Bear with me, please. I just finished sorting the autumn leaves squares. They will go in the mail tomorrow, as best I am able. I have some thoughts to share, to hopefully make future swaps better for everyone.

-Pre-wash your fabric
-iron if necessary, to assist with straight cuts
-cut with a rotary cutter - please, only use scissors if you have incredible control and cut amazingly straight
-measure twice - cut once - I've been in three swaps thus far where someone has sent squares that are the wrong size. If your squares are too large, that can be corrected. Squares that are too small won't work in a single size square quilt.
-place each of your sets in a plastic bag - preferably larger than the squares
-mark the bag with your name, your username here, your address, and the number of sets you have - If you have more than one set, the additional bags can be marked with your username and set 2 of 3, set 3 of 3, etc.
-Send a SASE or postage for a flat rate envelope. If you can provide the envelope that's nice, but not essential.
-If you paypal the postage, please note that somewhere on your baggie (makes it much easier for the sorter.)
-Be patient - we can only sort as quickly as we receive the squares.
-Communicate with the coordinator if things change and you are unable to complete the swap.

I think we should set a closing cut off standard for these swaps. I propose a week after the stated shipping date. This gives a week leeway in case something comes up, but gives us the ability to say "That's it - anything not shipped by xxx date is out." I don't want to be a hard nose about this, I love to see the fabrics everyone else is sending, but this swap and others in the past have taken way too long. This isn't handicraft - it's buying a yard of fabric, washing it with your laundry, cutting and shipping.

I hope I don't sound harsh - that's not my intent. I'd just like to make this better for all of us.

Thanks - that's my PSA for tonight. :)

Although I was perhaps the worst offender in the late-shipping department here, I've got to say I agree with everything you've said. I'm currently hosting 2 square swaps on SMs, and it's been a nightmare. I'll be implementing your rules next time I suggest a square swap. :)

P.S. > the post office is closed tomorrow for Columbus Day. :)

I have not participated in these swaps yet, but I think these rules are great and help to clarify questions for people too.

I had a question about cutting the squares. I have a rotary cutter and mat, but I was wondering if there is a quilt square template that you can get that is 6.5" so that you can just cut around it. That would make things much easier. Are the swaps always 6.5"? I'm going to see if I can find a template.

Those sound reasonable. I appreciate your coordinating these swaps! I did notice a 6" rather than a 6.5" square in with at least one of my swaps. somehow I made it work, but it was a tight squeeze. Someone did something similar on one of the comfort quilts I pieced together - it was supposed to be 10.5" squares iirc, and she sent 2 9" squares. I had some coordinating fabric that I used as a "sash" around hers, so it worked out OK, but wasn't ideal. Anyhow, I offer that as a way to make a smaller piece work in certain cases.

Personally, I have never used a template, so this might be a strange question... but isn't it more difficult to make 4 cuts around a square template, than to measure the 6.5" and cut a long rectangle of fabric 6.5" tall that can then be "sliced" into squares? I've never really seen the utility of a template unless used for fussy-cutting. Of course, you should probably follow Norm Abram's advice of "measure twice, cut once". :D

OK, one more thought... I think it would be easier on the participants if they knew up front how much fabric to buy, and that didn't change over the "lifetime" of the swap. Generally, unless fussy-cutting, one can get 30 squares out of one yard of cotton-woven fabric. Someone who prepares their 30 squares would like to get 30 squares back again. I like how some of the recent swaps have been coordinated, so that even if there are only 20 participants, the participants do not just get back 20 different squares plus 10 of their own back - the coordinator has sent the 20 different squares, plus 10 different ones out of the 20... it still totals 30, but there's more variety. In this way, it doesn't matter *quite* so much if there are only 27, or 22, or even 32 participants - the participants don't go to the work of sending 30 squares and getting nearly half of their own back again. or buying yardage and cutting 30 squares and finding out that only 18 are necessary.

I also appreciate it when the swap coordinator doesn't mind if I send in 18 of one fabric and 12 of another, but I do realize that isn't going to happen in every swap!

I agree, Margaret!
I don't use a template. My cutting mat is beginning to have permanent grooves 6.5 inches apart. :) I've begun varying my start point to get more wear out of the thing. lol
I line my fabric up and cut the entire yard in 6.5 inch strips. Then I stack the strips and cut into 6.5 inch squares. Much fewer cuts needed that way.

My swaps have been 30 squares no matter how many participants. Each spot requires 1 yard of fabric. Neither swap has ended up with 30 participants all the way through, but everyone has gotten 30 various squares for each set. (I make up all the sets and deal out the last sets to make all sets equal 30. This last swap had 25 set participants - each got 1 square from each participant and then 5 more, so each set was different.)

I've been finding that my stash doesn't coordinate with any of the swaps. Now I don't mind shopping for fabric, but it's nice to know that I'm just buying what I need. :)

Thanks for the thoughts Ladies! :thumbsup:

BTW - Thanks, Jessica!
My post office has one of those nifty automated postage machines. I can ship in the middle of the night, on federal holidays, pretty much anytime as long as I have a credit card and the receiver isn't out of the country. :)

I was late for shipping, and I didn't have any *large* ziploc bags, so I put them in a small one that didn't fit *all* the way up top, lol, but I wanted to say, even though I broke some of the rules, lol, I appreciate the rules you laid out and think they should be put in thier own thread and stuck to the top for future reference! that way there's no confusion in future swaps. I would suggest that anyone hosting square swaps in the future require participants to confirm when signing up that they *DID* read the rules thread and there will be no room for error....does that sound reasonable?

I also wanted to add that, along with your thought that there be a recieved by date, I agree, that is a great idea. Also (not to pick on people outside the US LOLOL), I think suggesting that anyone who's shipping may take longer than 7 days (or whatever recieved by date is chosen), whether being out of the states, or shipping across the country first class, whatever, that they take that into consideration and ship EARLIER then the mail by date if necessary.

I read some shipping rules on one of the boards I visit that had very detailed, *awesome* rules, I think it was crafters.org or something, I will see if I can find them.

I may be the odd man out here, but I have never been able to get 30 6.5" squares from a yard of fabric, I always buy at least 1.5yds to make sure I will have enough.

As for how to cut, I have a 6.5 x 24" quilting ruler that I use to cut my squares. I do have a 6x6 square as well, but it was more trouble than it was worth, and I went back for the bigger one soone after using that square and being so fed up with it.

I wasn't going to post, but DH said I should..... I am having a hard time with the rotary cutter thing. I don't have one and I don't plan on buying one really. I try really hard to cut straight, but I am certainly not perfect. I use a easy square thingy, so I know my squares are square. I just kind of find the rotary cutter preference kind of bothersome.... hope I didn't offend anyone. I know we are all trying to figure out ways to make these swaps run better and I appreciate it!

I also think that whatever the original swap setup is should stay, such as send in 30 squares of each fabric. My fabric budget is limited and if the swap is going to change halfway through and makes half my purchase useless... well I don't think thats very cool, yk?

Gotta say I also like each fabric labeled with the person who contributed it, so I know who sent what! :) I printed out 60 return labels with my name/username and stuck one on each of my squares for the leaf swap. Very simple.

This way we know who to blame for ugly fabric. ;) :hahaha:

Great suggestions all around...

I also think that whatever the original swap setup is should stay, such as send in 30 squares of each fabric. My fabric budget is limited and if the swap is going to change halfway through and makes half my purchase useless... well I don't think thats very cool, yk?

Even if only 15 people participate, you would still send in the 30...you would just get doubles of the squares instead of 30 different ones, you would get 15 different ones but still 30 squares...kwim? I see no reason to cut back the number of squares sent because there are fewer participants. So, it would still always be the same amount of fabric sent in, no matter how many participate. Does that make sense at all? LOLOL

Gotta say I also like each fabric labeled with the person who contributed it, so I know who sent what! :) I printed out 60 return labels with my name/username and stuck one on each of my squares for the leaf swap. Very simple.

This way we know who to blame for ugly fabric. ;) :hahaha:

Great suggestions all around...

I have to say, I don't have the time *at all* to sit down and label each square, esp. if I'm sending in 60 or 90 or more. Sorry LOL...I'm doing good to get them cut on time (and still not always then ROFL). I definately don't mind taking pics of my fabrics and posting what I got so that people can see who got it...but I can't committ to labeling that many 6.5 inch squares of fabric.

don't hate me lol.

my issue was that origianlly for a spot, we were supposed to send in 30 of a single fabric and I got two spots and therefore 1 yard of each fabric and then it was suggested that each spot send in 15 squares of two different fabrics, so half of what i had purchased would be wasted and if I couldn't buy 2 more fabrics, then I could only afford to have one spot. ykwim?

Ohhhhh, I see, I didn't see that happen, I'm sorry! I didn't realize it got divided in any of the swaps...which one was it?

I don't think it has been decided for sure yet, but it is the all nations one.

Tuesday, I sent in 60 squares for this swap and labeling them seriously took about 5 minutes or less. I know not everyone is interested in doing this, but it's cool to see who did what. Honestly it takes me longer to take or scan a pic, upload it, resize it, load it to tinypic and post if that it does to print and label. :shrug:

FWIW - I think that if someone sends in the wrong size, they should get their own squares back. They are unusable without modification in that particular swap, so why should those who sent the correct size swap for the wrong thing?

ETA - also *please* cut off selveges! Don't use them in your measurements!

Some of us are more label-challenged than others, I guess! Seriously, I know it would take me at least 15-20 minutes to even *find* my blank labels, another hour to go out and buy some if I didn't have any, and an hour to figure out how to get the labels made properly, before even getting them stuck onto the fabric. Amy, you must already have a system/procedure for doing labels that works well for you - that's great! I have a system/procedure in place for taking pictures etc which takes minimal time/effort.

I agree with you on the cutting off of selvages... I didn't know about that when I first started quilting, but it really does make a difference.

and I tend to agree with you about sending back the squares that are cut the wrong size... even though I know I can use them somehow, the ones in the recent swap which were at least an inch too small are a bit disappointing. :(

A thought about rotary cutting vs scissors... I don't mind if someone uses scissors as long as the squares are the right size - I can re-do the edges with my rotary cutter as long as they are a wee bit on the large side. Personally, though, I still would encourage that person to invest in a rotary cutter and small mat - because WOW my cutting experience has been revolutionized by the rotary cutter. (other than the scar on my left forefinger, that is!) It's just so much faster, and accurate to boot. Just take care! :)

Some of us are more label-challenged than others, I guess! Seriously, I know it would take me at least 15-20 minutes to even *find* my blank labels, another hour to go out and buy some if I didn't have any, and an hour to figure out how to get the labels made properly, before even getting them stuck onto the fabric. Amy, you must already have a system/procedure for doing labels that works well for you - that's great! I have a system/procedure in place for taking pictures etc which takes minimal time/effort.

Yep, it would take me lots of extra time and money to do...I don't have labels, I'd have to go buy some, which is an added expense I really would rather avoid LOL...aside from the printer ink, etc. I just hate to add an extra *step*, and it would (not trying to be mean, because it *would* be nice, it's just not practical for my situation) seriously deter me from participating if I see that I have to label each square. But, like I said, I don't mind one bit to take and post a pic of my fabric. :D

I agree with you on the cutting off of selvages... I didn't know about that when I first started quilting, but it really does make a difference.
Agreed!

and I tend to agree with you about sending back the squares that are cut the wrong size... even though I know I can use them somehow, the ones in the recent swap which were at least an inch too small are a bit disappointing. :(
I absolutely agree too. (Now mind you, I *am* paranoid when I read this, thinking "Oh man, did I accidently measure wrong?????" rofl...so I am hoping it wasn't me, and if it was, I soooo apologize, but, I'm pretty sure it wasn't? LOL...I think...I hope!

Having said that...

I like these square swaps because I want to *avoid* the cutting process for a bunch of different squares, it makes it *so* easy and nice to have one yard to cut and still get all kinds of prints...how disappointing to work on cutting the right size, only to get something unusable (honestly) in return :(

A thought about rotary cutting vs scissors... I don't mind if someone uses scissors as long as the squares are the right size - I can re-do the edges with my rotary cutter as long as they are a wee bit on the large side. Personally, though, I still would encourage that person to invest in a rotary cutter and small mat - because WOW my cutting experience has been revolutionized by the rotary cutter. (other than the scar on my left forefinger, that is!) It's just so much faster, and accurate to boot. Just take care! :)

I agree here too.. I would never *not* want someone to participate just because they used scissors! I love all the different people participating, and wouldn't want to shun someone over a rotary cutter, as long as they had nice straight lines and right sized squares. But, I do agree with Margaret, investing in the rotarty cutter makes life *SOOOOOOOOOOO* much easier...sososo much. Frankly, I wouldn't even bother doing squares at all if I had to cut with scissors just because it's SO much more efficient to use the rotary!

I just wanted to pipe in on a few issues.

1. I wasn't paying much attention with the swap that is 15 squares each of two fabrics, BUT I think that is okay if it is posted from the get-go that way. If it changes after people have signed up and bought fabric, not so great for mamas that already bought their fabric. So I think it should be set a specific way and not changed unless it is a unanimous decision by all participants.

2. No way no how can I label all of my squares. I don't even have a working printer. My USB port is completely shot and I have no way of printing labels. I think that is a cool idea, but should not be mandatory. Mamas could always post a picture or description of their squares, and if someone is so inclined they could keep a running list for those who want to know. :)

3. I could care less how someone cuts their squares. As long as they are the correct size, IMO it makes no difference.

I just wanted to pipe in on a few issues.

1. I wasn't paying much attention with the swap that is 15 squares each of two fabrics, BUT I think that is okay if it is posted from the get-go that way. If it changes after people have signed up and bought fabric, not so great for mamas that already bought their fabric. So I think it should be set a specific way and not changed unless it is a unanimous decision by all participants.


Yes. I addressed this on the swap thread, but I plan to address this on the swap 'outlines and guidelines' that I'm working on for this forum. Switching the details of the swap halfway through is too confusing and hard on the participants. Even getting a 'unanimous' decision can be deceptive, because 1. sometimes mamas don't check in until it's nearly ship time and 2. sometimes people hate being the 'odd man out' and it is unfair for them to have to give in to something they don't want to do because they don't want to look like the only one in disagreement.

Okay clarification - I wasn't suggesting that labeling squares should be made a *requirement*. I was just chiming in the conversation and simply that I like seeing who sent what. I know that we have labeled pieced squares in the past too, and that makes it fun while sewing to see who ends up next to whom and so on. So relax, it's just something *I* like!

As for the 15 squares of two fabrics, that was actually something I suggested very early on, when we didn't have very many people signing up (like under 10 slots)! Since it really didn't get discussed or clarified, I purchased my fabric a few weeks later according to the original plan, not expecting it to change. I agree that shifting midway is not a good plan, but it's also pretty awful to have a ton of people drop at the end too.

ChasingChe recommends sending money to cover Delivery Confirmation.

ChasingChe wrote:
Unfortunately, you chose to have it shipped in a way that isn't trackable. Your decision created this problem, and it's not up to Sonya to do anything else. The fact that she was kind enough to even OFFER something else is beyond expectation. IF this package is legitimately lost, take it up with your post office. It's certainly not Sonya's fault.

Sorry, but it's no one's fault but yours - this is why we do priority with delivery confirmation - and why ebay is required to do the same. No one here has any idea if you've gotten them and just want more. But we know that Sonya is a trustworthy, active member and that the rest of us safely received ours, packaged appropriately for shipment.

I'm sorry. All I can say is if they didn't show up, tack it up to a lesson learned and request delivery confirmation in the future. All this hassle and your apparent disappointment could have been prevented by spending the extra $2.

ChasingChe recommends sending money to cover Delivery Confirmation.

ChasingChe wrote:
Mama, I got your PM and I see here that you are upset. I don't know what you would like me to do to rectify this. Choosing (or not choosing) to use Delivery confirmation is a choice taken on by the person involved in the swap. Up to now it has never been necessary for a hostess to require nor suggest DC...I don't mean this in a nasty way, but it's common sense to realize that without tracking your package, *you*-the person paying the shipping, there is no way to guaruntee it's safe arrival. Fortunately most of the time, packages make it safely to their destination, with or without DC...but, on the rare occassion this type of thing happens. It's unfortunate, and like has been stated repeatedly, there is not a whole lot that Sonya could have done, if you didn't pay for DC. It has never been *required* so there was no reason to state that in the sign up thread (as per your PM to me)...but of course, now it may be to avoid these kinds of things.

I have said numerous times mama (sorry, I still do now know your name), that I feel badly that this happened to you, I am sorry that you haven't gotten your squares. I wish there were a way to make it better, but at this point, I *truly* don't see this happening. Right now there are hurt feelings on both sides...also, there is no way to satisfy everyone involved. I would like to see this topic dropped.

We have all learned from it...it's sad that it had to happen this way. I'm sorry your experience here in the Amity sewing forum has made you offended. I don't know what you would like me to do. I'm sorry.

Sorry I missed this thread, but I think the rules sound good.

I think the mistakes made up until now were all done so innocently and that we are all learning our way through this. Setting more guidelines and rules are always a good thing to prevent hurt feelings and problems from coming up. :) :hug:

On DC - everyone who sent postage or SASE for flat rate priority in this last swap, I printed shipping labels online to add the free DC. It's been mentioned before, some post offices don't scan the DC when it's mailed, so often DC doesn't help. I know I've watched some packages and the DC never updated from "shipper received notice on xxx date."

On DC - everyone who sent postage or SASE for flat rate priority in this last swap, I printed shipping labels online to add the free DC. It's been mentioned before, some post offices don't scan the DC when it's mailed, so often DC doesn't help. I know I've watched some packages and the DC never updated from "shipper received notice on xxx date."
yeah, this is true. I have had it happen often and at times wondered "Hmm...*did* they send it, or did they print it out and it's still on their table??" ROFL

I just don't know, I hate to even require something like that. I suppose, that *IF* we have some rules about restricting habitually late shippers, then it won't be necessary. My biggest "ACK" worry about it is because of the lost package incident.