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Introduction

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What is a Band Sampler?

What is a Round Robin?

Basically, each person chooses and buys their own piece of fabric (which should be linen or evenweave), colour scheme, size and "theme". Monthly, each sampler is sent around the group for each person to work a segment in the appropriate theme of each sampler (see below). Segments, because you will be working a BAND sampler, should be long and narrow, i.e. approx 100x20 stitches in size, but in any event, you should choose a design that is easily stitchable in the given time period (approx 3 weeks, allowing a week for postage time).

Everyone chooses a theme for their own sampler,and everyone will stitch a band in that theme on the owner's sampler when they receive it. You may choose something specific such as flowers, or maybe prefer to choose just a colour scheme, or even ask that people work a few rows of their favourite stitches. Border designs will work up well as bands. To give you some ideas, recent themes have included flowers, weddings, Christmas, favourite stitches and colours, and traditional sampler birds and animals. Full instructions will be posted to each person when the group starts.

During the first month you will stitch your band on your own sampler. At the end of the month you should post it to the person named as your contact on the rota. You will mail to this same person each month.

You will then receive a sampler from the person named before you on the rota; again this will be the same person each time. When you receive this next sampler, work your band according to the owners theme, then post the sampler at the send of the next month. This continues each month until, at the end of the Round Robin, you end up with your own sampler back again, and this is then is yours to keep.
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How Do I Join?

• Your snail mail address
• A RELIABLE e-mail address
• Your home phone number
• If you are prepared to be the leader of your group
• A brief resume about yourself; just a few lines will do, so you can all get to know each other!

Do I Need to be a Skilled Stitcher?

Please note that all stitching will be done on linen or evenweave fabric, if you prefer Aida then you may wish to join a different group.

Normally we would expect to stitch over two on evenweave with a count between 28 and 32 threads per inch, though a small amount of stitching over one is acceptable, but not the whole sampler, please!!

As mentioned previously, band samplers lend themselves to sections being stitches in a variety of techniques.
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What Are the Leader's Responsibilities?

• Send e-mail to all in group introducing yourself
• Ask the group to send you short biographies (I usually do this - you would just need to do the collating)
• Produce a list of names, addresses, etc, to circulate
• Prepare a stitching schedule for the Round Robin. (Don't forget to allow extra time to cover any holiday periods!)
• Ask the group to send you their themes and segments sizes (in stitches NOT inches) as soon as they have decided on them
• Collate all this data and well before the first mailing date e-mail everyone a copy
• Thereafter, around each month's mailing date ask everyone to send you their sampler status, including when they mailed their last sampler and when they received the current one
• In the unlikely event of any problems, endeavour to resolve them!

That's all you are expected to do, anything above and beyond that is up to you. You might like to send out regular newsletters or some such, the choice is yours.
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What are MY Responsibilities?

• This group is dedicated to stitching Band Samplers on linen/evenweave: if you want to stitch some other form of sampler, please check out the regular rctn postings on the available International Round Robin options to select a more appropriate group.
• You MUST be willing to commit time and effort to your Round Robin: your leader will be your main point of contact and will be responsible overall for keeping things on track, but YOU must be willing to put in your share of effort to keep the group running smoothly.
• You must have access to and read your email on a regular basis, and reply promptly to any queries.
• You must have a reliable and secure postal address to ensure that any samplers mailed to you are not lost or damaged.
• You must agree to to keep to a regular mailing schedule, and be willing if necessary to mail internationally. If this is likely to cause any hardship then please advise your leader, as it may be possible to re- arrange the mailing rota accordingly.
• You must commit to stitching one band on one sampler per month (or in whatever time period your group has agreed upon): you must allow yourself enough time to find patterns and threads/flosses for other peoples bands in addition to your stitching time for a band approx 100 stitches wide by 20-25 stitches high. I would suggest a couple of afternoons at least, but this will depend on your stitching speed, etc.
• You absolutely MUST keep any sampler you are working on away from food and drink, cigarettes, pets, children and any other source of potential damage.
• You must be prepared each month to notify your leader and the owner of each sampler that you have received it/passed it on; in addition you must notify the person following you in the stitching rota that you have sent each sampler on to them, and to advise the person before you when you receive each sampler from them. Too many people have complained that they do not know where their samplers are - but it is YOUR responsibility to keep track of your own sampler.
• You must keep a PAPER copy of the names, phone numbers, email and postal addresses of the members of your group, and a copy of the stitching schedule that your leader will send out. We have had a lot of problems with people losing data from their computers and thus being unable to contact other members of their Round Robin. It is YOUR responsibility to keep this information safe!
• You must agree to notify your leader immediately if for any reason you cannot keep to schedule or cannot for any reason continue in the group. If you cannot continue then all samplers in your possession must be returned promptly to either their owners or to your group leader.

How Much Does it Cost?

The only extra cost to you may be the price of airmail postage each month, please be prepared to post out of your own country, although this may not be the case. If you feel that this may cause you hardship please advise me, and I will try to adjust our rota accordingly.
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How Soon Does it Start?

As soon as the group is under way, your nominated leader will send you instructions. This will include most of the information given here, plus a stitching rota telling you the names of everyone in the group, and the order in which the samplers will be circulated. You will also be given a schedule of mailing dates each month.

You should select your theme choose your theme as soon as possible and let your leader know what it is. This information swill then be circulated to everyone so that you can prepare for each sampler in advance.

In the first month, you will purchase your fabric and floss and chart (if required), prepare and mark up your sampler, and...
stitch your own band.
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What About Stitching Supplies?

How Much Fabric Do I Need?

Your fabric count is best to be between 28 and 32 threads per inch evenweave and should be in any colour you wish. Allow at least 2 inches extra fabric on EACH side for framing. If you want to frame with an (English) mount/(American) mat, then you should add an additional 2 EXTRA inches (4 inches each side) or so on each side.

The minimum length for the complete sampler with 8 bands of 20 stitches, with 2 (or 3) stitches width between bands in 8 x 20 + 7 x 2 ( or 7x3) = 174 or 181 stitches. If you wish to (optionally) add a band for your name and date allow about 10 stitches in height plus another 2 (or 3) for the space between this and the previous band and this would come to 186 (or 194) stitches in all. If you use 28 count fabric a piece (minimum size of 12 inches (16 inches if mat) wide by 18 inches (22 inches if mat) deep.
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Preparing to Stitch

Measure down 2 inches (4 inches if using a mat) from top of fabric and same about in from the left hand side. Find the nearest set of VERTICAL intersection and mark this with a pin, now bring your needle up just to the right of the vertical intersection, baste over and under every two threads until you have covered 202 threads (or 101 stitches). This will allow a space of one stitch between the top and the sides of your sampler, so that the basting thread does not get mixed in with your stitching! You should use a thread that shows up easily on the fabric, but NOT one that may leave any coloured 'fluff' on it!

NEXT - from same starting point, baste over and under two threads down the left side for the 174/181 (plus ONE for the space) stitches (or 186/193 (plus one) if you add the band with your name). This will act as your basic band reference points. (You may wish to also add a line of basting down the right hand side).

Finally count down the number of stitches that your band is deep, e.g., 20 stitches, and mark this point or baste across. This will give you the top and bottom reference lines for your own band.

I realise that this will take a great amount of time, but it will be well worth the extra effort and will help not only you to position your first band correctly, but it will help everyone else as well. You may also wish to baste down the centre line of your sampler as well.
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Mailing the Samplers

Put your sampler in a plastic bag (Zip Lock type bags are good!) before mailing. You should have your name and complete address on this bag. According to previous experience, use of tubes for mailing samplers is not satisfactory. The 'bubble wrap' envelopes usually hold up fairly well with repeated mailings, and they are light weight for sending airmail. Remember too, that you will need a green customs form if you are mailing to another country.
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Keeping Track

Taking Care of Other Stitchers Samplers

• Make sure you have a secure mailbox to avoid the possibility of theft, etc. If you wish and would like your mail to be sent to your place of work instead, please contact that person that is mailing to you.
• Please keep each sampler in its own bag between stitching sessions (also remove from hoop or frame if you use one) to keep it as clean as possible and make sure it is kept out of the reach of small children and/or animals.
• Please do not wash or iron other people's samplers.
• You should also not smoke or eat while stitching on others samplers. It is so easy to drop something on it.

Photos of Finished Samplers

Also if you wish, you may send me either a photograph, or e-mail me a scanned image of your finished piece, and I will display it on the Round Robin Pages for you.
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Points of Contact

Disclaimer!

Further Information

Check out newsgroup discussions on:

• Terry Villeneuve (again!) has provided general information on Round Robins on Theresa Venette's pages
• Jacqui Goulbourn also has general information about Round Robins, and information on how to join her Pot Luck Round Robin.
• Cameo Roze's Stitchers Studio has a page containing a summary of chat line discussion on Round Robins
• Debbie Gray is another co-ordinator for several (international) Round Robins, who also has some more general information in addition to a list of the groups she organizes.

Happy Stitching!

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