Posted for Phro5gg:

Welcome to the Mystery Theme Swap, Round 4!

What is the mystery? This is not a secret swap, so to make it interesting we are going to keep you guessing as to the theme of your package. You will give your partner a few ideas as to the things you like (i.e., a color, chocolate, puppies, tea , you get the idea) and they will pick one and build your package around this theme.

For example:

Ideas: green tea , New Orleans, alpaca, chocolate.

Your partner may then pick New Orleans as your theme and select a pattern & yarn to fit, such as the French Market bag, and maybe throw in a few goodies that correspond to the theme (Cafe du Monde coffee , Mardi Gras beads, etc.).

Your ideas don’t have to be fancy, let your partner do all the work making a simple theme exciting.

The will be 2 drawings for PRIZES. Information on the drawings will be discussed once the swap is under way.

This swap is open to international participants who knit and/or crochet! You must either have a personal blog or be a member of Ravelry to participate.

Rules: Please read carefully, these will be strictly enforced!

The swap will run from December 11, 2008 to Janaury 20, 2009. All packages must be mailed by January 20, 2009!
Your package must contain everything needed for a small project (yarn, needles/hooks & pattern). Free patterns are o.k., just make sure you make up for it by including extra nice yarn or goodies.
The contents of the package must cost $40US min.-$50US max. This total is pre-shipping. If you can not afford this, please do not register. This is not an opportunity to clear out your stash! You are expected to purchase new items for your partner. If you have something in your stash that is in new condition and will genuinely be perfect for the package that is ok.
For domestic packages please figure at least $10 for shipping. International shipping will be significantly higher and will vary by country. If you are shipping domestically, you must also include insurance or delivery confirmation on your package.
Email contact with your partner is required! There will be deadlines given for contact, those who do not meet the deadlines will be eliminated from the exchange and their partner will be reassigned.
If you think you may not be able to comply with the rules, or believe you may have a problem with getting your package out on time, please do not sign up. There are plenty of swaps out there. We want this to be a pleasant experience for all!

If you have been banned from a swap previously, please don’t submit a questionnaire. I will be checking participants against banned lists from other swaps.

If you sign up and are unable to complete the swap, please email me ASAP so that your partner can be reassigned.

Still interested? Fill out this questionnaire and email it to me at phro5gg@aol.com. Sign-ups end Monday, December 10, 2008.

Questionnaire

Name:
Mailing Address:
Email:
Ravelry Id (if applicable):
Blog Address (if applicable):
Do you knit or crochet? If both, what type of project would you prefer?
What is your experience level? (i.e. are you a lace knitter extraordinaire, but a sock novice?)
Is there a particular type of pattern you would prefer? (sock, scarf, hat, etc.)
Do you have any allergies that we need to be aware of? (animals, wool, chocolate, etc.)
Do you have pets? If so, what kind.
Do you smoke?
Do you have an online wish list you want to share with your partner? If so, what is the web address?
Are you willing to ship internationally? (Please keep in mind this will raise shipping costs)
Is this your first swap?
Are you willing to be a swap savior?
Theme suggestions (Please give at least 3) examples: coffee , chocolate, bunnies, New York
In order for your partner to put together the best package they can, please give us a brief description of your likes and dislikes. examples: favorite color, drink/goody preferences, fiber preferences

I do have some news for the drawings. If you are one of the early shippers who gets proof to me that their package was mailed prior to 12/31/2008, you will be in a drawing to win a copy of Franklin Habit’s new book of knitting cartoons:

and 2 skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in the “Panopticon” colorway as modeled by the lovely and talented Dolores:

Everyone who ships by the January 20, 2009 deadline will be in a drawing for 2 skeins of Lorna; Lace’s Shepherd Sock yarn in the limited edition color for December 2008: “Boughs of Holly”.

Drawing #2

Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook CD Audio Book (narrated by Debbie Stoller), generously donated by Phro5gg1.

Good Luck & Happy Swapping!

*proof of shipping may consist of delivery confirmation number, insurance number, customs form number or an image of your postal receipt.

The deadline for first contact is Tuesday, May 6th.  I strongly encourage you to communicate with your partner frequently.

Details on the first drawing will be coming soon.

What is the mystery? This is not a secret swap, so to make it interesting we are going to keep you guessing as to the theme of your package. You will give your partner a few ideas as to the things you like (i.e., a color, chocolate, puppies, tea, you get the idea) and they will pick one and build your package around this theme.

For example:

Ideas: green tea, New Orleans, alpaca, chocolate.

Your partner may then pick New Orleans as your theme and select a pattern & yarn to fit, such as the French Market bag, and maybe throw in a few goodies that correspond to the theme (Cafe du Monde Coffee, Mardi Gras beads, etc.).

Your ideas don’t have to be fancy, let your partner do all the work making a simple theme exciting.

The will be 2 drawings for PRIZES in addition to the Button Design Contest. Information on the drawings will be discussed once the swap is under way.

This swap is open to international participants who knit and/or crochet! You must either have a personal blog or be a member of Ravelry to participate.

Rules: Please read carefully, these will be strictly enforced!

1. The swap will run from Thursday, May 1st-Friday, June 6th (5 weeks). All packages must be mailed by June 6th!

2. Your package must contain everything needed for a small project (yarn, needles/hooks & pattern). Free patterns are o.k., just make sure you make up for it by including extra nice yarn or goodies.

3. The contents of the package must cost $40US min.-$50US max. This total is pre-shipping. If you can not afford this, please do not register. This is not an opportunity to clear out your stash! You are expected to purchase new items for your partner. If you have something in your stash that is in new condition and will genuinely be perfect for the package that is ok.

4. For domestic packages please figure at least $10 for shipping. International shipping will be significantly higher and will vary by country. If you are shipping domestically, you must also include insurance or delivery confirmation on your package.

5. Email contact with your partner is required! There will be deadlines given for contact, those who do not meet the deadlines will be eliminated from the exchange and their partner will be reassigned.

If you think you may not be able to comply with the rules, or believe you may have a problem with getting your package out on time, please do not sign up. There are plenty of swaps out there. We want this to be a pleasant experience for all!

If you have been banned from a swap previously, please don’t submit a questionnaire. I will be checking participants against banned lists from other swaps.

If you sign up and are unable to complete the swap, please email me ASAP so that your partner can be reassigned.

Still interested? Fill out this questionnaire and email it to me at mysteryswaphost@gmail.com. Sign-ups end Monday, April 28th.

Questionnaire

1. Name:
2. Mailing Address:
3. Email:
4. Ravelry Id (if applicable):
5. Blog Address (if applicable):
6. Do you knit or crochet? If both, what type of project would you prefer?
7. What is your experience level? (i.e. are you a lace knitter extraordinaire, but a sock novice?)
8. Is there a particular type of pattern you would prefer? (sock, scarf, hat, etc.)
9. Do you have any allergies that we need to be aware of? (animals, wool, chocolate, etc.)
10. Do you have pets? If so, what kind.
11. Do you smoke?
12. Do you have an online wish list you want to share with your partner? If so, what is the web address?
13. Are you willing to ship internationally? (Please keep in mind this will raise shipping costs)
14. Is this your first swap?
15. Are you willing to be a swap savior?
16. Theme suggestions (Please give at least 3) [examples: coffee, chocolate, bunnies, New York]
17. In order for your partner to put together the best package they can, please give us a brief description of your likes and dislikes. [examples: favorite color, drink/goody preferences, fiber preferences]

Send your design to mysteryswaphost@gmail.com or post the image to the thread in our ravelry group.

The deadline for submission is midnight (e.s.t.) on Friday, April 18th. The winner will be chosen by popular vote and will receive:

2 skeins of Marisol Miski 100% Baby Llama yarn in Lilac.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

Get designing!