Happy International Women’s Day, my friends! It is a day to celebrate women for their unique strengths, and also to contemplate women’s struggles, and fight for kind and equal treatment for women around the globe. Especially in parts of the world where they have few rights and are treated unfairly. I have been listening to CBC’s The Current this week and they’ve had some really interesting stories about women supporting women in crisis. With that in mind, I came up with an idea to bring women together in two ways: By organizing a swap to create collective quilt blocks made by circles of women for each other, by each other, and in doing so, collecting funds for a charity that supports women that are living in poverty or at risk situations. Aptly named the “Sisterhood Swap”
Together we can help empower women living in poverty to change their destinies, and have much brighter futures. 100% of the profit will go to Beautiful World Canada – a non-profit organization that provides secondary and post-secondary comprehensive scholarships to girls living in Sub-Saharan Africa. Girls from Grade 6 who don’t have the means to continue their education and who otherwise would be forced to work in the fields, or be married off. Beautiful World provides tuition, housing, transportation, grad prep, personal supplies, mentorship, medical care and employment training. Whatever it is they need to make graduating possible. The organization was started by a woman, Sara Dunkley, and is run primarily by women. I did some work for Sarah when I lived in Toronto, and so I have inside knowledge that this organization does incredible work and has changed lives of many young women. I’m excited to be supporting this group of strong and amazing women again.
So what’s involved?
By signing up you agree to the following:
- It costs CND$10 to participate. You can secure your spot by purchasing the “Sisterhood Swap” listing in my Etsy shop here by MARCH 15, noon Vancouver time (PST) at the latest.
- In order to complete your submission once you’ve purchased the listing, please fill in this Sisterhood Swap submission form by MARCH 15, noon Vancouver time (PST) at the latest.
- You will make 8 triangle blocks of “women” in the 16” block size pattern (1 full 16″ square block’s worth of sections) following the pattern purchased. It will involve an easy Foundation Paper piecing pattern and hand-appliquéing on the heads. (No machine or iron on appliqué permitted) Foundation piecing must be through aper, not the fold back freezer paper technique.
- You will be given the names of 7 circle friends, and you will all make for each other. (You may request specific names for people you’d like in your Sister Circle if you AND the other parties ALL list each other.)
- You will do your best to accommodate the fabric / colour requests of your circle members, even if it’s not your taste or you need to buy fabric for it.
- Your work will be clean, neat and well done, just as you expect others to do for you.
- You will then mail seven of your eight “women” to each of your other circle friends, and keep one for yourself. (That’s seven packages to mail. You are responsible for the shipping fees, which may include international stamps.) The pieced sections may be folded once neatly to fit in an envelope. You will ship the triangular blocks with foundation paper still ON.
- You will do the above in a timely manner so as not to let your circle down. You will NOT bail on us or do a runner – after all this project is about being there for your fellow girls, right?
- TIMING: Applications and matching pattern purchases must be completed by *MARCH 15* at the latest. If you purchase the pattern and do not fill out your form on time, your donation will be made to the charity but you will not be included in the swap.
SHIPPING DEADLINE: Pieced triangles will be mailed by *APRIL 27, 2019* at the LATEST. (Please respect this date and DO NOT sign up if you think you can’t mail your blocks on time.) Your reliable and respectful participation in this project will be most appreciated! - You will notify your Circle Mama to confirm that you have sent them.
- You will in turn receive seven packages from your circle friends. Their seven blocks are to be added to the one you saved for yourself. Together they form the full block of eight women – a mini community. You may make whatever you choose with your finished block. The 16” block would make a great pillow if you add 2” of sashing all around.
- You will be a kind and lovely person to your circle friends, even of they are not as you expected. This is all about supporting each other. 🙂
- You will tag pics on social media: #SisterhoodQuiltSwap
FABRIC CHOICES:
Background: Scrappy low volume background
Heads & Arms: Solids in a variety of skin tones (Kona, Free Spirit, RJR, Pure Solids etc but NO prints or batiks please) Embrace the human race!
Dresses: You will give direction to your Circle Sisters to inspire your makers on colour and print for the dresses.
What do I mean by “100% of the profit”?
Basically your fee of $10 – Etsy & Paypal fees = donation amount.
It’s a super sweet pattern and will be a lovely reminder of the awesome quilty community out there. I would love to get some people from far away joining us.
So are you in? My goal is to raise $1,000 for Beautiful Woman. Let’s do this!