The Rules!

The Fun Stuff!

  • This is a swap of knitted items, in particular, those items knitted with yarn from The Loopy Ewe! In fact, this is the only restriction. If you want to make a shawl, you can. Socks are fabulous. So are mittens, and hats, or little stuffed bears. As long as you got the yarn from The Loopy Ewe, you can knit to your heart’s content.
  • While we’re trying to be as encouraging of personal knitting expression as possible, your knitting partner may have some personal restrictions or requests - such as allergies or dietary/lifestyle restrictions. Please try to respect these, or, if you cannot, please notify an Administrator as soon as possible so we can reassign you.
  • In addition to your knitted item, you should include something that reminds you of Spring. There are no restrictions as to what constitutes “Spring” - that’s for you to decide. It can be a single item, or it can be an entire themed package. But it needs to be there.
  • If you want to include other items that don’t involve Spring in your package, feel free to do so. Random Acts of Kindness and all that.
  • This swap has a suggested minimum package value of $20.00, not including yarn. Which means the goodies you include should value $20.00, at least. This doesn’t mean you need to spend $20.00, necessarily, but that you should use your creative powers for good. If you need help finding creative ways to spoil your partner, please contact an Administrator. We love to help.
  • This is a “round robbin” style swap. You will have an upstream and a downstream partner. That means two people.
  • This isn’t a “Secret Pal” swap, but you can keep your identity a secret if you want. If you don’t, you will need to take measures to conceal the contents of your package from your buddy.
  • There will be monthly blog contests - one for posting to the blog or to Ravelry, and one for posting pictures to the blog or to Ravelry. If you need help posting progress and photos anonymously, please contact an Administrator. We will help you out.
  • Please do NOT regift items you recieve in this swap on this forum, without speaking with your partner. If you get something you don’t like or you already have, either email the person who gave it to you, talk with them, and then regift it, or regift it somewhere else. Suddenly seeing your carefully chosen goodies in someone else’s package is shocking and, to some, hurtful.
  • Finally, please don’t just toss it all in a box to rattle around and hope for the best. Everyone isn’t a master gift wrapper, but we should all know how to make packages secure and neat looking.

The Boring Stuff.

  • Sign-ups will be held from March 17th to March 28th. No late entries, no exceptions. I can’t be fiddling with after-the-last-minute sign-ups. And, really, 10 days should be plenty of time.
  • To sign up, fill out your profile page. None of the information will be visible publicly, so don’t worry about privacy. You must have a valid email address and a mailing address. International addresses, business addresses and P.O. Boxes are all ok. As long as the mail carrier can drop it off, life is good.
  • Partner assignments will be matched up and sent out by a date to be announced. You must email your partner to let them know they have a pal.
  • Speaking of emailing your pal - you should do it every 2 weeks. Just to check in, and let everyone know that everyone else is still alive. If you don’t, we will send in the coroner.
  • There will be two forums for this swap - The Blog, which is here, and Ravelry. The Ravelry thread will be in TLE group. Please try not to create extra threads - we don’t want to overrun the group. You will be responsible for keeping an eye on one of the forums and for knowing when things have been announced.
  • I will be doing monthly, mandatory check-ins. If you do not get an email - you are responsible for poking me via email or via Ravelry. If I don’t hear from people, I am going to get cranky.
  • Being ignorant is not an excuse. If you have a question, ask it. I promise not to bite.
  • Your package should be mailed by June 22nd. You must email your partner to let them know their package is on it’s way. If they don’t hear from you, we will assume you are A Flake.

The Stuff that Needs to Be Said.

If you sign up for a swap, you are making a commitment to get your item knitted and in the mail by the deadline. Now, obviously, stuff happens. Life doesn’t know about your knitting swap, and Life doesn’t care. We get that. However, if something happens and you will not be able to make the deadline, please let the Administrators know. We will get someone to cover for you, and there will be no penalties or hard feelings. If it’s looking like you may not make the deadline, but you’re still willing to try, let the Administrators know. We will make arrangements, so that if you fall short, despite your best efforts, we will have you covered. And, again, there will be no penalties or hard feelings.

This does not, however, mean that if you decide “Swapping is not for you” two weeks after signing up that I will be happy. In fact, I will be quite Displeased. And you will be labeled a Flake, even if it makes you angry.

However, if you fail to talk to us, and your package is never sent, you are A Flake. This means you do not get to participate in any more of Loopy Ewe Swaps (well, those run by us), unless you redeem yourself. You can redeem yourself at the next swap, however, by being a Stealth Knitter. Stealth Knitters are those who will knit for those who don’t receive packages, with or without notice. They’re the ones who help us make sure everyone gets something soft and warm at the end of the day. You help us pull through on another swap, we’ll forgive your sins and you’re back in the game. However, you only get one of “Get Out of Jail Free” card.