GUIDELINES AND TIPS FOR THE SSCS ROUND ROBIN



1. Make sure your square is finished prior to mailing. Have your name, address, and phone number on an outside corner of your fabric. Place fabric in a plastic ziploc bag to protect it from dirt and moisture. Make sure your name, address and phone number are on the plastic bag. HINT---use your personal address labels.

2. Write a quick note about yourself, so the stitchers know a little about you. Be sure to mention your THEME and any particulars you feel necessary. Also please include information about your design such as where it came from and the DMC colors used. PLEASE USE ONLY DMC FLOSS...it is available all over the world; other flosses may not be.

3. IMPORTANT: Write specific instructions on how you want your RR to turn out and how stitchers should complete the area they stitch. Mention your THEME and any particulars you feel necessary. Tell them if you want their name, state/country and/or date stitched in the square. If you don't tell them, they won't know. You may let each stitcher choose an appropriate design of their own to stitch on your project(that is the fun part.) You may wish to include designs for the stitchers to choose from and you can let them know if you want the designs placed in a specific area on your project. If your theme is unusual and patterns may be hard to find, you NEED to send Patterns along with your project. The same is true of specialty fibers, such as metallics, etc. and embellishments, such as beads, charms, etc.that you would like to have used on your project. You must send those along with your project as well.

4. Pack all items in a bubble pack envelope. Print your name and address in the return address spot. Address the envelope to the person below your name on the list. You will always mail to the same person each time. Use staples to seal the envelope, if need be, to prolong the life of the envelope. Mail your envelope first class by the mailing date each time. Being we are all in the U.S., we do not have to be concerned about out of country mailings which take longer.

5. Include labels addressed to all stitchers in the robin. This will make it easy to re-use the mailing envelope during the course of the robin.

6. There will be 6 weeks between mailings.
IMPORTANT: If you are unable to finish stitching before the mail date-please include a note to that effect - BUT YOU MUST MAIL ON TIME - You will be allowed to finish your stitching after the last person completes their part. You may mail early if you complete your stitching ahead of schedule BUT never mail late.

7. When you mail each project, please notify the person you are sending it to, the owner of the project and to myself by email. My information will be at the end of this message. This will keep track of everyone's project, so none will get lost.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE A PROJECT

1. Please notify the owner of the project, myself and the person that mailed it to you. Again, this is to keep track of everyone's project.

2. Choose an appropriate pattern for the theme of that project and stitch it in one of the squares. BE SURE to READ and follow the owners directions. If you can't find a design and the owner did not provide any - contact the owner and myself immediately to have one sent to you. If you are unable to get a design in 10 days, you will not be required to stitch on the project.

3. Prepare a 3x5 index card about the design you chose to stitch, where it came from and the DMC colors used.

4. Place everything in the ziploc bag and place in the original envelope and address it to the person you mailed yours to(which is the name that follows yours on the list.) Be sure not to cover up the owner's return address. (Here is where the mailing labels are used.) Mail by the next mailing date; you can mail early. DO NOT MAIL LATE. If you get behind, mail the project unfinished and ask that it be returned to you after the last stitcher is finished.

5. If a project arrives stained or damaged in any way, please contact the owner and myself immediately. DO NOT attempt to clean or repair the fabric without approval of the owner. Please include a note regarding the stain or damage so the next stitcher will know the situation has been handled.

6. DO NOT iron, wash or alter any projects.

7. Treat each project as if it were your own.
Please make sure your hands are clean.
Keep fabric in the plastic bag between stitching times.
Keep small children, animals, drinks and food away from all projects.
Be considerate if you are a smoker-there are many "smoke-sensitive" stitchers in the round robin.

8. When your sampler comes home, please contact me.
Send a thank you note to each stitcher who stitched on your project.

9. Any questions or problems, please contact me via the following methods:
Claire Boucher
436 Hanley Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: (228) 875-6431
email msbooch@yahoo.com

Have fun and Happy Stitching
Claire

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Round Robin Info

 

What is a "round robin"?

A round robin is a group of 4-12 stitchers that can live anywhere in the world. Each person in the group chooses a "theme" and starts a project according to a set of guidelines. Then at established mailing dates each stitcher mails the project on to the next stitcher for them to stitch on. As you mail a project out, you will receive a different one in return to stitch on. This continues until each person in the group receives their own project back, complete and stitched on by each person in the group.

What do you mean by a "theme"?

Think of a theme as a "subject" for your project. It can be anything that you want it to be. Some popular themes have been: teddy bears, flowers, angels, hearts, animals, and Christmas, shells, houses, people. If you are looking on the round robin list and a stitcher has a set theme such as "santa only", then everyone stitching in the group would be stitching a santa on that stitcher's project only.

When does a robin start and how can I join?

Available round robins are listed in the "round robin roster". Robins begin as they become filled (sometimes depending on the time of year, it may take a while for a robin to fill). The type of information that you can find with the robin listing in the roster is as follows: how large the group will be, who is already signed up, project themes, fabric type, fabric count that you are allowed to use, and possibly a start date. If you find a robin that you would like to join, please fill out the RR questionnaire and e-mail it back to me. Also, special group requests are accepted and encouraged such as bell-pull style only, bands only, borders only.... the possibilities are endless so be creative.

How long does all this take?

This is a commitment of several months! But PLEASE do not let that scare you away, they are a lot of fun. There are three factors that determine how long a round robin will take to complete:

  • The first is how many stitchers are in the group. Of course the more stitchers in the group, the longer it will take to complete. But larger groups can be a lot of fun.
  • Secondly is the stitching time that you have. I usually give 6-8 weeks in between mailings, depending on where everyone is in the world.
  • Third is the stitching area you have to work in. The maximum stitching area that you can have is 6x6 inches and that is determined by how the owner of the project has set it up. Of course the stitching areas can be smaller also, but no larger.

How large is my project going to be?

First it depends on how many stitchers are in the group. Secondly, it depends on the how you choose to layout your project. Most people choose to have their project look like a sampler, while some choose to divide one large pattern. If you choose sampler style, you may want to jazz it up a bit by using decorative borders to define the stitching areas. If you choose to divide one large pattern, you have to make sure that it is not larger than the maximum size allowed in the guidelines. Then you will have to determine what the stitching areas are going to be. Be creative.... please do not think that your project has to be all one piece of fabric. You may choose to use several smaller pieces of fabric. Remember this is your project, you choose how it will look and how large it will be.

Materials and Cost?

FABRIC: If you are in an Aida round robin you will need a piece of Aida. If you are in a linen/evenweave round robin you will need either a piece of linen or evenweave (your choice). The count of the fabric is your choice, unless specified on the round robin roster.

FIBERS: Use DMC FLOSS ONLY as it is available around the world, where as other brands may not be. If you would like to use any specialty fibers (such as metallics, whisper, etc...) you must send those along with your project as well as any embellishments (such as beads, charms, buttons.....) that you would like to have used on your project.

POSTAGE: All packages within the US must be sent 1st class. Packages going out of the US or coming into the US from another country must be sent Airmail. Any robin that has participants from "overseas" I ask that each stitcher please send a couple of dollars sealed in an envelope with the person's name on it that actually has to mail your project overseas. That way one stitcher won't get stuck paying all the postage to send overseas because that just wouldn't be fair. This is something that I do keep track of.

Packaging: Your project should be put in a ziploc bag along with some other information (see guidelines) and mailed in a padded envelope.

My information is as follows:
Claire Boucher
436 Hanley Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Phone: 228-875-6431
email msbooch@yahoo.com

Thanks to Jayme Makowski, Tiffany Silver and others for the use of this information