2023-2024 FABRIC EXCHANGE

This year the exchange will be for 10” squares of quilting quality fabric. I am asking for “pure” colours, as explained below. Any shade of the colour is acceptable, e.g. from baby blue to royal or baby pink to rose is fine – the more shades the better. You will need 6 squares each month starting in October and ending in May (a total of 48 blocks). At the conclusion I will give you a pattern to make a lap size quilt and also some alternate designs you can use with these blocks. The following is a quote from a class I took with Heather Stewart who was an award winning quilter, accredited quilting teacher and judge, who is now retired.

 WHITE BASED VS. BROWN BASED FABRICS

 This may be the most difficult but important lesson in our exploration of colour and fabrics for quilting. There are no shortcuts to this exercise. You must train your eye to recognize the two families of fabrics; pure (white based) fabrics and toned (brown based) fabrics. Simply put, pure colours are those fabrics with a white base and toned fabrcis are those that are based on a tan/cream base. These fabrics should not be mixed in a quilt. Of course, every rule is meant to be broken but you will notice a cleaner, more professional appearance to your work once you can

determine each group and choose your fabrics accordingly.

 Pure (white based) fabric can be changed into a toned (brown based) fabric by tea dyeing. Toned fabrics cannot be changed into pure coloured fabrics.

 I will have samples at the Guild meetings in order that you can see the difference between both of these fabrics. If you have any questions, please call Sharron C. 

The exchange will work as follows: Each month you will hand in 6 of the 10” squares in the colour indicated for the month. You will get back 6 squares of that colour, in a variety of fabrics – the more people who participate the greater the variety. To do this, you will need to cut two 10” wide strips of width of fabric, then sub-cut them into 10” squares. You will have two squares extra – save them – you might use them in your quilt. Please be sure to cut accurately. 

Please put your squares in a plastic bag with your name and phone number written on the front. As we will not be having “in person” meetings for the months of January, February or March, you will hand them in at the December meeting and receive them back in April. At the April meeting you will be handing in April and May colours in order to have all the 10” squares needed for the pattern. 

OCTOBER – ORANGE 

NOVEMBER – BLUE 

DECEMBER – RED 

JANUARY – GREEN

 FEBRUARY – PINK 

MARCH – TURQUOISE 

APRIL – PURPLE 

MAY – YELLOW

This form below is used for Durham Trillium Quilters' Guild members to register for the 2023-2024 Fabric Exchange Program.

 In order to participate in the Fabric Exchange Program, you must be registered as a member of the Guild for the full 2023-2024 year. Registration for the guild can be done from the Membership page.