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.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Questionnaire for Round 3

To sign up, please send answers to this questionnaire to yarnswap@intergate.com.

1. Name and mailing address:
2. Website/blog (if you have one):
3. Ravelry username, (if you have one):
4. Email Address (I know I have it already but this is for your pal):
5. Have you ever dyed yarn before?
6. What are your favorite colors?
7. Are there any colors you really don’t like?
8. Do you have a preference for yarn weight? For example, do you prefer to knit with larger yarn (worsted, bulky, etc) or with smaller yarn (dk, fingering, etc)
9. Are you allergic to any fibers?
10. Have you participated in any other swaps? If yes, which one(s)?
11. What other hobbies do you have besides knitting/crochet?
12. Do you have pets? Kids?
13. Is there a pattern (or two or three) that you’ve had your eye on for a while that you really want to knit but still don’t have the yarn for?
14. What are the last three things you knit? Were they for you or did you give them away?
15. What’s on your needles right now?
16. If you had to pick only one type of item to knit for the rest of your life, what would it be?
17. Are you willing to ship internationally or would you prefer a pal in the same country?
18. Are you willing to send more than 100 grams of yarn or would you prefer to keep it to that amount? Please don’t feel obligated to say “yes”. This question is just to help me assign swap partners.
19. Is there anything else you would like your swap pal to know about you?
20. What type of project would you like to receive in this swap? (Just delete things you don’t want and feel free to add something that isn’t there as long as it’s not something that requires a large amount of yarn like a sweater or blanket. If you want a total surprise then just put that but don’t be disappointed if you don’t give any direction and then don’t like what you get.)
· Hat
· Scarf
· Toy
· Household item (pillow, felted bowl, etc)
· Wrap or Shrug
· Mittens or Gloves
· Socks
· Purse/Handbag
· Felted Bag
· Market/Shopping Bag
· Baby Sweater or Dress
· Hat & Booties
21. Do you sell anything knitting related? (yarn shop, online shop, etsy shop, etc) If so, please list your website(s)

Friday, January 18, 2008

My hand dyed yarn


I finally just got to snapping a photo of my hand dyed yarn.

A belated thank you

Here's part of the package that I got from Cathy! She not only sent me her own dyed yarn, but some Twisted yarn!
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My son uses the tin for his crayons now!
Here's what I knit:
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The variegated yarn is from the first round from JanKnit! I'm going to be putting the pattern on ravelry in a couple of days.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Just a Thought ....

If you've knit something using yarn you received during The Hand Dyed Yarn Swap AND you are on Ravelry, please add that project to the group page. We'd love to see!

And also, the idea for Round 3 is developing itself ... please stop by the group page on Ravelry and give us your input. I'll be changing the polls soon here on the blog to reflect the updated idea (not different ... just better) as well as adding a couple of lists to the sidebar that go along with the updated idea. Stay tuned ... this is going to be F-U-N! :-)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

I'm late, I'm late! For a very important date!

My sincere apologies to Heidi Kim for posting these pictures so terribly late. Heidi Kim sent an amazing package but I had some serious camera woes. I finally got a new camera last night (and it works!) so....on to the pictures!


hand-dyed sock yarn from HK angora

Beautiful sock yarn in a brilliant sapphire blue with spots of lighter blue, red, and purple. It is really pretty and I'm looking forward to knitting with it.

Hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn from Heidi Kim

Next we have the best surprise of all--HAND SPUN YARN! Wow--Heidi Kim, you really blew me away with this. Heidi Kim wrote that she had ordered a sock yarn blank but didn't think it was going to get there in time, so she started spinning some sock yarn to dye. It is a wonderfully soft 50/50 BLF/merino blend that she dyed a semi-solid lavender.

Hand Dyed Yarn Swap package

In addition to the yarn, Heidi Kim send DPN holders (very handy) and some teas and Norwegian chocolate (long gone). Heidi Kim--thank you so much for your generous swap package. It is all just lovely and I am enjoying it very much.

Round 2 Over!

We had another great round of the hand dyed yarn swap. I only needed one angel over the past two rounds ... I think that's a pretty great statistic for a swap. Now that round 2 is over i'm working on details for round 3. I'm going to change things up a bit to keep it interesting. Stay tuned for details, dates and polls.

Happy Knitting!

~Celena (swap mom)

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Wow!


Aren't they wonderful? Can you read the colorway names? Cranberry Sauce and Brrrr!
Love it!
But just like on late-night-TV informercials --
That's not all!


Chocolatey treats; and knitting/pattern/calendar treats; and:


the most cool knitted wire flower, posing aesthetically on a tree reflection!

Thanks, Bridget! I love it all, but especially the yarn, it's so me!

Cathy


Thursday, December 27, 2007

MY WONDERFUL YARN AND GOODIES FROM TAMI

WOW I opened my Hand Dyed Yarn Swap 2 package from Tami on Christmas day and what a lovely package it was. Here is a photo of all the goodies I received.
I received coffee which is locally roasted in her city and is a favorite of hers, a glow in the dark Starbucks Travel Halloween mug that that I will save for next year which I can't wait to use, four small packets of Smarties, two stitch markers and a nice card. As you can see Tami sent me NOT one BUT two skeins of yarn she dyed for me. One is red and white called Vampire. AND the second one is called Penny's Colorway and it is pinks and blues. Loverly just loverly!!! Perfect colors for me.Actually both skeins of yarn were dyed perfect colors for me.

AND that is not all I received. I also got a couple of stitch markers that you may not be able to see clearly in the top photo so here is a closer view. I certainly hope there will be another dyed yarn swap as it was so much fun. I only wish my dyeing skills were as good as some you other gals in the swap. I guess with time they will get better, maybe.

Thank-you Tami for the wonderful swap package and for being so patient with me hanging on to it until Christmas day to open. BUT it sure helped make Christmas for me.



Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Christmas Present

My package from Nicole arrived on Christmas Eve, things have been a touch nuts around here so this is the first time I've had a chance to post the pictures.
Box and pretty packages-









Beautiful yarn-y goodness:



Goodies! (chocolate, tea - breakfast teas are my favourite, and I can now add Australian to my collection of English, Irish, and Scottish - mmmmmm-; a cute calendar of Australian animals, a post card of the Three Sisters).

Thank you so much Nicole, it is all so beautiful, and such a great Christmas present.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Yarn Received by Moa

I got my yarn on Tuesday from Debbi and just got pictures of it today. She said the yarn I sent her was received last week. Heres the pic of the yarn and loverly stitch markers she sent as well.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Late! I know.
Barbara sent me this yarn, along with some other neat things; candles, chocolate covered Altoids, a mini white board for my fridge, and a scarf-weaving kit. Unfortunately, I didn't get the scarf kit in the picture.
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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Finially (very late), pictures

I am finally getting these pictures posted that I promised days ago! Natalie dyed this beautiful yarn and sent it with a cute notebook, chocolate mints, tissues, and another pet for us. Oribel had to check everything out as usual! Thanks so much Natalie! I am looking forward to knitting with this!

Look what the Postman brought for me today!





When I got this package I new right away what was inside! In all my excitement I almost ate the dog treats (The Hot Dog says THANK YOU!). Inside my package was: the most gorgeous colored yarn, Mary Engelbreit note pad, a cute doggy calendar keychain, Tea party stitch markers, some fun crafting scissors (which my 2yo swiped and immediately ran off with), doggie treats, and a sweet card.

Here is a closeup of the Yarn. This is probably my favorite colorway, because it reminds me of the living in the Sonoma California Wine Country! To check out Kena's other talents, click here

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Received my yarn from Norway

I got my yarn from Heidi Kim last week. The yarn is stunning and amazing. My pictures can only be described as craptastic; you could probably leave off the "tastic" and you'd be correct. Between finals and long days at work and a new camera being on my list for Santa this year...excuses, excuses, I know, and Heidi Kim deserves better--the yarn she sent me is just wonderful. I will do my best to get pictures posted to the blog soon!
Susan

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Through the grapevine....

My hand dyed yarn package came in the other day and look how pretty! It also came with swedish fish, but those didn't last long enough to make it into the picture. Hattie dyed it for me and called the colorway grapevine. It's fingering weight superwash, so I can knit the prettiest socks ever.

You can't tell so much from the picture because of the poor lighting, but the yarn is green and deep purple with some touches of brown and sky blue. It's gorgeous. Thanks Hattie! More about my pretty new yarn here.