swap with my stash and totally unfair IF you know you cannot make
the deadline to begin with. I give you ample notice so you have plenty of time
to make an informed decision. Also, another player may liked to play in your
place. Be honest with me up front, or a repeat offender might not be able to
play in the future The success of this swap depends on your ability follow
through your commitment to our group of players. Thank you for your
understanding!
By all of us being honest and accountable, I'm sure we will have a great 2013
swapping year! I really do enjoy hostessing and want to continue to enjoy it,
so by coming up front with any issues is not really a complaint, but a way to
correct it so my frustration level (and blood pressure!) stays at an even keel.
Probably the MOST important thing I can say about a successful swap is the high
level of communication between all parties. Without that, we are setting
ourselves up for failure. Be prepared for me to contact you several times
during the swap for an update on your progress and invite pictures of your
hexies to share with other swappers!
I’m allergic to dogs and cats, so please do what you can to control the fur.
Some packages come in with so much pet hair that they look like they need to be
brushed! For health reasons, I cannot handle them and they will be returned
untouched at YOUR expense. My health depends on it and I thank you in advance
for your understanding.
POSTAGE or POSTAGE money must be included in your package. Be sure to add a
stamp or two to your stamped envelopes if not going priority mail flat rate
boxes. They also seem to weigh more returning than coming in! If you are a
frequent swapper, you can also send in $20 or so and I can keep it on “account”
and deduct your postage from it. This was worked nicely with some swappers in
the past and that way you don’t have to worry about sending in money each time.
Once the swap is complete, I will PM you your postage balance on account for
your records. If you wish your extra postage money returned, I can certainly do
that also.
If you wish to include a self-addressed mailer for the return trip back to you,
remember NO metered postage or ACP postage on the return mailer. Stamps only.
Our post office will not allow more than a 13 oz. pre-stamped mailer in any
mailboxes nor can mail carriers accept them (since 9/11 our East coast mail
guidelines have been modified). While your local p.o. may say it is okay to use
metered or ACP postage, our p.o. will not accept anything that has been
pre-dated. I’m just trying to make it as easy as possible for all concerned. If
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Also, let me know if you
want a delivery confirmation.
For Priority mail packages, I have plenty of mailing envelopes and boxes here
so there is no need to send a new one. I do, however, try to recycle the boxes
if possible. IF YOU ARE SENDING YOUR SWAP IN A MANILLA ENVELOPE OR PADDED
MAILER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO SEND IN A RETURN ENVELOPE. If you do not use
priority mail without a delivery confirmation, you are on your own!
PACKING YOUR SHIPMENT-We found that using dollar store sandwich ziplock bags
package nine sets nicely and make it easier to swap out. You can put all your
sets in a larger grocery bag with your HGTV board name (if you have one!), real
name and address, phone number and number of sets in the main bag AND a
separate piece of paper with your mailing address in case the package is
damaged in shipment so the post office can still return it to you.
Hexagon swap email:
My HGTV board name is
KC1930
