I am hosting an Alison Glass charm swap! I have a project idea that is going to require a lot of different Alison Glass prints and 5 inch charms would work perfectly, so this is a completely selfish swap. But after testing the waters, I think that there should be enough interest to make this a fun swap (beyond being super helpful for me). After talking with my friends Michelle @From Bolt to Beauty and Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe (who have successfully held 2 charm swaps), I got enough help and information to kick this off. Let’s do this!
Sorry to all my international friends, due to postage and this being my first swap, I am going to limit it to the United States only.
Bundle of Alison Glass Grove and Mercury (Photo Credit: Kitty @Night Quilter)
SWAP DETAILS:
Photo Credit: Christa Watson (@christaquilts)
- Each person in the swap must have a public Instagram account. To keep as much variety in the swap as possible, you must post a picture of the Alison Glass fabric that you plan to use in the swap to Instagram, tag me (@quiltingjetgirl) and use the hashtag #2016AlisonGlassCharmSwap. Please be sure to check the hashtag and post your intended fabric selection prior to ordering your fabric to make sure no one else has that exact print / colorway chosen already!
- Each person will purchase 1 1/2 yards of fabric and cut it into 5 inch charm squares. 1 1/2 yards can yield (80) 5 inch charms, so there is a little bit of wiggle room in case of a miscut (I personally ordered 2 yards so that I can have some yardage left over for my stash, too!).
- Scale matters! Choose prints that will work with a 5 inch square (smaller prints work the best for charms, there are a few Alison Glass prints that might not be suitable like her Ex Libris panel print).
- Fabric must be new and unwashed from a smoke free home.
- Before mailing, cut the fabric into (72) 5 inch by 5 inch charm squares, and prior to cutting, press/iron to ensure accuracy.*
- Send your (72) 5 inch charm squares from a single fabric in a Ziploc bag with an index card with your name and email address.
*Disclaimer: Cutting accuracy will be beyond my/your control. The charms that you will receive will be similar to a precut in that they may not all be 100% accurate.
Bundle of Alison Glass Sun Prints (Photo Credit: Nicole @Modern Handcraft)
Are you convinced yet? Head over to the Google Doc’s page and sign up! Remember this is first come, first serve. The first five extra peeps will be placed on an alternate list in case anyone drops out. Also check out the Instagram #2016AlisonGlassCharmSwap hashtag to see what everyone is getting before purchasing your fabric!
Sounds wonderful, and no need to apologise to us that live elsewhere. I can look and dream. Love your fabrics, and what a fab way to finally be able to have all those different fabrics in charm squares.
Yay! All signed up, posted fabric and ordered. One of those times I am glad I stay up too late.
I participated in a charm swap through my local guild a couple of years ago. We did it for a year and did it by colors. Apparently some people didn’t know how a fabric reads. For example, for the month red, someone had a fabric that read more like a white/cream with a little red instead of mostly red. All the fabric had to be prewashed – the organizers mandate. Apparently, some people did not wash the fabrics and somebody was irritate about that. Then after it was over, that same someone came unglued that 5″ x 5″ is not the same to everyone. It was for a retreat that the speaker is notorious for working with charms. I looked through her books and I need two matching charms for what I wanted to do when I decided on a pattern and we had just swapped one charm square per person. I have the charms square somewhere around here. The speaker was great in addressing the issue of not all blocks being the same size and some have pinked edges. If you have blocks that you are sure are 5″ x 5″ because you personally cut them and they the charms meet your standards or if you cut them using a die. As long as you have something that has uniformity, use it as the standard when making HSTs with the charm squares. Use the standard when lining up your charm squares to sew them together. In other words, use the edge of the standard as the guide for your seam allowance. Be sure to line the charms up together when you are sewing. This will help to keep the charms at a “standard” size. I know I can’t cut charms perfectly. As my husband used to tell me – there was only One who was perfect and He had nails through His wrists (Jesus). He knew I had great tendencies toward trying for perfectionism. I don’t have my die and I do use my 5″ square for cutting some standard size for this purpose. Even though there were issues with that swap, I will not be deterred.
All signed up! I love Alison Glass fabrics- thanks for hosting this! 😎
How exciting. I have never done one of these before, but I am signed up. Will there be more info on when to buy and send?
I’d love sign up from Canada. If you agree, I’d be happy to ask post office to provide appropriate shipping from American destination! Let me know.
So excited! I just signed up and so far I’m the only one NOT using Sunprint from Alison Glass. Did I read correctly that it could be any print? Hope so, I choose Artifacts in Charcoal.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!! Some kind of fun going to happen…woohoo!
Yvonne, this is a great idea. I bet you will have an amazing Allison Glass collection after this event. I can’t wait to see the project that you have planned for those charms. She does color like no other so it is bound to be gorgeous!!
All signed up! Thanks for organizing this Yvonne! I’m curious about your plans for these also!
Wouldn’t you know it, I just got back from the quilt shop! Had I known before, I would have looked to see what prints they have and would have signed up. Alas, this is just the cosmos telling me not to buy anymore fabric. Or maybe my bank account. Those voices sound very similar…
Curious what project you are making with this swap.
Aww I missed it due to camping…womp womp. I added my name to the alternate list anyway. I’m going to have such charm envy when people get all those charms in the mail!
I don’t mind being international and missing out. I doubt I have any Alison Glass, as lovely as it is.
Thanks so much for hosting this swap, can’t wait to see all the fabrics that everyone chooses!
I missed the signup, but it’s ok. I will be watching to see what you are making with your charms.
I love this concept, thanks for being ‘selfish’ it has lead to some fun sharing and a challenge. Now did I read this 3 times looking for —–> WHERE <——–to ship these or will that info follow? (My apologies: Maybe just calm myself down – it's not November yet!).
Couldn’t jump in this time, but I bet the collection of charms will be amazing! Would love to join in if you do this again down the road.