FO: Whipped Cream

So it's not secret that I am throughly in to yarn swaps. I love the whole process. Figuring out what someone would like and knitting for them is one of the very best parts

Recently I put together an angle package for an Ice Cream themed swap. An angle package means that someone, for whatever reason, flaked on sending out their swap package therefore someone who sent a perfectly well thought out and loved package to someone else didn't receive anything in return and thats where I came in.

I saw that there was someone who needed an ice cream themed swap and seeing as I worked at a Baskin Robins for 8 years I feel I practically have a PhD in the topic so I decided to go for it.

I put together a really cute box which had each part of the package making up a sundae. There was these super cute project bags my mom made.

The large bag was the "cone" for the sunday. There was some yarn which made up the "ice cream", then the little bag made up the "sprinkles", and a much desired book by my swappee made up the "cherry" on the cone. But I ask what kind of sundae doesn't have whipped cream?

So I included this shaw which I knit for her off her queue (a queue is the list of projects we knitters wish to make)

It's a super fast knit and it's knit in garter stitch rather than stockinet stitch which really speeds things up for me (see this post)

Project details:

Pattern: Vixen Shawl by Tori Gurbisz

Yarn: Posh Yarn - Laura in Garden Party.

Needles: US 6

Mods: I didn't modify this pattern at all However if I were to knit it again I would definitely up the needle size as it didn't come out anywhere near as big as pattern called for. Also the yarn is gorgeous and also has a little cashmere in it so it's super soft but it's also quite splitty.

Swap!

I have been having loads of fun swapping lately. I love the whole process of it. I love looking for things I think someone will like and knitting them something special. This has pushed my knitting boundaries which I also love. Trying new techniques or just knitting something I wouldn't normally knit (like a Bad Horse and Unicorn).

The other fun part is seeing how people see me and what they think I will love. Oh and getting a surprise box of presents is always loads of fun...

So I joined the "spoiler's choice swap" where we listing themes that interested us and our spoiler got to choose which one (or all) of those themes to base the package on

My themes were: Mystery Books, Notecards, Relaxation, oh and Purple (surprise surprise)

This is the AMAZING package I received


Don't you just love looking at a pile of wrapped presents! It makes me SO giddy

For relaxation...

let me tell you that foot cream is AMAZING.

For my love of notecards...

I love notecards. I really love when they have interesting designs. I really love the design on these and look there's a matching pen! and other little stationary goodies. so much fun!

For mysteries...



Can you believe I received 4 (FOUR!) books!!! and all Mysteries and the main character is a knitter!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE.
And check out this book cover which was hand crocheted in PURPLE! LOVE!

Finally there was this gorgeous NORO. I love noro and can't wait to get my knitting needles working on this.

This was such a great package and I'm so impressed with how well my swapper "got" me. I loved everything! It makes me want to sign up for a hundred more swaps!

1st US Swap!

When I was abroad I had always wanted to join one of the swaps on Ravelry but it was very unrealistic to expect someone to send something to the UAE when normal post was 50/50 at best. So as soon as I got back to the US I signed up for a swap. I was so excited that I finally get to join in all the fun!

Right after I signed up and sent the mod my address we moved. yup. We moved! I didn't know what to do. Should I message that mod and be all "umm we moved quickly and I'm not in Portland and I can keep you posted as soon as we have an address." or just have my mom forward the box to me and have to wait precious extra days to receive my goodies??? We my problem was solved for me. As I was mulling this over I received a message from my swapee. It isn't customary for the swapee to reveal themselves early but I so glad mine did cause.... She lives in Chicago!!! She saw by stalking me (don't worry goes with the swapping territory. How else are you suppose to figure out what to get for someone you haven't ever met?) She saw that I had just moved and wanted to take me out to see the LYS's and invite me to her knitting group! I KNOW! So sweet!!!!

So I was finally able to make it to her knitting group today and guess what? She brought my swap package with her (ironically I had sent mine out to my swapee on the way to the group meeting)! It was so much fun to be able to open it in front of her and let me tell you her cyber stalking totally paid off....

So the theme of the swap was "Flat Rate Box" meaning fill up a medium size flat rate USPS box with as much as it'll fit. The swap needed to include yarn and a hand knit

This is what I got in mine! I KNOW! The box was practically busting that the seams!

• There's some color work bobbins. Little did she know that I had my eye on these for a while.
• Three pouches so I can better organize my notions and other knitting necessities. The pink one is perfect for DPN's
• Some sock yarn left overs that I can use for a sock yarn blanket I want to start.
• A huge bag of lavender. I love the smell of lavender I find it so relaxing.
• And the green project bag! It's amazing! And even better her mom made it!!! LOVE (100000)

She also hand knit me this lovely red tam which will be perfect in a few months when fall and winter start to roll in. I love the design. Just my style.

And look at this yarn!!!! Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (in Clay)! A yarn I have always wanted to knit with! And the colors are AMAZING! Just like a desert sunset over the water.

Then, as if all of this wasn't enough, waiting in my in box was not one but two (TWO!) of the patterns I had on my wish list!!!! She sent me Arabella and Clothilde... both are by Kristen Hanley Cardozo. I can't wait to cast on one (or both) with some of my new lorna's laces.

WOW! Thank you spoiler! You really have out done your self and I am looking forward to our LYS tour in a couple weeks!

All about the swap

If you ever want to squeal like a little girl who just got the pony they had always dreamed of just join a knitting swap with your closest friends....

I imagine all swaps are great but the bonus of doing swaps with your friends is that they know you and pick up on the things that matter most to you making the swap even more special.

The two knitting groups in UAE (the Abu Dhabi U-Knitted Amiras and the Dubai Knitters) got together for a second swap as the first one went so well that we could hardly wait to start another. Perhaps it's because it involves two of our favorite things shopping for yarn and other knitting goodies and receiving yarn and other knitting goodies. But to keep things interesting we added a theme to the "Swap Round 2": Books!!!! Add a book to the swap gift and even try and get gifts that might relate to said book! SO MUCH FUN!

Well we finally got together for the official Swapping of Swap Gifts and here's what my good friend Rama got for me.........

First I got yarn! That she dyed!!!!!

This one she named Strawberries N' Cream - how did she know I like pink? hmm? who told?


And this one is Lavender Fields - are those colors not AMAZING together?


Then there were these little beauties! My first thought: I can use these as knitting diaries!! (best of both worlds Knitting and Twilight!)


And THE book! Dracula The Un-Dead by Dacre Stoker More vampires!!!


Then I opened this! Another Book! Cupcakes recipe book... The photos are amazing in this book. It looks like you can pick up a cupcake out of the page and eat it! I have never been more inspired to make cupcakes...


But I didn't have to! She made me cupcakes!! Yummy lemony tasty cupcakes (YUM!) that were green and yellow cake with green and yellow icing for the DUCKS!!!!

The Ducks have been doing so well that there's a chance that we could go to THE BOWL (not going to say it til it happens)! I KNOW! So I was feeling a little left out seeing all the fun pics from the games back home that we were winning so much! and this was just the thing to get me in the spirit for kickin' some Arizona a-- er um tush!!!

Needless to say I REALLY enjoyed my swap and have been playing with my new goodies loads! I feel so spoiled! I got pink and purple and ducks and vampires and cake... seriously fantastic!