I don’t doubt in my mind that the internet is doing wonderful things. Bringing people together, making new connections, and drawing together different disciplines.
A few weeks ago I was introduced to #QuiltersBookPassport on Instagram via my feed. I haven’t quilted in a while and it’s a practice I have been eager to get back to but I find myself drawn more towards patchwork and colorful quilts than anything that fits one specific color family. So, #QuiltersBookPassport seemed like just the thing for me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBLIyQxyDSN/?tagged=quiltersbookpassport
As I explored the thread I met @ButtonCounter who originated the idea. The idea is to share your books with your friends and followers along with 3-4 fat quarters of fabric. For those who don’t sew or quilt: a fat quarter is a piece of fabric 18″ by 22″ in size. This is plenty of fabric to construct a block for a quilt or even to make a little pouch, infinity scarf, or a patchwork handbag.
To Add a Book Into Circulation
- Read a book. It can be any book you are interested in. Fiction. Nonfiction. Old. New. Sci-fi. Fantasy. Chick Lit. Doesn’t matter as long as it floats your boat.
- Select 3-4 fat quarters that relate to the book in some way. Character, scene, recurring theme.
- Post the book to Instagram with #quiltersbookpassport and ask who wants to read it next.
- Send the book to your friend or follower
Claiming a Book
- Follow the hashtag #quiltersbookpassport
- Wait for a book that you think looks interesting.
- Send the owner of the book a request. If there’s a list, the current reader might be willing to add you to it.
- Wait for the book to arrive in the mail and be sure to let the sender know it has arrived safe and sound.
- Read it within a month (or so…)
- Select your own fat quarters.
- Post that the book is ready to put back into circulation.
- Package the book and send your book and fat quarters to the next person on the list.
I loved this idea and had recently finished two books myself. So I decided to toss my hat into the ring with a couple of ideas. These were the first two books I used for this project:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA8XLcHSDSt/?tagged=quiltersbookpassport
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA8ZYVwSDXG/?tagged=quiltersbookpassport
I don’t have much of a stash so my initial posts are usually close ups of the fabric with the book cover. After I post initially, I order the fabric and send a fat quarter to the person who claimed the book and I usually have to wait until I’ve read two or three to make an order worthwhile.
For this reason I am also adding a page to this blog dedicated to #QuiltersBookPassport. This page will be hosting the books I have ready for new homes. You can see a list of books that I have ready for shipment and also see what I am making with my fat quarters in that gallery as well.
Come join us on Instagram and see what bookish inspired fabrics you might find!