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The Selfish Swap

May 19, 2015 by Abby 32 Comments

selfish swap

Have you participated in a swap and found it really hard to send off what you’ve made? Have you been disappointed with what you’ve received in the past? Do you worry that your swap buddy won’t think your creation is up to scratch? Has your parcel never arrived??

Then the Selfish Swap is for you!!

This is the first swap of its kind and the best and silliest at the same time. You’re making a swap for yourself! After all those hours working on it, you get to keep it! Make whatever you want, a mini quilt, mug rug, a pouch, anything. I find the hashtags for swaps on Instagram can be a great source of inspiration. Some of my favourites are #IGminiswap, #dumplingswap, #rainbowminiswap, #sweetpouchswap, #disneyquiltswap2015, #nerdscraftitbetter and the #sewtogetherbagswap

So what do you have to do?
– Think about the swaps you’ve been in, or the ones you’ve stalked and what you’d love to make for yourself.
– Sign up with the form below. That way it’ll feel a bit more real.
– Post an inspiration board or plan of what you want to make to Instagram with the hashtag #selfishswap. Don’t want to post an inpiration pic? No worries, I won’t hold it against you, I’m just being a sticky beak. I love to see what everyone else is making.
– The only real rule for the swap is that if you do post an inspiration picture, please credit the source or maker if you can.
– I’d love to see progress pics too.
– If you’re feeling kinda crazy, post it to yourself! We all love getting parcels in the mail and I think it would be kinda fun to post it to yourself even though you know exactly what’s inside.
– Please make your selfish swap by 30th June and post all pics with the hashtag #selfishswap. Can’t wait to see what you make for yourself!!

I know this swap is not really a swap at all. It’s just a bit of fun and a bit of an excuse to give yourself a deadline to make something for yourself…because you deserve it!!

There are no swap mamas or swap angels cos let’s be honest here, if you decide you can’t be bothered or life just gets in the way you’re not letting down anyone but yourself. But if you don’t make your selfish swap you’ll be in heaps of trouble and I’ll put you on a black list…haha, just kidding! I only just found out there is a such thing as a swap black list…crazy!!

selfish swap

If you want to sign up more than once, that’s fine! Happy Selfish Swapping!

*sign ups have now closed for this swap* Follow me on Instagram to find out when the next swap is happening.

Filed Under: Chit Chat Tagged With: Selfish Swap, Sewing

Previous Post: « Geometric Bird Pouch
Next Post: 7 Quilt Mistakes I Made »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Audrey says

    May 19, 2015 at 9:53 am

    This is totally hilarious and I’m going to do it!!!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 10:36 am

      thanks for signing up Audrey! I thought the swapping world could do with a bit of a lighten up.

      Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    May 19, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    I love this idea but my June is just swamped… I hope you do a second one 🙂

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:25 pm

      already planning one for around Christmas time.

      Reply
  3. Jan says

    May 19, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    What a brilliant idea! I wanted to make Ayumi Takahashi’s big tote from Krista Hennebury’s book Make It, Take It as soon as I received the book last week but have had to put it off due to some swap commitments. Now I have another swap commitment – to myself. Hooray! And thank you!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      can’t wait to see your tote!

      Reply
  4. leila.and.stitch says

    May 19, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    I think I just submitted that form 3 times by accident :-/

    I started a cross stitch for myself yesterday! I’ve joined up because now I have a DEADLINE of June 30… and I am determines to finish this! I am great at doing swap pieces, but terrible at finishing things for me.

    Thanks for this fab idea! Xo @leila.and.stitch

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      No worries! Can’t wait to see your cross stitch.

      Reply
  5. Gretchen says

    May 19, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    I love this. The due date is my birthday so it’s like a present to myself.

    Reply
  6. Hayley says

    May 19, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    Ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. This is awesome. I do feel a bit overcommitted for June though! But after August I think I am only going to selfish swap for a year!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      a year of selfish swapping! Brilliant!

      Reply
  7. Heather says

    May 19, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Love it! Was disappointed with what I received in a swap recently and told a friend I was going to make the next swap item for myself. Have to join in!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:27 pm

      perfect timing!

      Reply
  8. leanne says

    May 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    ok I’ve just broken my no swaps in 2015 rule but this swap is so awesome I just had to join in thanks for such a fun swap !!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 19, 2015 at 8:28 pm

      thanks for joining in the silliness!

      Reply
  9. Reba says

    May 20, 2015 at 7:10 am

    Ok. I wasn’t going to do any more swap till I got some done. Even with trying to host one myself. #QuiltWhoYouAreSwap (if anyone wants to join) But I had to sign up for this one. And really I only hurt myself if I don’t do it. We are just moving I to a house and I’m not sure if I’m going to have time. But I do want to make something new for the house. Fingers crossed.

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 20, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      thanks for joining in! Good luck with the house move!

      Reply
  10. Anna says

    May 20, 2015 at 11:26 am

    Hilarious! That first paragraph describes pretty much every one of the 4 swaps I’ve been in! I only signed up for one this year (because how could I resist the 80s 90s craft swap?) And this is so perfect! Thanks for mixing it up! This is probably the only swap I can finish on time!

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 20, 2015 at 12:37 pm

      I didn’t know about that one! Off to stalk the feed for it!

      Reply
  11. Natalie from Sewoutnumbered says

    May 20, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    hahahaha!!! You’re priceless Abby! I’ll have to have a think as my sewjo is a bit slowjo at the mo – arrrgh! The silliness is catching! 😀

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 20, 2015 at 7:40 pm

      Yay! You could make a bag for frocktails.

      Reply
  12. Patty says

    May 21, 2015 at 3:10 am

    Ha, love this idea! I don’t think I will let the hubs in on the fact that this swap is really just for me. 🙂

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 21, 2015 at 11:55 am

      Brilliant! Darling I really need a couple of hours tonight and tomorrow to get this swap done…haha!

      Reply
  13. Darcie says

    May 22, 2015 at 9:26 am

    Hilarious! I love this idea. I will not have sewing machine access for most of June due to summer travels. Maybe I’ll have to finish my lace knit scarf I started nearly a decade ago! I would love to receive that in a swap.

    Reply
  14. Merel says

    May 24, 2015 at 12:39 am

    This is totally hilarious. I am already having su much fun just reading this! I already know I will not make that deadline (I have to move house) so I will be happily following this one from the side!

    Thank you for such a great laugh!

    Groetjes from Merel Amsterdam The Netherlands

    I am so adding you to my blog reader

    Reply
    • abby says

      May 25, 2015 at 9:07 am

      thanks for having a laugh along with me!

      Reply
  15. Teri Reymann says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:28 pm

    I’m in a bunch of swaps, I run several swaps! I make items and don’t want to send them! This is the perfect swap for me! Great idea! Thank you!

    Reply

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