BATIKS-R-US fabric exchange

[Margo C.]

Sewing and Pressing:
Please sew carefully so when your squares are pressed they will not have bows in the seam line. Use a light weight thread-I will be using Bottom Line by Superior threads. Decrease the length of your stitch so the papers will tear off easily when the time comes. Make sure that you fabric is pressed well with no wrinkles (wrinkles change the size of the finished block). If you layer your fabric with the light fabric on top and then put the HST sheet on top of the light fabric, when it comes time to press (leaving the paper on) you will be pressing to the dark side.

After sewing, cut the squares apart on the solid lines, leave it folded with the paper on and press carefully while it is still folded. No need to worry about pressing seams open because it remains folded. PLEASE DO NOT TEAR THE PAPER OFF AFTER PRESSING. This will help keep them from wrinkling during transport.

Preparation for Mailing:
We would like you to write your first name and what state(please put the whole name not the abbreviation for those who are not from USA) and country you are from on the HST paper. We want to have fun and know how far our squares have traveled. Since we are a small group you may not want to make 700 HSTs. You will get a lot of yours back unless we all do 700. For each combination of light and dark (if you are using Edyta's papers--each sheet will yield 28) I would like it if you put it in its own sandwich bag if you do 56 of the same color combination then they can all go in the same bag. Use a sandwich bag that has a place to write on and write your name, your screen name and how many are in the bag. If you can't find that kind of sandwich bag please use a label with the information written on it. This will be the bag(or bags) I will put your new HSTs in to send back to you.

IMPORTANT REQUEST
Please put TQS screen name on the outside of the envelope used to send your squares, on your Zip-Lock baggies, and on your return envelope. This will help me stay organized.

[Margo C.]

The above instructions are from page 1 of this forum topic, and the photo is some of my HSTs.

I noticed that Ritzy is using Bottom Line thread. I am using MasterPiece cotton. It doesn't really matter what kind of thread you use, as long as it is a thin weight so that it doesn't take up bulk in the seam allowance. King Tut threads would be too heavy.

I have also found that it's easier to heat set the seams before the triangles are cut apart. Just press with a hot dry iron from the back of the stitched units. It will make everything nice and flat for the trimming process.

I can't wait to see the projects that come from this exchange!

[Marti O.]

On page one of this forum it says something about 1 HST per participant, but in Margo's post on Sewing and Pressing under Preparation for Mailing it says something about "you may not want to make 700 HSTs" because we would get a lot of our own back. I thought I was to send 137 HSTs, not however many I wanted to.

[Margo C.]

On page one of this forum it says something about 1 HST per participant, but in Margo's post on Sewing and Pressing under Preparation for Mailing it says something about "you may not want to make 700 HSTs" because we would get a lot of our own back. I thought I was to send 137 HSTs, not however many I wanted to.

Early in the exchange someone mentioned that they wanted to send 700. At that point, Ritzy requested that we each send one for each participant, which turned out to be 137 when the sign-up closed.

She is going to be doing most of the sorting herself, and if each person sends 137 it will make her sorting job much easier, and give each of us a wonderful assortment.

[Marti O.]

Thanks - that's what I thought I signed up for.

[Marti O.]

Hi - I just learned that my batik fabric is called 'embossed" -- that means it is not smooth, but a little bumpy - it's like it has had little circles pressed into it. I earlier had called it 'textured', but just learn at guild last week that the technique is called embossed. However, it IS batik. Does anyone mind getting this? - with so much talk about pressing and ironing, I'm thinking that if I sent these, people might not know, like I didn't at first, that this is not wrinkled, but embossed. I just got my papers and am ready to start, but just want to double check with you all. I've asked about this before, so maybe I'm stressed and don't need to be. I just want everyone to be happy with what they get. I'm sure I will be happy with everything people send.

[Marti O.]

Sounds good to me. I love the attitude here- don't sweat the small things. As long as it is a batik, it will be fine with most everyone.
So glad to hear you just received the papers. Hopefully, mine will be here soon-

[Karen M.]

Yippee...finally got my papers....let the stitching and cutting begin!

[Dawn S.]

Hi - I just learned that my batik fabric is called 'embossed" -- that means it is not smooth, but a little bumpy - it's like it has had little circles pressed into it. I earlier had called it 'textured', but just learn at guild last week that the technique is called embossed. However, it IS batik. Does anyone mind getting this? - with so much talk about pressing and ironing, I'm thinking that if I sent these, people might not know, like I didn't at first, that this is not wrinkled, but embossed. I just got my papers and am ready to start, but just want to double check with you all. I've asked about this before, so maybe I'm stressed and don't need to be. I just want everyone to be happy with what they get. I'm sure I will be happy with everything people send.

I'm okay receiving an embossed batik. I've never seen embossed batik before, so I can play with yours and see if is something I care to buy in the future! Sounds good to me. Go for it.

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Pam D.]

Embossed ounds good to me. :-)

[Teresa B.]

Hi - I just learned that my batik fabric is called 'embossed" -- that means it is not smooth, but a little bumpy - it's like it has had little circles pressed into it. I earlier had called it 'textured', but just learn at guild last week that the technique is called embossed. However, it IS batik. Does anyone mind getting this? - with so much talk about pressing and ironing, I'm thinking that if I sent these, people might not know, like I didn't at first, that this is not wrinkled, but embossed. I just got my papers and am ready to start, but just want to double check with you all. I've asked about this before, so maybe I'm stressed and don't need to be. I just want everyone to be happy with what they get. I'm sure I will be happy with everything people send.

I have never seen "embossed" batit fabric. I would love to get a HST of it.

[Karen M.]

I would love to have some embossed Batik fabric as well! No problem.

[Connie W.]

Hi - I just learned that my batik fabric is called 'embossed" -- that means it is not smooth, but a little bumpy - it's like it has had little circles pressed into it. I earlier had called it 'textured', but just learn at guild last week that the technique is called embossed. However, it IS batik. Does anyone mind getting this? - with so much talk about pressing and ironing, I'm thinking that if I sent these, people might not know, like I didn't at first, that this is not wrinkled, but embossed. I just got my papers and am ready to start, but just want to double check with you all. I've asked about this before, so maybe I'm stressed and don't need to be. I just want everyone to be happy with what they get. I'm sure I will be happy with everything people send.

Didn't know there was such a thing as embossed batik. I don't have a problem receiving it and look forward to seeing what it is like.

[Connie W.]

Ditto. Embossed batik is fine with me too; looking forward to seeing what that looks like.

Margo, Thank you for posting a photo of your HSTs in baggies. It was helpful to see that visual. I had already packaged & shipped mine to Ritzy, but it will be quite useful for the Sisterhood triangles since there are so many more triangles to ship.

[Connie W.]

Hi - I just learned that my batik fabric is called 'embossed" -- that means it is not smooth, but a little bumpy - it's like it has had little circles pressed into it. I earlier had called it 'textured', but just learn at guild last week that the technique is called embossed. However, it IS batik. Does anyone mind getting this? - with so much talk about pressing and ironing, I'm thinking that if I sent these, people might not know, like I didn't at first, that this is not wrinkled, but embossed. I just got my papers and am ready to start, but just want to double check with you all. I've asked about this before, so maybe I'm stressed and don't need to be. I just want everyone to be happy with what they get. I'm sure I will be happy with everything people send.

Actually, I think a little texture would be good! Stay with your choice!