Wednesday, June 13, 2007

If you can't buy fabric.....

How do you get around a challenge that you cannot buy fabric for? Well, you join a fabric swap! The other day Sarah posted about a swap over at Jen's blog, so I checked it out right away. Jen was only taking 10 people, so lucky that I signed up in time. The idea is that each person picks 50 fabrics and cuts out 10 5" squares from each. We're all sending our squares to Jen, and then she is graciously organizing all our squares and sending them back out to us. We're going to be getting a total of 500 squares each. Can you even imagine?!?! The idea of getting that many new fabrics (without buying, of course!) was so exciting, that I may have over looked the fact that it takes forever to cut out those squares. I started last night, and so far have only cut out of 11 fabrics. I'll be busy today and tomorrow cutting them out because they need to go in the mail on Friday. We're taking another little trip up to NY, so I won't have a chance to use up the extra few days before they're due out.

One swap that I am sorry I missed out on is the Doll Quilt Swap. I've been eyeing it for a while and hesitated and now it's full. I had been really wanting to try out this method for a long time. John's mother actually gave us a full hexagon quilt that was made by my FIL's aunts. Well, I think by them anyway. Both sides of his family were quilters and my MIL has a whole bunch of the quilts. So, last night I wanted to do some crafting that didn't involve my sewing machine. I drew out a bunch of these templates on the back of a magazine. Then I hand basted the hexagons. I started sewing a few together and this is what I came up with. Actually, John came home from Outback last night only to find me sitting on our bed with these spread out trying to find the perfect arrangement. Ah, I'm just laughing at myself thinking about it.
This has become very addicting and I'm really enjoying the hand-sewing. I figure this will be a good craft for the car ride. Last time I went to NY I was itching to craft so badly, so I'm glad I'll have something to bring along.

Alright, me and my rotary cutter have a date. Hope my fingers don't fall off! Oh the things we'll do for fabric.

15 comments:

jessica said...

What a great idea - maybe I'll have to host one of these to satisfy my fabric need. And I love your hexagons!!

Sarah and Jack said...

Oh honey, do I feel the cutting pain. I have only done 7!

Karyn said...

Swapping instead of buying?? Sneaky, but completely legal :)

Boy those hand sewing pieces look like a lot of work!!!! You go girl!

Me and Him said...

Your hexagons reminded me of a quilt I had when I was a little girl. My grandmother made it for me, and it was all hexagons and flowery, girly fabric. I loved it. It was on my bed until it literally disintergrated. I was distraught then, and still am now. I would love to still have it.

Anonymous said...

Katie, maybe you should just host a doll quilt swap -- it's the best of both worlds! LOL! The cutting is the sole reason I passed on the fabric swap. It sounded like lots of fun but I'm the most crooked cutter on the planet.

Rebecca said...

So cute! You may have just inspired me to try to make a little pieced item. And don't worry, I'm not buying anything new!!

Anina said...

I think that's cheating... Just kidding!
The hexagon thing is something I've been wanting to try. Good luck with that!

African Kelli said...

I wish I had your patience! Those look so great. Love the fabrics!

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh, hand sewing? You're nuts!

Lisa K. said...

We'd love to have you and 99 of your closest friend in the next round of the doll quilt swap :o)

Love your hexagons. Aren't you glad that there is such a thing as a rotary cutter? Can you imagine using scissors for all those squares? Have fun with your fabric swap.

Anonymous said...

Oh my GOSH, that sounds like the best swap in the whole wide world, you lucky things! I'm off to dream about receiving 500 different fabrics in the mail... =P

PS. Love the hexagons!

lera said...

Fun swap. I don't think I'd have time or patience to cut out that many squares.

maggiegracecreates said...

That is the part I don't like too. But I do adore the outcome. And I love these hex blocks as well. I don't baste my hand pieced ones, I just use the starch around the template method. Works for me. Can't wait to see what fabrics you get back.

Heidijayhawk said...

what an awesome swap idea! that hand sewing should keep you busy!

Chara Michele said...

Wow that is a lot of cutting! Sounds like a very fun swap though:) And what a great way to get around the rules ;)