Tag Archives: swap

Reducio!

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On Wednesday, I talked about Ravelry swaps in general.

Today, I want to share my most recent swap package!

This was a package for a Reducio swap.  It’s a group where everyone makes miniature Harry Potter… things.  The only requirements are that you send a miniature sock (in honor of Dobby), a miniature…something else, and the whole package has to fit in a small mailing envelope.

The ladies (and the few gents) of the Reducio group are all super sweet, kind and thoughtful (as well as giant nerds), which makes this swap a joy to participate in.  You know your package will be well-received by your swapee (as well as the whole group when the pictures are posted).

This month’s swap theme was Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes!  Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes is a fabulous joke shop in the Harry Potter Universe.  So, I included a bunch of teeny versions of their merchandise:

A micro Pigmy-Puff (he’s about a half-inch long):

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA “Patented Daydream Charm” (It’s actually a tiny paper diorama in an inch-wide tin):

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnd, of course, a miniature sock (it fits nicely on my pinky finger).  I actually used my “Socks by the Numbers” pattern for this sock, but I used US0 needles and a Sock Number of 16!OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI loaded these little guys up with a few other tiny Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes projects into a little box (it’s about 4″ square and 1″ deep),OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPrinted out an invoice,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnd sent it on its way!

I’m tickled pink by all the little projects in my package-  It makes me feel like a little kid making props for playing make-believe (except that Ive got better crafting skills than I did as a kid!).

Have you ever made silly stuff like this for a swap?  What did you make?

Swap, swap, swap. Swappy, swap, swap.

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I was trying to think of something new to talk about today, and it occurred to me that I have never written about Ravelry swaps!    Shocking!

I don’t do them as much as I used to, but every year I try to get in at least one or two.  When I was in college and grad school, I almost always had a swap or two going, just so that I had something fun to work on in-between all the lab work and exams.

So what is a swap?  You remember having a pen-pal as a kid? It’s kind of like that, but instead of sending a crummy letter that your third-grade teacher made you write, you send a whole box of amazing crafts!

There are swaps built around themes (favorite books, TV shows, movies), favorite crafts (spinning, knitting, weaving), locations (German swaps, English swaps, American swaps), and there are swaps for every budget.

While the rules change depending on which group you swap with, generally, you are required to do the following:

  1. Sign up through a Ravelry group, and commit yourself to sending your swap package by a certain day.
  2. Then, post a general likes/dislikes listfor your swapper to use to tailor their package to you.
  3. Check in once a week to let everyone know you haven’t run away or died.
  4. And, after you’ve done your planning and stalking (and crafting and shopping), you send your package off to your partner, and someone sends a package to you!

Super fun!  Everyone loves getting packages, after all!

Here are three groups I’ve swapped with in the past, but definitely look around on Ravelry for more swaps- there are dozens!

Swap on a Budget:  This is a general-interest swap for people who don’t want to break the bank.  Fill a shoebox with less than $20 worth of goodies (including a skein of yummy yarn!) and send it on its way!

indexThe Odd Duck Swaps of Ravelry:  This is a group of special one-time themed swaps.  Each month they’ll change their theme (usually based on TV shows or movies).3985242220_7b67999d12Reducio Sock: Mini Sock Swap:  This might be my favorite swap group!  But, that’s because its theme is so perfectly aligned with my interests.  Miniature Harry Potter packages!  If you’re an HP nerd (or a miniatures nerd), like me, then definitely check this one out!

Reducio_Sock_banner_copyHave you ever participated in a swap on Ravelry?  How did it go?