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"From Aunt Pitty Pat's Porch..." is a recurring column on
theQuilterCommunity.com. Check back next month for volume 4 and more of Aunt Pitty
Pat's how-to's on Block Exchanges....
Hello, again, my dear! How nice to see you! Come
up here onto the porch and have a seat in this rocker next to me. Why don't you
have a glass of cool lemonade and some of my famous butterscotch oatmeal cookies?
I do believe that spring has finally decided to arrive! Well, I have been
traveling with my good friend, Sue Troyan. We went to that nice quilt show in
Williamsburg, Virginia, and then we went to Chicago to see her youngest perform
in a new play -- "A Night in Mantua" all about characters from four of the Bard's
great plays. Young Brian played Lorenzo who had run off with Shylock's daughter,
Jessica. He was quite charming, such a handsome young man, and so dashing! When
their wedding was interrupted by Paris and his henchman, why the ensuing sword
fight was just, well, it was just marvelous! And then in the second act...
Ah, but you didn't come today to hear about young Brian's
theatrical triumph! You have your notebook, so you are surely here to get my advise
on how to start up a successful block exchange group -- the Do's and Do Nots for S
uccess For Block Exchanges, am I right? Would I mind? Of course not! I am
always happy to help in any way I can.
Now, we have already covered the dangers, so now we
must determine a course, which will maximize our chances of avoiding as many of
those hazards as possible! To begin with, always keep in mind the First Rule of
Block Exchanges, and that is that one will most likely not get back all perfect
blocks! (I'm sure I mentioned that during our last visit, but it bears repeating!)
Now, having accepted that, we shall endeavor to set things up so that disappointments
will be minimized. There are several ways to do this. Basically, the two most
important things to do are to gather a good group, and to communicate well.
Let us assume for now, that for your first adventure --
yes! Of course, this is an adventure! ... you have decided to go for a simple,
straightforward exchange of enough blocks of one traditional design to make a nice
sized quilt. Oh, yes, there are many different ways to exchange blocks! Some are
simple, and others can be quite mysterious! Some are exercises in reproduction, and
others are designed to get your creative juices bubbling! No two are ever exactly
alike. That is part of the mystic of it all! Of course, I will give you more than
a few examples, and share with you some delightful experiences too, but for now,
just to get you started, let's try to make this first venture an easy one, shall we?
Excellent!
But first, you must gather your members. How many
quilters are needed for a good-sized group? Well, that depends on how many you
want and how many willing hands you can actually find! Ideally, a group should
be small enough to be manageable and large enough to make the stitching reasonable.
I have been in groups as small as 12 and as large as 25. Anything larger, I do believe,
might be too large, though I think one could have a successful exchange with as few
as 6 or 8. It depends largely on each individual's commitment and willingness, as
any exchange's success or failure hinges on the enthusiasm and pledge of each participant
to complete the project as promised. However many quilters you choose to include,
they must all be trustworthy, and reliable to make your exchange work.
As to whom to invite to participate, I have found it is
safest to start with quilters you know, and that means not just people who you
know quilt, but people who possess a quality of work with which you can be happy.
One can also include those who are eager and open to instruction, who are not afraid
to ask questions and seek council when they are even a little unsure of a detail
or process. A quilter who is not yet an expert, but who is diligent and enthusiastic
about her work is preferable to include over the quilter who is highly experienced,
but noncommittal!
And one could include quilters known and trusted by
other quilters that you know. Why is it important to know how "good" and
reliable a quilter might be? To establish a certain level of quality, then
everyone will know what is expected of her, or him, and what each can expect
of all the others. It sort of keeps the bar up to a certain level. Even so,
who among us has not, at one time or another, had the best of intentions to do
something, but for one reason or another, been unable to complete the task?
Therefore, one must always allow a "grace period" after
the announcement of the exchange to give the quilters time to decide if the current
offer can be worked into their schedules. If so, wonderful! If not, the quilter
may wish to "opt out for now", but to be considered for the next project. By
providing this sort of option, one can allow a quilter to gracefully bow out
before the real work, and the math, has been done! She need not fear loosing
her place in the group and will disappoint no one. However, once the grace
period has passed, everyone who is "in" is committed! Only dire circumstances
will excuse tardiness, and dropping out close to deadline is seldom forgivable.
(One, of course, must be reasonable, but there are limits!)
Once you have gathered your group, you will sit down
together and define your exchange. You will pick a block, decide on size, numbers,
fabrics, colors, everything you can imagine! Here is where each quilter can bring
her suggestions and ideas to discuss. Where can one get ideas? Why, from old
quilts, like that treasure you brought last time, remember, from other quilters,
from quilt documentation books, quilt shows, classes, gardens, magazines, museums,
and the family cedar chest (which, by the way, is a terrible place to store quilts).
Talk with your mother or your grandmother or great-grandmother,
if you are so lucky to have one. Ask them about the quilts they remember. Just start
looking! Before you know it, you will have filled that notebook with ideas! Meet at
a convenient place. Have some refreshments. Something chocolate! And a fresh pot of
tea, and talk about what you'd like to do as a group. Make a short list of those
blocks that everyone likes to consider as your first, second, third projects.
(Be optimistic!) Continue to pare down your list until you have settled on one
with which everyone is pleased.
And, my dear, another word of caution here, make it a
relatively easy, simple block for your first exchange, maybe a , a
,
a (wonderful for signatures), or an Album
Cross. Avoid a complex block for now.
What you want to do is build confidence in the group, to minimize difficulty,
insure as much success for everyone as possible, and to make sure no one is
overwhelmed! And avoid inset seams, at least in your early exchanges. When you
do include them, make sure everyone in the group knows what an inset seam is!
I should tell you a funny story about inset seams and an exchange my dear friend
Sue Troyan was in several years back. Oh my! Yes, I will share that one with you,
but for now, I shall endeavor to stay on the topic at hand!
Once you have chosen a block, you are half way home.
Next, decide on a size. Will your blocks finish 6", 8", 10" or what? Often the
type of block, whether it is a nine patch, a four patch or five patch, will make
it easy to determine a good size. Try to work in increments no smaller than 1/4",
such as a patch 2 1/4" square. Better yet to use 1/2" increments! How does the
phrase go? KISS: "Keep it simple, Sweetie!" Once you have picked a finished size,
be sure to specify its unfinished size. Ex: Eight inches finished, 8 1/2"
unfinished. Do not allow for any confusion on this now! Later on, you can deal
in 1/8"s!
Next, you must decide if you want to use specific types
of fabrics: reproduction, whimsical, brights, solids, a specific holiday type,
ethnic, juveniles, and plaids? Picking a type of fabric will help give
cohesiveness to the quilt and guarantees that the blocks will meld. You may also
wish to specify a range of colors, such as warm tones, or a time frame, such as
1840 -1875.
Decide how many different fabrics are to be used
in the block. For instance, in a traditional Churn Dash you can use two or three
colors (or more if you really like a scrappy look!) Decide if you want a specific
fabric used in a specific way or place in each block. We did that with the Album
Cross signature blocks we recently exchanged. We chose Kaufman's Kona Cotton in
Bone for that little 2" square in the center where each quilter signed her name,
city, and the date. It was most satisfactory. And agree to all use only first
quality yard goods in your blocks! It is important to use and give the same
quality that one would like to receive!
Then determine how many blocks you will exchange. A small
block will call for more blocks to be made by each person than larger blocks.
For example, if you chose to make 6" finished Churn Dash blocks, you will need
to make at least 32 blocks for a moderately sized quilt. However, only a dozen
15" Goose In The Pond (Link) blocks will make a good-sized quilt.
Determining the number of blocks to make and exchange
is where some may be surprised and some can get confused. You see, my dear,
(this always tickles me) some quilters join an exchange thinking that an exchange
is a short, easy way to a whole quilt. Well, it is an easy way to a diverse quilt,
but there is no short cut on the work involved! Each participant will make enough
blocks to make the whole quilt, but she, or he, will be keeping only a few of those
blocks. Maybe an example would be helpful here.
Let's say you all have decided to make 6" finished
Churn Dash blocks. A straight set of 6 x 8 will require 48 blocks. There are eight
of you in your group. Each quilter will make 6 different blocks -- that is, six
different color/fabric combinations -- for each person, including herself (or
himself; we must not forget the gentlemen!) for a total of 48 blocks. Another
way to put it is that each quilter will make 8 sets of 6 blocks each, exchanging
7 sets and keeping one, for a total of 48 different blocks. (Adding sashings and
or alternate blocks will, of course, make a few blocks go further! Each quilter
will make that decision on her own later.)
Next, decide if there are any particular construction
methods or tools that you all prefer to use. A good example here would be how to
construct bias squares, or . All the ladies with whom I exchange blocks use only Triangle
Paper sheets by Quiltime (you can purchase packages in a variety of sizes in your
local quilt shop, or on line at www.quiltime.com) or Triangles on a Roll (also
available in many sizes and from your own quilt shop) for our half square triangles.
You may also want to discuss how to best press your finished blocks as a good
press is also important in creating a flat, square block.
Last, but certainly not least, you must set a deadline!
Give yourselves ample time to complete the project, but set a firm deadline for
everyone to have their blocks finished and ready to trade. Then as soon as everyone
agrees to everything, you must pick a leader, if you have not already done so,
who will write up everything that has been agreed upon and distribute copies to
all. Remember, if it is in writing, and has been written well, it is easier to
remember and less likely to be misunderstood. Good communication is imperative!
You might want to include a few "Basic Rules of Etiquette
for Block Exchanges" that I have found useful over the years. I have it here
somewhere. Where did I put that list? It must be inside. I shall just go find
it for you. Oh, my! Look at the time! I must end this delightful exchange for
now, my dear, and repair to the kitchen to begin preparations for the social we
are to attend tonight. Will you return again soon? I promise to have the list
for you, and to share with you a number of different, creative ways to exchange
blocks. My friends and I have had such great fun with quite a variety of exchanges
over the years! I shall tell you all about them. So, you will not think me rude
to end our visit for now? You will visit again soon? Excellent! Ta,Ta for now then!
Do your best work, my dear,
and I shall remain,
As always, your Aunt Pitty Pat.
©2003 theQuilterCommunity.com/CSFT
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