Yarn Swap Package 2024

Hello dear all,

In January, lots of us do a big clear-out. There’s not much going on outside, so it’s a good time to rummage through all the closets and drawers and see what has accumulated over the year. There are yarns you definitely want to keep, and others that you haven’t grown quite so attached to. And now they’re looking for a new owner. It’s time to swap yarn!

We are looking for 10 to 15 participants.
If you would like to take part in the swap circle, please sign up here in this thread.

We will send the swap package via DHL. The sturdy, tried-and-tested box from the last swap circle will be used again. Postage for the 10 kg DHL package costs 10.95 euros. The shipping costs are to be paid by the sender each time.

Here’s how the swap circle works:

I am the initiator of this swap circle and will pack a package with yarn. I will ask all participants in advance by email for their names, addresses, preferences, and dislikes regarding the yarns and use that to put together a participant list. Anyone who wants to can take those preferences and dislikes into account when packing the package. Anyone who doesn’t provide any information will just be surprised.

The data will not be published here on CP. I will put the list I have created into my freshly packed yarn package. I will send it at my own expense via DHL to No. 1 on the list.

Participant No. 2 on the list receives the package and chooses what she likes from it. She puts yarns of equal value into the package as replacements for the yarns she has taken out. The list goes back into the
package. Participant No. 2 then sends the package at her own expense via DHL to participant No. 3 on the list. The list goes back into the package again, and so on and so forth. At the end, the package comes back to me because I am the
last one on the list. I will then destroy the list with the data.

Once the swap package has started, I will open a separate thread in the CP forum. All participants will actively post there, so we always know where the package currently is. Each participant posts a large, clear photo of her new yarn treasures in the thread. After all, we’re all curious to see what the others have snagged, or what we missed out on. After your first comment, you should activate the “Notify me about replies” box, and then you will always be informed about new posts in this thread.

Summary of the rules:

1. The package may weigh up to 10 kg and will be sent with DHL at the sender’s expense.
2. Every ball of yarn must have a label; several balls of yarn of the same type only need one label.
4. The yarns taken out are always replaced with yarns of equal quality.
5. Only yarn should be swapped.
6. Each participant posts a large, clear picture of the yarn she has swapped for in the yarn swap thread that I will create in the CP forum when I send off the package.

If you would like to join in, please add your name here in this thread. But please do not write any data here! I will contact you separately later.


Finally, a note on my own behalf:

Since my interests shifted more and more away from yarn and toward fabric over the past year, I no longer have that much yarn available for swapping. For this reason, this is my last yarn swap circle.

It would be very nice if a new organizer for the yarn swap package could be found. Of course, I would give the new person a detailed introduction and be available at any time to offer advice. The requirements are that you have plenty of yarn to swap, know your way around a PC (writing emails, writing personal messages on CP, recording data in a table or list, creating and commenting on forum posts), and of course enjoy exchanging ideas with like-minded people. The swap circle is so much fun and brings so much joy. I really hope a successor can be found so that this lovely tradition can continue. If you’re interested, or if you have any questions, feel free to send me a personal message.

Best wishes, Ina

Dear Ina,

it’s a shame that this will be your last swap package—but it’s also understandable. Everything has its time, and some things change. For you, it’s sewing that’s captivating you right now.

I’ve been thinking about whether I’ll participate in the next swap package, especially over the last few days, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’ll probably be a while before I need new yarn again or even want to give any away. That’s because I’ve just stocked up—with new yarn and also on my swap platform.

As things stand right now, I’ll probably just be a silent observer this time. If I do change my mind at the last minute, I’ll post it here.

I wish all the swap partners who are participating lots of fun and hope you find wonderful treasures in the package. And to you, dear Ina, I wish you a worthy successor to take over the organization. I briefly considered it myself, but it doesn’t make sense if I can’t fill the package with yarn at the start and don’t need any myself either.

Warmest regards to everyone
Monika

That’s still how things look for me—I skipped the last package, and so far I still have nothing left, since I have a set plan for all the yarn I have in stock.
But I’ll still enjoy browsing here and seeing all the lovely things you’re swapping. I hope you all have a great time!

Hi everyone,

I’m joining the two of them—my husband imposed a strict (!) ban on buying new yarn on me six months ago, and I’m currently trying to use up all the yarn I already have. So I’ll “just” be watching, too.

But have fun, everyone, and best regards—the snow and ice are finally gone here today, and it’s actually 8 degrees

Margitta

Hi, you three—that’s no problem at all! It’s great that you have enough yarn and don’t want to part with any of it. Just watching is nice, too. I’ll do that later as well ;-)

Love, Ina

Dear Ina, thank you for taking so much time on the last swap packages.
We’re currently clearing out my mother-in-law’s house, so I don’t have much time for crafts. I’m letting myself be surprised by whatever leftover yarn I find there. So I won’t be participating this time either.
I hope you have fun with your new hobby and all the best for the future.
Maria

Hi Ina,
I’d love to join. Great idea!! Best regards, Sibylle

Dear Ina, 
I’d like to join too. 
Best regards 
Tine 

Dear Sibylle, dear Tine - you're both in this time!
Please keep following this forum post, then you'll always be up to date.

Best, Ina

Participants:

1. SibylleLevin
2. katharina-preuninger
3. ...

Hi,
I'd be interested in participating.
Best regards, Alice 

Hi Alice,
You’re welcome to join us. Please keep checking in here regularly.

Best regards, Ina

Participants:

1. SibylleLevin
2. katharina-preuninger
3. alice-jahn
4. ...

Hello, everyone,

It’s nice that another swap package is on its way, but also sad because this will be the very last time.
Oh, Ina, you always made this so exciting. I’d like to thank you once again for organizing it, sending the packages, and bringing us so much joy...
I would have loved to participate again. But as life goes, my dear friend Steffi sent me so much yarn/crochet yarn that I’m all set for a while. Too bad.
But I have to crochet through it all first and make some new space.

Still, for those of you who are participating, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for what you’ll receive, and I’m definitely rooting for you—I can’t wait to marvel at your “yarn treasures.”

Have fun!

I’m not participating myself, but I’d think it’d be a shame if this got buried. That’s why I’m bumping this up.

Thanks, Ruth, for bringing this up. I’d think it was a shame, too—especially since I’ve already packed the swap package. As in so many areas, attitudes toward swap packages have changed. Everyone is probably wondering whether this is really necessary and how much it costs. Is it worth it?
In the past, the fun would have been the main focus; today, the first thoughts are always whether you really need it or whether you can do without it. Just watching is nice, too. And 10 euros in postage is still 10 euros that’s missing somewhere else.

We’ll see how things develop. If we can’t get 10 participants together for a swap group, I’ll donate my yarn to a nonprofit organization in our town. Unpack it all again and sort it out—no, I’m not doing that. Especially since that space is now taken up by my fabrics.

Best regards, Ina

Dear Ina.

What a lovely idea. I really like the concept of swapping, and the 10 euros for shipping isn’t too much for me, but I still have a lot left to work through from the last swap package.
And right now, I’m mostly sewing.

So I don’t really have any yarn to give away…😏🙈
I just can’t bring myself to part with any of it this time… so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that enough participants will sign up and the swap package idea doesn’t die out.

Best regards, Katharina 

Dear Katharina, I feel the same way you do. Right now—and for the foreseeable future—I’m focusing more on sewing. Everything has its time. I hope you enjoy your crafts.

Maybe I’ll put together a fabric swap package later on—for example, one just for cotton jersey. There are such beautiful patterns and colors.

Best regards, Ina

It’s really funny how we all “change in similar ways.” I still much prefer knitting and crocheting, but my next project is actually sewing patio cushions and pillows.
I’ve already bought the foam filling and fabrics, and everything’s cut out—now I just have to bring myself to get the sewing machine out.....
Knitting is something you can just do on the side, but sewing is always kind of “a big deal.”

Whatever you do, have fun with it
Best wishes, Margitta 

Oh yeah, I’ve also planned to make chair cushions for the patio.
I bought the fabric, but haven’t cut it yet.

Right now, I’m sewing Carnival costumes—Asterix and Obelix…🙈😂—as well as tops for my three kids and baby onesies for friends’ babies.😍

I’ve also thought about putting together a swap package with fabrics, but fabrics can get really heavy very quickly, and I usually need 1-meter pieces…😏

Have fun with your projects, too.🤗

Cushions for patio furniture seem to be all the rage right now... Come to think of it, I could sew something like that for my wooden garden bench, too. I still have a discarded topper—the foam part is the perfect height for a seat cushion. Yet another idea to add to my to-do list.

Dear Katharina, dear Margitta, could you please show your sewing projects in the sewing forum sometime? I’d love to take a look at them and chat with you a bit about them. We can all learn from each other and exchange a few ideas: https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/forum/thread/4/naehen

Best regards, Ina

Hello everyone,

since there aren’t enough participants for a new yarn swap, we’ll close this thread here. I’m sure the absence of the swap will leave a gap in the forum. But maybe someone else will pick up the idea later and restart the swap. I’m always available to offer support and guidance.

Best regards, Ina

Dear Ina, thank you for your effort

Dear Ina, yes, once I finally get around to it, I’ll be happy to do it. Great idea.

Best regards
Margitta