Autumn Secret Pal Reveal Package

I have the best secret pal, Misty Strouth, aka Mom4x. I received this wonderful reveal package from Misty. In the package there was a beautiful shawl, two big balls of thread, a doily pattern booklet, a thread crochet hook (all to get me started on doilies - yay!), a retractable tape measure (how did you know mine just broke?), a glass picture frame, a purse notebook, a box of delicious Hershey pure dark chocolate and a lovely letter.


Here are a couple of close ups of the shawl. She made this beautiful shawl in, get this, thread, that's right, thread not yarn! It is two lovely shades of rose and trimmed in white. I can't believe she finished it in two months, I would need two years and a couple new pairs of glasses.

Tags: Crochetville autumn secret pal

One Skein Secret Pal - August

Dear OSSP Megan,

Thank-you for the lovely felted clutch purse. I love it! Most especially since it's in my favorite colors. I really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

When I didn't hear from you for August I was a little upset, and then I wondered if something happened and I prayed that it was nothing bad and everything was okay. I'm glad to hear your family has been blessed.

I haven't made anything with the Cestari cotton or Anny Blatt yarn yet, I'm hoarding it in my stash for that special project.

blessings and hugs,
Jo

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Fall Purse Swap

Wool. I love wool. The more I learn about it and the more I work with it the more I love it. Especially handspun stuff with it's thick and thin twists and color variegations. I was pleasantly surprised with this yarn, Sensations Licorice, from a big chain store.

Now that my swap partner has received her purse I can post about it. It took quite a bit of rework and redesign and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. Originally designed with different stitches, after I crocheted a few rows, it was clear it didn't show the yarn to it's best advantage. The new crocheted fabric shows off the lovely twist and richness. Here's a close-up.

The handles were made with stamped leather I had in my stash. I've been a little frustrated with the selection of purse handles available and I picked up this leather skin for another project. The rich brown suited this purse perfectly.

It was hard to give up this purse.

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Autumn Secret Pal

My Crochetville autumn secret pal mentioned that she was sending a package and I got it in the mail today. I quickly tore it open and there's a bunch of good stuff, a tapestry tote bag (great for carrying crochet projects), a skein of Bernat Softee Chunky in a pretty hot pink color, a box of Twinings Earl Grey Tea, a box of Salada Green Tea Chai, an afghan pattern, and a hand drawn card. I love getting stuff in the mail. Thank-you Secret Pal, you're the best!

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Crochetville Purse Swap

Wow, I got home dripping wet after running around in the rain today and there was this big box on my porch. The address labels were decorated with fall leaves. Oh boy oh boy oboy! It was from my Crochetville Purse Swap partner Michelle Goodrich, aka Appliejuice.

The box was beautifully packed; many of the items were individually wrapped with tissue and raffia, all along the fall theme. Nothing was wet nor damaged.


Here is a pretty purse in a forest green with an attached cell phone cozy in variegated fall colors and trimmed in cute fall leaf buttons. The inside of the purse was lined with a leaf print pattern also. I can tell she put a lot of care and attention to detail here. There was also extra yarn and buttons.

Here is a felted bowl with candy corn, crocheted potholder, mini-pumpkin, decorative accessories, pumpkin spice candles, and two skeins of blue wool by Brown Sheep Company. There was also a two-year planner, chai tea mix, chocolate mini-book with adorable crocheted flower bookmark, fall napkins and a lovely note (pictured above).

Thank-you so much Michelle for these beautiful gifts. You outdid yourself.

Tags: Crochetville purse swap

July Secret Pal

I've been really busy lately what with being out of town and taking care of stuff so it was really nice to find a package in the mail from my one skein secret pal. I ripped it open and inside found this lovely cotton mohair skein of yarn. I've never worked with mohair before, it feels really soft. What could I make with it?

Thank-you secret pal for this lovely yarn.

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June Secret Pal

Saturday was goody day. I got this lovely skein of yarn in the mail from my secret pal. It is manufactured here in Virginia by Chester Farms and is a cotton/wool/silk blend, perfect for these warm summer months. It's hard to see here, but up close it is a soft beige color with little flecks of light blue and brown, sort of a heathery effect. Thank-you secret pal, I love it!

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Secret Pal Questionnaire

Here are my answers to the One Skein Secret Pal questionnaire. Hi secret pal!

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)? Probably a multi-colored handspun handpainted variegated yarn made from many different fibers. I love a lot of variety and love to make things from scratch.

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with? I love teal, blues and greens in a variegated blend and I also love pink blends. I work with many other colors but I'm always drawn to these first.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns? Yes, love them, especially the handpainted variegated yarns.

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns? I favor natural fibers, love wool, cotton, silk. Have recently discovered alpaca and think it's lovely. Would like to try cashmere someday.

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn? Probably center-pull but it's all good.

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them? Would love to try some.

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year? Haven't counted, maybe thirty-ish?

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year? I'm not really a knitter, more of a crocheter. Will definitely crochet some gifts.

9. What is your favorite one skein project? I like making the scarves, purses and pouches that use a skein. They're fast and you get something really functional and nice.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it? I have quite a bit of a stash that I keep in plastic storage boxes. Maybe 3-4 boxes.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it? Not really. At times I have loved some handpainted skeins I made and didn't want to use it but then I get over it and am really glad because it's even nicer when worked, and even better when it's gifted and someone else loves it.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer? I tend to crochet with more wool in the winter and cotton in the warmer months.

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)? I belong to Crochetville and sometimes check-out Knitty.

One Skein Secret Swap

I signed up for the One Skein Secret Swap. I've never done a yarn/knit/crochet swap before, it sounds like fun. The folks at Interweave Press have put together a swap based upon the book, One Skein. Basically, it works like this: you are assigned a secret pal in May, then you send your pal one skein of yarn in June, another skein of yarn in July, and then in August you send your pal something you made from one skein of yarn (it doesn't have to be something from the book). In the meantime, someone else has been assigned your name and is sending you stuff. There is a big reveal at the end. I'm still not sure what's secret but the whole thing promises to be exciting.