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Have you noticed all the bloggers doing craft and sewing swaps lately? The basic idea is that you partner up and make something for each other.
Swaps are a fun way to meet new friends who share the same interests as you. Plus, it’s always fun to get a surprise in the mail!
One of the bloggers I follow, SequoiaLynn Sews, posted about how she participated in a sewing swap through one of the Facebook groups she is in. I really wanted to do it too, so I asked Sequoia if she’d do a sewing swap with me.
She said, “Yes!” 😊
Sequoia is pretty cool. She is a pattern tester, and she blogs about all the outfits she makes. I’ve always been impressed by how much she sews and her ability to pick cute fabrics, especially florals.
<<< Go check out Sequoia’s blog! >>>
Most sewing swaps have a theme or a particular type of item you’re supposed to sew. Sequoia and I decided to do a Halloween theme for our swap.
What I Made for Sequoia
I bought a Bernette b79 last year. It is a combo sewing and embroidery machine with a 6”x10” hoop. I love it a lot, and I have been experimenting with in-the-hoop embroidery designs lately.
Since Sequoia and I decided to do a Halloween theme for our sewing swap, I went on the search for an in-the-hoop design for my machine. I found the cutest Boo Wall Hanger from Sweat Pea Designs.
I already had all the embroidery supplies I needed at home, but I did buy four fat quarters of cotton in some Halloween colors.
I love how my Halloween door hanger turned out:
The Boo Wall Hanger was super easy to make. I really love in-the-hoop embroidery designs.
All I really had to do was hoop the fabric, change the thread colors on my machine, and babysit it while it was stitching out the designs.
If you don’t have an embroidery machine yet, I recommend the Bernette b79 because it is an affordable model but you still get a large enough hoop to do most everything you want. I paid about $2,000 for mine. Some embroidery machines cost more than $20,000!
What Sequoia Made for Me
Sequoia sent me a set of four large Halloween coasters. They have a patchwork design in several shades of orange. There is also a cute leaf embellishment on the side.
Look at how cute they are:
I plan to use these coasters at my table all of October and November.
Thank you, Sequoia! I love them.
Have you ever participated in a sewing swap?
Sewing swaps are so much fun! Follow Sewing Society on Facebook, and I’ll let you know when I see one happening so you can get in on the action. I might even host one of my own!
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If you ever do get to participate in a sewing swap, I have a few tips for you. For example, make sure to sew something small and lightweight, especially if your partner lives far away from you. Shipping costs are always a consideration. It cost me under $10 to send my sewing swap item to Sequoia because I was able to use a standard-rate bubble envelope at the post office.
There’s also always the worry that your partner won’t follow through with the sewing swap. This does sometimes happen — life can get crazy, and most people have good intentions. However, most of the sewing swaps I’ve seen have a plan on how to handle this. Volunteers sometimes become swap angels to step in and take care of anybody who may need help.
Have you ever participated in a sewing swap? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below.
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This has been so fun! I have enjoyed our chats as our deadline approached and our final trade went great! Thank you for your fun idea and great gift!!