It’s no secret that I love swaps. I love stalking my recipient, finding his/her likes (yes, there are guys on Rav who knit, crochet and participate in swaps :P) and putting together a great package. A package with the minimum requirements and then some! I love the thrill of finding items the recipient would love at a low cost so I can make the package obese. But sometimes — swaps can go ridiculously wrong! Bad swappers lists are in almost every Ravelry forum — that alone should indicate how wrong things can go.
So far I haven’t been on either end — giving or getting a “sub par” package but I’ve seen others receive them. In the swaps I participate in and other things like Secret Santa etc. Don’t get me wrong, I try not to have any expectations of what I’d get and neither do I have any Emelda Marcos caliber outlines of what I should or should not get in my Ravelry profile (those are a whole nother post :roll:). I do understand that not everyone has the same financial resources available to them and that sometimes, even with the best of intentions, sometimes individuals can’t spend as much as others.
With every swap, I sign up to be a swap angel. If a person doesn’t get his/her package or if the package received is “sub par”, then swap angels swoop in and rectify that situation. It’s not to say I have unlimited financial resources (I wish) but I can say that in some ways I’m blessed enough to be able to share what I have. Be it yarn or other items.
In one of the swaps I participated in recently, I was asked to be a swap angel. In addition to sending the recipient some yarny goodies, I wanted to give her something that reflects our shared love of teas. Last night at midnight, I didn’t feel sleepy so I decided to add some tea bags to the package. That led to thoughts of how I was going to package the teas and that led me to the following project. It was quick and easy and gives the knitter an opportunity to add personal touches to it.
Project Details
- Name: Tea Toters
- Pattern Designer: Julie Tarsha
- Pattern Modifications: None. Made a monogram letter from felt and embroidered on the back of the “toter”. Ha, HS embroidery classes eventually paid off! 😀
- Techniques learned: Backwards loop cast on (in the middle of an already cast on row)
- Yarn: Red Heart Soft in Teal
- Yardage Used: Didn’t calculate but based on the size of the F.O. it’s not that much.
- Number of “There’s only room for one of us in this house, yield or be broken!!!!” episodes: 0 😀
This little precious was finished off with a monogrammed felt letter which was hand-embroidered onto the toter then finished off with a vintage button.
Quick, easy, beautiful for any tea drinker.
D'NALI 
That looks lovely, you did an amazing job. If I were her, I’d be putting that in a place of honor in my kitchen. It’s so pretty. I love that you added another craft to your knitted item. I try to do that, whenever possible. 🙂
I’ve thought about doing swaps. I enjoy making things, and so this is a perfect excuse for me to create something else. When things get a little less hectic, I’ll participate in at least one group. Don’t be surprised if I ask you for some Ravelry swap group recommendations. 😉
I don’t know what’s happening but I re-committed to craft as at July 1st 2012 and ideas are coming out of my ears I tell you. 😀 It’s been amazing!
I’ll be more than willing to point you to a great swap group. 😀
That is so sweet of you to be a swap angel. I have never participated in a swap before, but they look like a lot of fun. Love the monogrammed tea toter. It is going to bring a smile to a lucky someone.
Awww lady, you’re making me blush! 😀
I love swaps … as you would have read … it’s always fun especially when everyone participates as they should.