Rules for the Mystery Row Swap

Starts September 1, 2014

Welcome all quilters who like BOMs, MYSTERY, and SWAPS.  If you love BOMs and MYSTERY  but not so much SWAPS, this will work for you too.  

I have the itch to design and swap again and wanted to invite quilters from around the world to participate.   Here is what I have in mind:

I will be designing a ROW QUILT.  It will be offered in queen-size and throw-size, but make any size you want because row quilts are easy to adapt.  If you don't prefer ROW quilts, you can make a sampler out of the blocks each month.

After careful consideration from participant suggestions, I have decided on a "Quilter's Garden" theme.  The row swap will feature rows of things you might find in a quilter's sewing room and flowers.  

The pattern for the first row will be released September 1st.  To participate, email me (mamiebudgeese@hotmail.com) or leave a comment with your email.  I will send you a PDF downloaded pattern for FREE.  If you make at least one block to swap and post it to the group blog by the end of the month, then you will get the next month's pattern for free.

I am calling the first row "Good Vibrations".  It will feature a variety of sewing machines, old and new. 

Because it is a swap, you will be required to use quilt shop quality fabric and match the colors in my color scheme.

The Mystery

A new FREE row pattern will be revealed at the first of each month (via email PDF format).  Participants will make up to a listed maximum number of blocks they wish to swap from that pattern and post them to the group blog by the last day of the month.  If you are not much of a swapper, just make one to swap and make the rest for yourself, or you can purchase the pattern and just quilt along.  Anyone who posts swap blocks will be in on that month's swap.  Non bloggers can email me their photos to post. 

If you make two blocks, you swap two.  If you make 5, you swap 5.  If the row requires 8 blocks and you only make two to swap, then you will have to make the other 6 blocks on your own to have enough for the row. 

Block patterns may include paper piecing, some appliqué, or regular rotary or strip piecing methods.

What is a row quilt?

Here are some row quilts I have designed in the past to help you understand what they are.

Americana

Be Thankful - Autumn

 

Spring

a neighborhood with quilts hanging on the clothes line, flowers, butterflies, sunbonnet sues, a picket fence with a fancy gate, watering cans, birdhouses, and umbrellas. 

 

Additional Rules

• You must participate in the SWAP the prior month to get the next pattern for FREE.  The cost for non-swap participants will be $6.75 a month payable via paypal or Etsy or Craftsy.  Patterns for sale will release the first week of each month. 

• All participants will be asked to follow the fabric/color guidelines for each month's instructions so the blocks will look good together after we swap them.  Photos of and fabric description can be found at this link.

• Late comers are welcome but they will need to purchase the patterns they missed or come up with their own rows. 

 Who do you swap with?

As quilters post their completed blocks I will number each block in the order they are blogged.  So when it is time to  decide which blocks go to Jane Doe, and if Jane made 3 blocks, I will draw out three numbers to determine which ones she gets.  If Deana made 6 blocks I will draw the next 6 numbers for her.  Basically, it will be random.  I will doctor up the randomness if needed, for example, last month a lady drew two identical blocks from the same person.  I generated a random number to trade with for her.

Basically, you could get some blocks from the same person but most likely you will receive blocks from different people.  On the first of each month I will determine as randomly as possible where each block is sent and email everyone a list with addresses.


On the first of the month I will blog about a "maximum" number of blocks you can make.  It will probably be the number of blocks in the row (likely not more then 8).   

Participants will be required to use high quality fabric (no Walmart)  and to match the color scheme.  You can tell the quality by how good it feels and by the price.  Most good quality fabric is around $10 a yard.  I hope participants will purchase enough fabric so they can put bits of the same fabric in each row to blend the whole quilt together.

Deana’s Designs is not liable for blocks that get lost in the mail.  Participate at your own risk.

INTERESTED IN JOINING?  
Leave a comment with your email address or email me at mamiebudgeese@hotmail.com.  In the subject line put "BOM swap mystery" so I know you are not a spammer. If you have a theme idea for future ROW quilts, please share it.

We begin September 1st, 2014.   I anticipate the swap to go for 6-7 months.  The "free" block closes at the end of each month, but late comers can purchase it at Etsy.

Put the button on your blog and let your friends and internet groups know. 

A darling row quilt I discovered online.
And another one. 
A winter one getting started... 
And yet another...Just love them all! 
Moda Bake Shop posted one too.