All About Round Robins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A Round Robin works like this ... several folks work on each other's cross-stitch pieces. You begin by dividing your fabric into squares with basting stitches, each about 4 or 5 inches large. You pick a theme. Then each RR member stitches a design in one of the squares ... mailing off to the next person at the end of the month. When your piece returns home, you each have the work of all the stitchers in your group. Robins usually have 4, 6, 9 or 12 people in each group, so the fabric is divided into the same number of squares as folks participating. So, if there are nine folks in the RR, each will be stitching nine different squares (their own and one on each of the eight others) on nine different themes/projects. Some Robins, such as one with an Alphabet theme, might have 13 members, each doing two squares, two letters of the alphabet. Some Robins are done with bookmarks or ornaments, so the number of participants can vary widely. In one ornament Robin, each stitcher is stitching two ornaments to send to the next person on the list. Some Robins ask for an up-front fee. (One stitcher had a $5.00 fee) so that the Robin leader could cover costs of mailing, photocopying letters, instructions, addresses, etc. It is hoped by some that by having an up-front fee, the commitment would be more solid.
Some stitchers send charts with their fabric. Others only pick a theme and let the other stitchers find a chart to fit the theme. Where to find charts for another's theme? Try looking through old magazines. Of course, it's also an excuse to go "XS Shopping"!
Many of the horror stories heard in chat had to do with stitchers participating in a Robin who were at different levels of experience. It is very discouraging to high caliber stitchers to get in a Robin with a beginner. And it's intimidating to beginners to get in a group with experienced stitchers. It is highly recommended that when joining a Robin, to be specific about your level of expertise. Stitchers with fairly equal levels of experience can then be in a Robin together. That way no one is disappointed. Usually a Robin will be specified for aida or linen. Following are comments from the chatters: * BabyGeorge: Haji, when we signed up, we signed up for a "beginner robin". This meant that the fabric had to be aida and the stitching expertise didn't have to be there. * Bejoyce: Mine was supposed to be "for experienced stitchers only" and this person tried some advanced techniques on my robin--and she wasn't up to it! * BSchult359: Isn't there a way to classify stitchers on the Robins? How about the "*" system Cross Stitch & Country Crafts (now known as Cross Stitch and Needlework) uses? I can see there might be a problem when someone is working on linen and the next person doesn't know how to stitch on linen...
When communication breaks down, and life activities or unforeseen circumstances get in the way of stitching commitments, Round Robins can go sour. One gal's mom died and she got a job promotion. Another gal committed suicide. Here are some other things to watch out for when joining a Robin. Here are more comments from the chatters:
The overwhelming positive reaction is that the stitchers involved in the Robins become quite close. One stitcher noted that she enjoys Robins because this way she can stitch charts she would probably never do for herself. Here are some stories: BabyGeorge: when one gal lost her Mom, the other three stitched a small Robin for her with the saying "When someone you love becomes a memory, the Memory becomes a treasure." ... our group is four and we're talking about doing another Robin when things settle down! Bejoyce: I guess I should say, on the plus side, that the social contacts from Robins are great and lasting!
Here are some comments about sending the Robins: * BabyGeorge: We must put our stitching in Zip-lock plastic bags (to prevent rain or water from damaging them) and then we send them certified at a minimum. Some of the gals insured them (to use the insurance money as a bribe for us to stitch again in case the Robin got lost in the mail!). Another reason we use certified mail is that it needs a signature! We're worried about mail disappearing from the doorstep. Another thing we did with our Robin - we enclosed a piece of paper asking for the name of the pattern and where it appeared. * BabyGeorge: The first time I got the Robin, I didn't hear the mailman knock at the door. When I heard him leave, I got my mail and saw the slip that I had a package! I got in my car and chased the mailman down the street so I could get the Robin! I jumped in my car!!! I was frantic!!! * Bejoyce sent hers in a jet-pack padded envelope. * DragonFyr mailed from a mailbox once, and it never reached its destination.
Anything goes! These themes were suggested:
It is very important that stitchers keep to the schedule originally set up when the Round Robin is organized. Usually, each stitcher has a month to stitch the square and pass the piece on to the next stitcher. One stitcher noted, "It's taken me as long as two weeks, as little as a weekend."
* BabyGeorge hopes to hang her "Tea Time" Robin in her kitchen. * Bejoyce has one that's "so terrible I wouldn't consider putting any money into framing it, but can't bear the thought of tossing it! The other is 6 ovals waiting to be made into a Xmas tree skirt—some year!" * Cynthia564 has her gorgeous Jewish holiday banding Robin hanging on her wall.
Anyone can organize a Round Robin, but the best leaders seem to have these qualities:
* NancyfrMo organized a Xmas ornament Robin and had about 30 ladies from all over respond. It started in early August. * WILD WES 9 has been involved in Robins where the leader requests that the theme you choose allows the stitchers to be able to complete their segment in only one weekend, even though she gets a month to complete the square. She liked the idea, even though the rules seemed a bit constricting, because they are sometimes what is necessary to get and keep things going. WILD WES 9 tried to organize a Robin of her own, but found that wasn't to her liking. She felt as if she'd stepped on too many toes.
A Round Robin might not be your cup of tea if you have trouble committing time (especially on someone else's schedule) or you don't like to stitch under pressure. But now more Stitchers are thinking of trying out a Round Robin after learning more about them at our chat. Are you ready to try?
To find the Round Robin bulletin boards on America Online: Keyword: SEW, go to Needlecrafts Board, go to Browse Folders go to X-Stch Round Robins Contact Carol Sutcliff who organizes MANY, MANY Round Robins for our enjoyment.
Written for the purpose of informing and stimulating the creativity in other lovers of counted cross-stitch. Permission is granted to redistribute this article in its entirety for noncommercial use provided that this copyright notice is not removed or altered and that no portion of this work is sold either by itself or as part of a larger work without the express written permission of the author.  |