Why swap?  You will meet new quilting friends and have a reason to run to your mailbox! Normally, when I run Petal + Stem block swaps, I requires scrappy low volume backgrounds. For this round, we are joining in the night garden craze using scrappy black background fabrics. Please note that most of my images show low volume only because I have not been able to resew samples of all of them.

I have run a lot of swaps and know that the secret to a successful swap are very clear guidelines and expectations. Here they are:

Making the Blocks

1. You must purchase a copy of my book, Petal + Stem, in order to have the necessary block patterns.  Signed copies are available in my Etsy shop with inexpensive media mail shipping to US customers.  You can also find my book on Amazon (this is an affiliate link), or at your local quilt shop/book shop, or your town library.  If you are in Europe, the best place to order may be Search Press. The block patterns cannot be purchased independently due to copyright reasons.  Please remember that it is against copyright law to make copies and distribute them as well.

2. There are two swapping options this round. On the sign up sheet, you will choose which team you want to swap with.

Option One, the Petal + Stem group:

You will be asked to sew one Petal block and one Stem block for each of your teammates.

The acceptable Petal block patterns found in my book, Petal + Stem, are only those listed here: Petunia, Sprite, Parrot Tulip, Tulip, Lily, Beach Rose, Bell Flower, Poker, Solomon’s Seal, Rosebud, Fairy Cap, Fiddlehead, and Lupine.

The acceptable Stem blocks are: Stem 1, Stem 2, Stem 3, Stem 6, Stem 7, and Stem 8.

Also, you may use the blocks from any of the “bouquets” of PDF patterns that I have designed post publication of Petal + Stem. These include the following patterns (I am linking to the patterns on my site but you can also find them in my Etsy shop):

If you would like to use the Witch’s Garden Bouquet pattern, please run it by your team since some people might not want spooky flowers. Again–send a petal and a stem; it doesn’t matter if you choose 6″ x 6″ blocks or 6″ x 12″ blocks–still send two.

Here is an example of what I might choose to send to my partner: one Rosebud and one Stem 7 block.

Here’s another possibility: one Beach Rose block and one mirror image Stem1.

Option 2 (the Critter group):

These teams will be sending each of their partners one Critter block.

The acceptable blocks and where you can find the pattern are listed here:

The snail and/or butterfly (from Petal + Stem)

This pattern comes in two sizes. For this swap, please sew the 6″ size.

This pattern comes in two sizes. For the swap, you must sew the 6″ finished block.

This pattern comes in two sizes. For this swap, please sew the 6″ block.

This pattern comes in two sizes. For this swap, please sew the 6″ block.

3.  I have not resewn all the images shared in this post but for this swap, you will use scrappy black fabrics for the background instead of the low volume fabrics. Please use at least 3 different scrappy black fabrics in each block because it will help make the quilt top cohesive. (This applies to both the petal + stem blocks and the critter blocks.)

While the night garden quilts that you see on social media may use more color in the background, for the purposes of this swap, the background fabrics should be black with white, grey, off white, or gray small scale prints. They can include a little bit of metallic but no other colors.

These blocks that I sewed as samples use scrappy black backgrounds (at least three different background fabrics) so you can see how the night garden blocks should look.

4.  When you send your blocks, they should not be sewn together (this doesn’t apply to the critters). This way, your partner can mix and match what you sent and further spread out the scrappy low volumes over her quilt top.

5.  The Petal and Stem blocks can be any colors you like. They can be prints or solids. Just try to contrast enough with the background.

7.  Make sure that you photocopy your foundation pattern at 125% so that it measures 6 1/2″ square unfinished (including the seam allowances) or 6 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ depending on the blocks you choose. My individually sold PDF patterns come full size.

8.  Please press well between each step so that your blocks are well sewn and will fit together well with the other blocks.  Creases and folds in your fabric can make it hard to piece the blocks together.

9. Please leave the foundation papers in your blocks. This will keep them in better shape and avoid any stretching on the bias. If you need to remove them to reduce international shipping costs, that is an exception.

10. Please backstitch as you start and stop seam lines. It will help keep the blocks together well until they are sewn into a quilt top.

It’s my hope that by sticking to these guidelines, the finished blocks will work together beautifully in your quilt top.

The blocks received could be put together in a quilt top of your own design, or incorporated into one of the layouts from the book. I think that Potting Mix or Garden Whimsy would work particularly well.

Swapping Logistics

You will be assigned to a group.  The number of groups will depend on how many participants we have.  Each group will include 4 people. There is a possibility of 3 people or 5 people depending on numbers of sign ups.

Everyone in your group will receive your mailing address so that they can ship to you directly.

You will sew a total of 8 blocks (4 Petals, 4 Stems) OR (4 Critter blocks) and send 2 (1 Petal, 1 Stem) OR (1 Critter) to each person in your group (keeping 2 OR 1 for yourself). 

In order to keep shipping costs low, we want to be able to mail as a first class letter.  This should be possible if you just send the two blocks in a note card.  If the post office feels fabric, they may make you send as a package which is more expensive. If the two blocks are in a card, it just feels like a thick card and a first class stamp works perfectly. If someone has the means to send extras and wants to, it’s ok.  But it is not expected with this swap. It’s supposed to be inexpensive, quick and easy! If you are able to send an international envelope as a letter, it will be a reasonable cost. If they are sent as a package, it will be expensive. Please decide if you want to ship internationally or not and choose the box on the form accordingly.

You must email me when you ship to your group.  It’s just about accountability!  I want to make sure that everyone sends so that everyone receives.

If your swap members do not receive blocks from you, you will be asked to resend. Please also understand that sometimes unexpected things happen and a team member is unable to meet their obligation. If you feel like you will not be able to accept this possibility graciously, this swap may not be for you. There will be no swap angels.

Also, please email your partners to say thank you when you receive their blocks. Or post them on Instagram and tag them so they know their blocks have arrived.

You will receive your group assignment shortly after sign ups close via email.

You must send by Oct. 28, 2026.  You may send early! In fact, I love it when people send early!

To sign up, please click on the button below and complete the form by Sept. 30th. If you are confused about team choices, send me a message prior to completing the form. I am happy to help.

The sign up sheet will only allow you to sign up for one team, either Petal + Stem or critter. If you complete your blocks for the round you signed up for before sign ups close, send me a picture of them, and request to be on a second team, I will make a note to put you on another team. This is just so that people do not overcommit because it has happened in the past!

Let me know if you have any questions and let’s get busy sewing our NIGHT gardens!