Welcome to official blog for The Hand Dyed Yarn Swap. This is a fun swap where we hand dye yarn for our swap partner. Sign-ups for Round 4 are now open. We also have links for buying undyed yarn and supplies as well as tutorials for dyeing yarn.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Hooray!

Quick post to say I just returned from a 10-day trip last night, and finally the post office had coughed up the package from Heidi Kim which she had mailed about a month ago!

Hooray!

It's awesome!

Here are the pictures now, and all the juicy details.



First, some Norwegian chocolate (mmmm, through sheer willpower as well as lack of time, untouched, you will notice! Then, two, TWO lovely skeins of not only hand-dyed but hand-spun gorgeous yarn! Heidi Kim and I must have been channeling each other, because the yarn I dyed for her looks like a combination of these two yarns. The shades of purple yarns is a thick and thin spun merino, for which Heidi Kim included the pattern for My So-Called Scarf. A pattern I've been wanting to try for hand-dyed yarn, but the yarn I tried it in was too stiff. This one won't be! It is so soft.

But not as soft as the blue yarn. Ooooh. See the cute little face on the label?

That's one of Heidi Kim's angora rabbits, and the yarn is 100 % handspun angora!

Wow! I've never had anyone hand spin yarn for me before, and most especially not from their own bunnies! And in my most favorite jewel tone colors! I feel so special.

I think this might become a special lacy scarf; it definitely has to be next to the skin somehow.

So back up to the first picture, she also sent a scenic postcard from Norway with explanations, two pretty stitch markers (and given that there are two, if I don't require them as stitch markers, I can always wear them as earrings!), and blocking pins that are much more lovely than my T-pins!

Wowzers. Totally worth the post office kidnapping and wait. Thank you so much, Heidi Kim!

Cathy (Cathy-Cate)

Monday, April 14, 2008

Thank You Again, Penny!

I just received a SECOND package from Penny. She included sock patterns, more yarn, Eucalan samples and some Smarties candies!! How fun! Thank you so much, Penny...you are very generous and the yarn is so nice!!!

Friday, April 11, 2008

Promote Your Yarn/Fiber Shop

Later this month, I will be attending Yarn School . It's a dyeing and spinning workshop in Kansas, in a relaxed setting with great people. Many of the attendees have their own etsy shops, yarn stores, or other crafty business. This session we've been invited to add a contribution to the goodie bag that every student receives!

It's short notice, but I think it's fun and a great way to reach more people with your product. The guidelines are here and I hope many of you can participate because you're all so talented and I'm sure everyone at Yarn School would love to see your creations.

Any questions, or to participate, you can contact Nikol Lohr

Think about it.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Sometimes the mail makes me happy....

....sometimes the mail makes me sad.

Right now, it's sad. Heidi Kim mailed a package from Norway that left there March 25 and still hasn't arrived on my doorstep. I'm leaving tomorrow (before the mail usually comes) and will be gone for 10 days, so I won't be able to see it if it does come, or tell you, until I get back.

But I know she mailed it! Just wanted to let everyone know.

P.S. Cute puppies at her blog.

Cathy

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Need some caffeine?

Bridget says that she got her yarn from her buddy and she was really excited about the package.

Here is a link to her blog for the juicy details!

Thanks Felicia

Monday, April 7, 2008

HOW DID I FORGET?

I guess I was tired when I wrote the last post but despite still being tired I can't seem to sleep (and I need to be somewhere tomorrow or later today at 1:30PM and it is now almost 5AM).
I forgot to tell you about the two sock patterns that Jan also sent me. I got a Lisa Souza pattern called Petal Lace Socks which doesn't look too difficult and a sock pattern called Esther by Stephanie van der Linden which looks a bit more complicated. Well actually a lot more complicated.They were by my bed on my reading pile and I forgot them in the previous post. I didn't have either and this is my first Lisa Souza pattern. I love the picot edge on the Esther pattern and have always wanted to try knitting sock cuffs like that so here is my chance.
AND the candy Jan sent is gone. I must have inhaled it faster than usual as I can't even remember it now which is not like me. I am terribly sorry Jan.

MY PACKAGE ARRIVED.....

...this past Wednesday from Jan of Janknits. I was so worried about it as it was taking so long to get here. I still have two other swaps that have yet to arrive and were mailed way before Jan sent hers. She got mine before I received hers and I sent here several days after she mailed me my packge BUT PHEW it arrived at my home intact and safe. What a wonderful package Jan sent me. The color of the yarn is just perfect for me and such deep bright colors.

In addition to the yarn, Jan sent me some coconut tea, beads which I love, and a Lavender Sachet a favorite scent of mine. In fact, as soon as I opened the puffy I could smell the lavender scent. Is this yarn not lovely? AND it is oh so very soft.


Thank-you Jan for the lovely package you sent and being patient until I posted this. Now I will go and post it on my blog which will be be dated Wed as that is when I started that post.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Thanks so much, Susan!



I've been very remiss in posting, since I actually got the package last week. (And I'm very happy you liked your yarn too!)

Susan sent me 6 skeins of beautiful shaded autumn-colored merino wool and the book for making and felting the entrelac Market Squares bag. I also got some snacking chocolate, a cute card, and an intricate lace bookmark (now I know what to do with those lace swatches). I am absolutely stunned. I can't say thank you enough for sending me on the path to a neat new technique and reusable bag goodness!

Package from Bridget


I received a lovely package from Bridget. I got Knitlite needles, that my daughter asked if she could have (no) and some really lovely worsted yarn in greens. Also some flower patterns, a hat pattern and some really yummy caramel corn (love it, opened it immediately). Thanks for the fab package! Oh, and Bridget published the package I sent her on her blog instead of this one, so check it out through the blog link on this page.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Yiah, I got packet from Cathy.

Yesterday I run to the post office because I got two note about packets arrived, one of them was from Cathy. I love all of it, look at this gorgeous hand dyed yarn - called Ultramarine. She also send me Knitpicks Bare 70% merino and 30% silk that I can dye and look at all the other goodies :o)



You can read more in my blog.

Thank you so much Cathy, now I hope my packet soon arrived to you :o)