Welcome to RCTQ, a usenet discussion group of quilters. We want to read all about your quilting activites, and welcome questions. We may even come up with some helpful answers! But we do have a few requests, to keep this NG moving along. We ask that you do not post pictures here, but we love to click on links to see your quilts elsewhere. Please, no advertising. Rec.crafts.textiles.marketplace is the appropriate place for ads.
Do your best to remember to put OT in the subject line of off topic posts. While this group is one of the most tolerant of top posting vs bottom posting (we have some of each), please try to remember to trim the original post to the most relevant bits.
What is a Hug, and how do I contribute? Hugs are quilts made by this group to help someone through a life altering event, and let them know how much we care. Karen, Queen of Squishies, maintains a Hug list. When a Hug quilt is needed someone will contact Karen, and she in turn sends an email to everyone on the Hug List with instructions and color preferences, date due, and the reason for the Hug. Its always your choice to participate or not. Hugs can be made without going through Karen and the list as well. Anyone is welcome to start a Hug, when they feel the need is enough.
What is a Squishie? A squishie is an envelope that comes to you, thats slightly fat and squishie. It can be a bit of fabric someone knows you'll love, or a birthday surprise, the main thing is that when a squishie comes in the mail it makes you feel like smiling. The same thing happens when you send them out, oddly enough! When thanking someone for a squishie please try to contact them privately, off the list. If you arent able to, most of us don't mind sharing in the joy of a public thank you. A follow up post with a more eloquent explanation will follow this post.
What is a Thunkie? Its similar to a squishie but it can thunk instead of squish and hold interesting things related to quilting, like chocolate or special things we quilters find indespensible for quilting.
What are all those abbreviations? LQS Local quilt store TSWLTH The store we love to hate aka Joann fabrics DH, DS, DD, DSM Dear Husband (or dratted, danged etc.) Dear Son or Dear Sister, Dear Daughter, Dear Sweet Mother. FQ - Fat Quarter - fabric cut as 18" x 22" - still a quarter yard of fabric, but cut so as to be more useful than 9"x WOF FE - Fat Eighth - a FQ cut in half so it measures 18"11" WOF - Width of Fabric - across the entire width as it comes off the bolt, usually 42-44" S.E.X. we use this manner of spelling to discourage trolls from seeing it... it means Stash Enhancement eXperience, or eXpedition - fabric shopping! QIs - Quilt Inspectors - often those 4-legged critters that can't stay away from quilts in progress, although some are 2-legged (kids and birds)
What is the Directory or how do I get someone's address? A directory of everyone who chooses to be in it is updated about two times a year, depending on the schedule of LN, who is in charge of compiling. Watch the newsgroup for posting about the next update. Only people who are listed in the directory are allowed to have it. No one is allowed to give the information in the directory out to anyone who isn't in it. Not everyone chooses to be in the directory, so how do you get someone's address? Ask them for it. Its ok, it wont spoil the surprise if you wait till they forget you asked. Or, ask someone else to ask the person if its ok to share their address with you. Be sneaky. Its ok.
Trolls and flame wars... what are they and what can be done about them? Trolls come to groups to try to stir up trouble. The best advice is ignore them. Its fun to poke at them or treat them as legitimate posters but they thrive on attention. Flame wars are discussions that get out of control and angry words are hurled about with abandon. Its easy to get caught up in the heat and say things that are regretted later. We all have bad days. All of our words are open to interpetation, lets all try to give people the benefit of the doubt and believe the best of them and their posts.
How do I find an old post? Go to
Please take the time to read the followup posts in this thread. Some of the most touching tributes to this group and the love we generate is there for you to savor. Good info on picking out a good sewing machine will be found there too.