How to Prepare Your Round Robin for Mailing
As many of us are aware there has been some upheavel with robins in the past few months. I have noticed robins coming to me that are not properly protected for mailing, some with no instructions and no mailing labels. I asked Dianne to share her guidelines with us that she used as a coordinator. Sometime in the near future I will be adding pictures to this page showing exactly how your project should look before mailing. In the meantime please keep the following in mind.
1. Robin projects need to be placed in a plastic zip-loc type bag. The name
of the owner should be stitched on the fabric and the name of the owner
should be written on the bag or an address label with the owners name and information should be taped to the bag.
2. Mailings should be done in a padded mailer, one close to the size of the
enclosure. The really large mailers tend to get more battered during mailing
than the smaller ones. The mailers should be stapled shut and not taped. This allows the mailer to be used for the whole robin and not just one time.
3. Items to be included with each project: clear instructions of what is
expected from each stitcher; a short biographical letter so you can get to
know each stitcher in your robin; mailing labels to be used during the course
of the robin; post cards addressed to the owner or group leader if the
project will be received by a non-Internet stitcher.
4. If charts are provided, they should be originals as copies are difficult
to decipher on occasion. If charts are provided, the weight should not be
excessive. In other words, do not send a hardcover book!
5. If floss is provided, this needs to be enclosed in a plastic bag. I do
not recommend projects requiring blending filament. Buttons and beads should
be attached when the project is returned home.
I would like to add the following:
If you are in a robin where there is an international stitcher,
please send a few stamps or a $1.00 or 2 to the person mailing overseas to help
cover the cost of postage. It is not fair that one person should bear the
burden of postage costs for everyone in the robin.
As promised here are some photos to help you get ready for mailing off your robin.
This is a picture of all the items you should get together
before you mail off your robin. They are:
1) A padded mailer to protect your project during its many mailings.
Address labels should be taped on & the return label of the owner
should not be covered. It is a good idea to enclose extra $ with your project
in case your envelope needs to be replaced.
2) Mailing labels for everyone in the robin. Don't forget
to include one for yourself for when your robin comes home. Also include SASE
postcards addressed to you and the group leader if there are any stitchers
in the robin that are not on-line. This way you can keep track of where
your robin is at all times.
3) A plastic bag (commonly called zip loc bags) with your name & other
information on a label taped to the bag or written in permanent marker on the
bag.
4) Your project with your name and other information on it - either stitched
or written in ink in the extreme outer border. If during its travels through
the post office the envelope comes open, your project could find its way home
to you if you take the time to do this.
5) Your chart if you are including it. Please don't send copies unless you
send the original also. Sending copies without the originals can seriously
delay a robin if the copies are not legible.
6) An envelope with a short bio and your stitching instructions in it.
If your chart or theme calls for speciality fibers or beads
don't forget to include them. Place them in a separate ziploc bag and don't
send bead holders, they won't survive the trip intact! Not everyone has
metallics, speciality fibers or beads so it is up to you to provide them.
Please email me if I have forgotten anything or if you have any suggestions for this page. I hope this helps you. Suggestions and comments are always welcome.
Email: sewcraftyme@psouth.net
