I'm on an American quilting board and they do these swaps called Booms (I'm guessing like Boomerangs). I've 'watched' 6 or 7 now and they look like good fun so didn't know if people on here would be interested. I'll list the 'rules' - I would be happy to host and organise (admin permission allowing).

For ease of explaining we will imagine there are 10 people taking part.

It takes place over 2-3 months.

Each person sends me 10 fat eighths of a fabric of their choice (plus a SAE for return). I then mix them all up and you get back a fat eighth from everyone else.

You then have a couple of months to make a block for each person - any block and technique you like (variety is key! It could be traditional piecing, FPP, applique etc) Using their fat eighth and any fabric from your stash. They may have given additional instructions eg please make the background light. We all post pics and everyone can see the blocks people are making for them- lots of excitement...

People post the finished blocks back to me (and SAE) and then I allocate them back out so everyone gets back 10 blocks made with their feature fabric to make into a quilt etc

What do you think? It is a good opportunity to try new patterns, use up scraps (as you only need to make one block) and it does look like good fun.

Happy if consensus is no

I'm glad it has proved useful! In terms of the inch markings you could use a sharpie and then put clear tape over it so the ink is 'trapped between the ruler and the tape. It might make the ruler more slippery though?

I’ve still got the vintage bunting from my wedding in our loft. It was before I knew how to machine sew so I bought it from someone on eBay and it was gorgeous. I haven’t  found a use for it since though....  :thinking:

Rather than a steam press I find spraying the line with water (saturate if necessary) and then ironing this with a hot iron a) creates clouds of steam and b) gets rid of all fold lines I have come across

Glue pen! I can 100% recommend watching Tula Pinks EPP videos on YouTube (there are 3 of them). I learnt so much!

For example, did you know thread has a right way and wrong way to be threaded into the needed direction wise? I had no idea...

@Gernella I've just sent you a PM but your niece is doing my sisters wedding dress alterations- what a small world!!!!  I can't believe it

I will take everyone's advice on board, thanks!

Thanks everyone!
@UttaRetch

Yes, she would- the bride is my sister and we are very close. If I really hated it she would change it- it has just been very difficult to find one that we know our other sister will like (who is SUPER fussy and would be skin tight, revealing instead could!) and one that will also cover her rather bold tattoo on her chest/collar bone. I'm fairly tall (almost 5'8) so I can pull off full length with no issue.

I'm not as fussy and will wear what makes them happy but I would rather not look like a beached whale next to them if I can help it..

It may not be this exact dress as we have we seen a few similar ones - I just didn't know if if it would be possible in theory.

Of course it doesn't help that most places to order these dresses now are based in China and either won't accept returns or charge a fortune to ship them and won't refund shipping if returned - so we can't even order a few to try for style etc. Covid has made it incredibly hard to even get her wedding dress sorted so the three of us being able to go shopping for actual dresses together is not going to be possible as by the time it is allowed it will be too late.