UPDATE 1/23 -Friendship Quilt - Round 1

I am so excited to be a part of a swap like this :) My favorite colors are earthtones. I am particularly fond of the colors of the sunset (think oranges, reds, yellows). Thank you!

welcome to the swap, and I'm looking forward to this as well - I've not seen a swap like this one, but since I do love to quilt, and have made quilts from fabrics sent me via my website, I thought it might be fun to try it here - let's hope we get a great good-sized group!

Mary

hi I would love to join this swap I made one baby quilt for a swap but I don't know if I did it right she said I did a good job on it.

do we put a back on the finished squae? I think i will try this swap I think it will be fun. I like all colors Barbara

Hi and welcome to the swap - I'm sure that the baby quilt was lovely - if the recipient was anything like me, she adored it, just simply because you put some of your heart into it!

We do NOT "finish" the square - so there will be "raw edges" - that's why it might be a good idea to run a stitch all around the square so it will cut down on raveling.

I'm looking forward to this, it should be fun - and I will repeat it each month, so be sure to watch for it, (I can also send reminders to those who are in this swap, so it will be easy to find - what do you think?)

Happy New Year, everyone, keep it safe! Mary

Since the goal of these squares is that they be put together into a single "piece" - when you are embellishing, or embroidering your squares, leave about 1/2" - 3/8" (1.3 cm - 1.7 cm), around the outside edge, so that they will not interfere with the seam allowance.

(hope that makes sense - if not, just let me know) Mary

Will put on watchlist while I wait for your reply. It's late and my brain is not working too well........we don't finish (ie batting & backing) the sq but what is the "backing fabric" part you mention?

perhaps it was confusing, but the "backing" fabric just refers to a base for applique, if you choose to make a square using that technique - - we are not adding the batting or actual quilt backing, only the "top layer" -

sorry if that was not clear -

Mary

This swap sounds like a lot of fun. I am a beginner quilter and just finished my first quilt. I love "country" colors like dark greens, mustardy golden yellows, dark reds...I'm really not fussy though. Anything will be great!

I'm excited about this! It's going to be a fun project. It will be so cool to get a collection of blocks that reflect quilters personal styles. I love the idea that anything goes! I'd like to put it together with red sashing at the end. If you would, please put a touch of red (any red hue, just a tiney spec or all over) for a common thread through the quilt. (no pun intended...hehe)

Just 1 question; Should the block be 10"x10" PLUS seam allowance of about 1/2"? So the actual fabric square is more like 10.5"x10.5"?

Thanks! -Jillian

Actually, the original "plan" was for the squares to be 10" x 10" - that would INCLUDE the seam allowance - if that does not work for people, please let me know right away -

Mary

I just didn't want to mis-interpret and send the wrong thing. Thanks!

usually squares have a 1/2 inch so when they are sewn together they add up to 10 inches each , so most squares when sent to the other person would be 10 1/2 inches. Most pattern are this way so I think for beginners it would be hard trying to eliminate the 1/2 inch. Does this make sense? I also invite you all to check out my Animal Quilt Block swap, it will be ongoing also.

Will we be sending to the same partners the whole time, or will we get new partners each month? This is going to be so fun!

I also see a lot of patterns that would be a 10 finished size - so 10 1/2 " raw edge size... also - my block rulder os 10 1/2 " with a marked line for the 10 " size -- this is the "is it square?" ruler & I use it a lot.

I have been wanting to get into something like this for awhile. I have made a couple of quilts, but none for me. I would really like a rainbow colored quilt, so a variety of bright colors would be great! I'm not looking for what matches, just bright colors. :)

oooooo....I'm so excited!

to try to clear some things up - - (and sorry for the confusion, this is my first "fabric" swap)

Squares will measure 10.5 inches - raw edges - you are right, that means when they are sewn together, the "finished" square measures 10 inches.

I HAD planned to run this swap each month - and probably emailing each of you to let you know - of course, that might mean we get NEW swappers, who may have NOT been a part of it from the beginning -

I am not going to ask anyone to angel this swap, since it's a pretty busy commitment as it is - but please let me know what you think about whether to hold "open" swaps each month, or close them to the present crew?

Mary

what size does each individual square need to be? I am a bit confused, we send three 10" x 10" squares to each partner?I think I get it, six squares to make up one block, right?lol, I will put this one on watch

does anyone know of a good pattern for a beginner quilter?

depending on what technique you want to use, you can check out sites like freepatterns.com, (then click the "quilting" tab over on the right), quiltpatternlibrary.org, or a good one for beginners might be how-to-quilt.com, which shows some basic but really nice patterns.

hope that helps - - Mary

size - - the block that you will send will measure 10.5 inches x10.5 inches - that allows for a quarter-inch seam allowance on all sides, so that the "finished" size will "become" 10"x10".

does that help?

if this has become TOO confusing for everyone, then let me know - Mary

I have extended this swap for a few days because of a family emergency - I might not be able to get online until the weekend, so I apologize for any concerns or inconvenience -

Mary

I'm going to use this swap to get started on a quilt for my daughter. The colors I'm wanting to use are bright purple and greens large squares and big prints

This has inspired me to start a traditional Christmas quilt, so my colors will be primarily red, green, cream and white.

I would love to take part and start learning different squares but I have an exam in March... but may I join in March or April?

I love earth tones(think outdoors) but will gladly take anything..........I am soo ready to get started, i have these all cut out, just have to sew them up :-)

Hi I just adore homespun fabrics and would be very happy to get squares with that, to be inspired (or if you don´t know what kind of fabrics that is) please look at www.memesquilts.com. Nine patch, log cabin or other easy patterns are fine with me if you are new to quilting, everything else will just be a fun surprise! Looking forward to this swap!

It's so exciting to see how big our swap has gotten!

Remember to list any specific color choices for your partners.

With the block design & construction being senders-choice we are sure to end up with an amazing piece of art if we all stick with it for the whole series!! Get ready, partner assignments are tomorrow! I'll try to do it in the morning so there is some fabric shopping time during the day :)

Yay I made it just in time. I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. I am open to pretty much all colors. Hubby says no pink so I guess limit the amount of pink if you use it :-)

I would love flower fabrics! yellow and reds or pinks and greens.

I would like anything as long as it's in shades of green.

I love red, yellow. black, fabrics, with roses and crosses, but i will accept anything,

I'm trying to decorate in a woodsy theme, so I'd like the colors of the woods and forest animals, like greens, browns, tans, and berry colors. Thanks!

Oh, and I'd like it to be an open swap in case some months I am too busy to do it. Thanks!