SEPT/OCT - Mini Swap 2013

[Lord Libidan]

I actually enjoy it when my swappie lists something I don't have much experience of, bit more of a challenge!

I totally agree! Last two swaps I started playing games I never played before, now they're some of my favourites...

[Philpepe]

I'm actually considering using a new hobby I'm attempting to start to make something unique for my swap partner. It could turn out really cool... or not so cool...

[sfxbecks]

Was just about to ask when this ended...then I saw the header! >.<

Well...I'd almost be finished if I didn't have to completely do it again due to a patten error! (The error being I made it too big as it was the first pattern I made!) Good thing me and my swapper have quite a lot in common so I'll be keeping the bigger one! :p Will just have to get a smaller count canvass next time I get paid!

[natepopinski]

Making some serious progress on the swap, and I like it so much that I want to keep it for myself! It'll make it to my swappie, but I may need to make it for myself too.

[Pyper]

Making some serious progress on the swap, and I like it so much that I want to keep it for myself! It'll make it to my swappie, but I may need to make it for myself too.

I know what you mean! I just finished patterning, and I think I will have to make one for me as well

[icedragonj]

I am super exited for this! I have already made my first item, I want to share it with everyone, but I don't want to give it away. I haven't made one of these before and I think it has turned out quite well.

Not a complaint, more of a comment, but I feel like the size restriction is very biased towards certain crafts. The greeting card size is plenty of space to do something detailed in cross-stitch or beading, but harder for knitting, sewing or other bulkier crafts. Still doable, but much more of a challenge. I understand that in the past people are known to go a bit overboard when it comes to swap gifts, and you don't want people to feel unlucky if they got a partner who didn't go overboard, and you also want to encourage participation by making the postage costs less daunting. I feel like a time limit might be more appropriate, but then it is hard to inforce and a pain to keep track of, and people don't all work at the same rate... There is no easy solution, and again not a complaint! I am still really pshyched for this swap, and the challenge the size restriction brings, but something to think about I guess...

[kuja.girl]

The size restriction does play toward some mediums better than others... but I think a knitting project that could be stuffed into a small bubble mailer would be allowable ... even if it's over size ;) BMH can weigh in on this if I'm wrong.

Also there is a time limit - but do you mean something like "hours spent on a project"? If so then yes, that would be impossible, and unfair, to keep track off. Some of us are rather slow stitchers or spend a ton of time in the design phase after all (guilty of both here).

So... my final word on this: the size restriction also helps keep us all on deadline: we all get super excited and want to MAKE things but life happens and getting things done by a set date can be tricky. So really think of it as a challenge and not a limitation and I promise you will come up with projects you and your partner will be happy with! It also lets us play with mediums and materials which is always fun.

[blackmageheart]

I am gonna weigh in here. The size restriction does seem biased but I considered it a lot before making a decision on it. And I did have other crafts in mind when I did so. The size thing really just a guideline to keep you thinking small, but I don't mind if something you make goes over a bit. So if you were knitting a hat, for example, that'd be ok. If you're not sure, please ask!

[Yurtle]

I'm going to give the unpopular vote! I like the size restriction. It gives everyone something to aim for. It keeps the people who would naturally go overboard from going too far over. It keeps an even playing ground. A mini swap means different things to different people and I think a size restriction will keep most swaps more or less equal, which I think evens out some disappointment in people when they made a huge project only to get a tiny one back.

If nothing else, it forces all of us to be a bit more creative and think outside the box (or envelope)!

[La Ptite Bete]

I'm going to give the unpopular vote! I like the size restriction. It gives everyone something to aim for. It keeps the people who would naturally go overboard from going too far over. It keeps an even playing ground. A mini swap means different things to different people and I think a size restriction will keep most swaps more or less equal, which I think evens out some disappointment in people when they made a huge project only to get a tiny one back.

If nothing else, it forces all of us to be a bit more creative and think outside the box (or envelope)!

I totally agree Yurtle