By Diane Harris, HQ Stitch Brand Ambassador

For the past several years, my friend Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs has hosted the Teal Mini Swap. Beth lost her mom to ovarian cancer much too soon, and this quilt swap raises funds for research into this disease.

I’ve taken part in the Teal Mini Swap for several years and I always enjoy it. I’m inviting you to become a part as well.

Here’s how it works.

  • You pay $15 to participate.
  • $10 goes to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.
  • $5 covers the cost of the swap.
  • You receive a piece of teal fabric in the mail, provided by a fabric sponsor. This year it’s Art Gallery Fabrics.
  • You are partnered with another person who signed up.
  • You make a small quilt or a mug rug for that person.
  • That person makes a small quilt or mug rug for you.
I received this adorable hexie quilt from Lorrie Langdon in the swap one year. It’s a favorite!

Along the way, you can join the Teal Mini Swap Facebook group, although this is completely optional. I like the people in the group and many of them are quilters, but there are also many people who have been touched by ovarian cancer. It’s friendly, open and supportive.

I made this quilt for the swap one year and sent it off to my partner.

The quilts people make vary widely.

Everyone is welcome regardless of their level of quilting experience. While it’s great to get a wonderful quilt, the point is not so much about what you swap as it is about the funds that are given to OCRA for research into a deadly disease that threatens women. I do it so that my daughter and her daughters will never have to face it.

The 2019 feature fabric from Art Gallery Fabrics

Art Gallery Fabrics is sponsoring the swap in 2019 with its donation of the fabric shown above. Every participant will receive a small piece to be used in her quilt or mug rug. The fabric is always some version of teal because that’s the color for ovarian cancer awareness.

I made this quilt for the swap one year.

It’s amazing but you’d hardly know that the makers all began with the same piece of teal fabric. The variety in the finished quilts is astounding.

Swap quilt by @kristen_mashe for her partner @steffykay77

If you can make a Nine Patch, then you have the skills needed to take part. Really!

You’ll find complete details

on Beth’s Teal Mini Swap page.

My friend Barb brought one of her teal swap quilts to retreat in the spring.

Registration opens on July 25 and I’d suggest that you mark your calendar. The swap is limited to 500 people and for the past several years, it has filled up quickly. Sign up right away on July 25 so you’re not disappointed.

By August 20 or so, you’ll have your partner’s name and a list of what he or she likes. Your finished piece can be shipped between August 25 and Sept. 30. So realistically, you have until the end of September to ship. That’s more than a month to make a small quilt.

All of the details are on the swap page at EvaPaige Quilt Design. And many of them will be shared in the Facebook group.

I hope you’ll consider taking part. It’s great fun and it’s for a really good cause. Thank you!