Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Swap

In the spirit of the festive season I thought now might be a great time to host the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Swap. I gave some thought to how we’d swap and I decided that given the nature of the Farmer’s Wife blocks that it would be better to swap an item that features block(s) from the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt rather than swapping straight blocks. This means that if you’re blocks are coming out at 6.25″ it’s not that big a drama because you’re not relying on someone else wanting to use them in their quilt. I also thought that swapping an item gave people another way to remember the fun they had with the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt. There’s a lot of information to get through, so lets not dilly-dally and lets get down to it!
Swap Participation Requirements
- You must have the book The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt: Inspiring Letters from Farm Women of the Great Depression and 99 Quilt Blocks That Honor Them by Laurie Aaron Hird for Fons & Porter/F+W; RRP $28.99 – Click here to purchase Paperback – Click here to purchase eBook.
- You do not have to be participating in the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-along to participate in the sew, but you must make your swap item in line with the swap requirements (which will mean you’ll need the book).
- The swap is totally random – I have no control over who you will be allocated – and you will only get one swap partner.
- Please see below for more details about what you’ll be swapping and what the timeframes are.
What You’ll Swap
You will be required to make an item that features block(s) from The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt – this may be a mug rug (click here to find out more about mug rugs), a mini quilt (maximum measurement 20″ x 20″), a bag, a zipper pouch, a cushion, an apron. Something handmade that makes a feature of the block(s) from The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt. (This is compulsory.)
You may decide to just use one block (or you might use one block in the way that Kirsty from Bonjour Quilts is using her blocks) or you can use multiple blocks. The choice is yours, the only condition is that all blocks used must be from The Farmer’s Wife 1930s Sampler Quilt.
You may include swap parcel inclusions if you wish, this is not compulsory. If you are posting internationally please be mindful of the customs and quarantine laws of the country you are sending to. (If in doubt ask Google or your swap partner.)
Timeframe
Swap is open for registration from today until 6 December 2015.
You will be required to post your parcels in the following timeframe:
- International: 12 – 15 January 2016
- Domestic: 19 – 22 January 2016
All parcels must be posted by 22 January 2016.
There’s two postage cut offs to try and help parcels arrive around the same time so we can share in the excitement together. If you are unable to post during this timeframe please let me know, postage prior to 22 January 2016 is allowable where circumstances dictate, however all parcels must be posted by 22 January 2016.
Some General Swap Information and Etiquette
Give Unto Others
It should go without saying, but just so we’re clear: only swap material that you would be happy to receive yourself. This means swapping quilting quality material (preferably cotton). Using a mix of pattern and colour that you think your partner would like. (Obviously this one is a little subjective, so again if you’d be happy to use it swap it – if in doubt probably best to either contact the person you’re swapping with to see if they’d like it or maybe keep it for yourself.) Please take the time to read your partners information and if there’s not enough information send them an email and try and find out more about their fabric, colour, pattern preferences.
Communication is Key
I understand that life sometimes throws you a curve ball and means that you can’t always do what you would like, so if for any reason you have to pull out of the swap just drop me (and if you’re so inclined) your partners an email to let me know and we’ll work around it. The more warning you can give the better so that I can redirect packages, etc.
Time is Money
Please post your Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Swap Parcel to your swap partner by the postage date specified. If you’re anything like me just knowing that something is coming in the mail is uber exciting, so it would be great if all our packages arrive around the same time so that we can all celebrate together.
Quilt Karma
Ultimately a swap like this is only as good as what you put in to it so please remember to treat everyone as you would expect to be treated. Chances are if you shaft someone today, you’ll be shafted tomorrow.
Swap Angels
In some cases parcels go missing or people drop out and we may need a Swap Angel to come to the rescue. If you would like to be a Swap Angel please let me know via via my contact page. Over the course of the swap I will be in contact if there are Swap Angels needed.
Questions
If you have any questions at all please let me know either in the comments below or via my contact page.
Sign Up
You can sign up for the swap by clicking here.
A Word about SwapBot
I have used SwapBot to host this swap. It’s a free service and allows me to administer the swap much easier than if I was to do it manually. Unfortunately I do not have the capacity to run a swap outside of SwapBot so you will need to sign up to their service (which is free) to participate. SwapBot provides protection against poor swappers as it allows participants to be rated so that we can ensure maximum participation in this and all future swaps.
I am unable to provide IT Support for SwapBot. The have a great help section (click here to see their FAQs) and if that doesn’t provide you with an answer they have great email customer support, just drop them a line. If you’re a new user to SwapBot click here to read their New User Information.

I’m not doing the quilt along but I’m so excited to be a part of this! Thanks for opening it up to everyone 🙂
I did not see anything stating how often swaps occur. Is it weekly, monthly, quarterly, or randomly?
HI Margaret, At this stage it will be on an ad-hoc basis depending on the success (and issues) with this one I may run another one in three months time.
Hi Angie. I’m in, but don’t know how to get back so I can check my profile. Help please would be much appreciated.
Hi Susan, if you click the swap sign up link in the post above it will take you back to SwapBot. Once there you need to click on ‘profile > edit profile’ in the menu along the top of the SwapBot page. Then you just click on “personal” and fill in the details as prompted. Does this make sense?
That’s sounds great and linke a lot of fun! But I think I just need to think about it a bit to decide if I participate. Have a great weekend:-)
Thanks Hildy – completely understand. A swap is a big commitment. Hope you’re having a great day!
Hello Angie,
Sound a lot of work, but I think I will try…
Swapping a block could have been also a good idea but might hinder the design of the whole quilt… So that exchanging another use of the block is great!
Thanks for organizing!!!
Thanks Catsi – I hope you enjoy the swap!
Я бы очень хотела участвовать,но я живу на Украине и дорого присылать мне или от меня маленький объем.Но я все-равно с вами!
I’m sorry that postage is so prohibitive and you’re unable to participate. Do keep sharing your blocks with us via Facebook and the link party though! <3
So sorry I won’t be able to participate. I had originally said yes thinking it would just be one block. And I was hoping to receive one that would have become part of my label on the back of my quilt. I know you’ve put a lot of effort into organizing this and so please don’t think that I am criticizing — it sounds like fun, but way more work than I imagined to do some of the projects that are listed as suggestions.
Sorry to hear Terri. I did think about swapping blocks but so many people were worried about the “accuracy” of their blocks, etc. that this seemed like a better way to let people swap something FW related without the worry. A mug rug is just one block quilted if that helps. Anyways, sorry you’re not swapping but glad you’re sewing along with us still!
Will I be sending to, and receiving from, the same person?
Hi Pat, No. You’ll send to one person but receive from another. (So you’ll make 2 new friends!)
I was hoping this was going to be swapping 1930’s blocks. I would love to include someone’s else’s block in my quilt and remember this quilt along.
I’m sorry Suellen, but as I’m sure you can appreciate I am unable to accommodate everyone’s desires. Hopefully this way the swap will appeal to more people as there will be less pressure for accuracy in their finished block size.