Swap Package!

My great day just never ends! Not only have I been inundated with OWOH giveaway packages, but today I finally got the dishcloth package I've been waiting for!



And now I get to know who has been secretly making it for me! I can't wait to get a better look at her blog, but as I also couldn't wait to share it all with you I find myself here first. :D

Included in my package:
5 dishcloths (including a really gorgeous angel cloth - I so want to make that one myself!)
3 stitch markers (really neat beaded ones!)
1 cable needle (I don't have one of these - I am so stoked she put this in!)
1 ball of regia bamboo yarn (oh so soft and lovely!)
1 pkt coffee (the whole package smells so deliciously of this coffee - yum, gotta get the espresso maker out tonight to try!)
1 pkt of coffee sprinkles (wow, we don't get this kinda thing in NZ! I am gonna have to invite my very good American friend, Becca, over to try this with me!)
1 scarf pattern (yo go with the yarn)
1 bar of shea butter soap (made by Bare Naked Bars)

My husband was hoping for some poptarts! Too bad I say! This swap present was fantastic!!!

Thanks so much Carrie!

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; fifth weekly topic

Weekly Topic: If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

Actually, in the southern hemisphere I am in the middle of really hot humid weather. I still think the question applies, cos' what can you do when it feels too hot! I would spend the day at the beach, looking at rock pools with the kids. Swimming in the ocean, sunbathing on the sand, curled up with a good book!

Hmmmm! I wanna go there, now!

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; fourth weekly topic

Weekly Topic: Well, this is a easy topic of the week. I am interested to see what my pal has, so I can see what to get them. So, to help out our fellow swappers, please post a picture of your yarn stash for making dishcloths and the notions you use on them. So, 2 pics 1 of dishcloth yarn stash and 1 of your notions you use for making dishcloths." Defeat the Winter Doldrums" for some of us we get the doldrums and others don't. For the ones who get doldrums what helps you get rid of them? For the ones who don't get the doldrums, what helps you keep them away?

hmmmm, good question. Sometimes just visiting a friend can get rid of the doldrums for me, other times I need to give myself a good kick and think about all the good things about me and about my life! When I had post natal depression I had to go on anti-depressants - but they made me unable to feel anything at all and I hated that! now if I feel myself on the spiral downward I take St. Johns Wort and try and focus on the good.

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; third weekly topic

Weekly Topic: Well, this is a easy topic of the week. I am interested to see what my pal has, so I can see what to get them. So, to help out our fellow swappers, please post a picture of your yarn stash for making dishcloths and the notions you use on them. So, 2 pics 1 of dishcloth yarn stash and 1 of your notions you use for making dishcloths.

I could photograph it, but that would be easy as I don't have a whole lot of dishcloth yarn in my stash. I am trying to build up my supplies and yesterday I bought 8 balls of cotton yarn cheaply ($1.99 a ball) - but thats about it folks!

The same would go for notions - I would like to purchase a cable needle and some stitch markers. I will one day.... as for now, I am enjoying making cloths and learning new knitting techniques - it is SO much fun and very very addictive!

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; second weekly topic

Weekly Topic: There are many people who ADORE receiving hand-knit or crochet items; but there are just as many who have no appreciation whatever of how much love, work, and time goes into a hand-made item. Share a story of a hand-made gift you gave to someone and how it worked out - good, bad, or ugly!

I have really only had good feedback... at Christmas I gave dishcloths to friends, teachers, my husbands boss etc. Most people said they wouldn't want to go back to using bought cloths - they liked how the knitted ones worked! :) I can only agree with them - I will never go back to bought now!

wrapper cloth

I decided to try this cloth, mainly because it might be good to put a bar of soap in (for the dishcloth swap). Turns out I was right! It looks great, and will smell great after it's trip in the post!

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; first weekly topic

Weekly Topic: Dishrag. Dishcloth. Face cloth. I've seen folks get all fired up in forums when someone refers to their knit or crochet creation as a dishrag, as that's somehow offensive to them! When you're working on yours, what do you call them? Also, is there a difference between a dishrag and a dishcloth? How bout a facecloth? Are they all really the same thing?

I call them dishcloths - certainly not rags. I think of ripped up material as rags, certainly not something I've spent some creative time completing! Facecloths are softer (or should be) than dishcloths but could be made from the same pattern, in my opinion.

defeat the doledrums dishcloth swap; questionnaire

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both?
both, but i prefer to knit

2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?
plain jane ordinary ones - I usually use 5 mm bamboo needles

3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try?
I usually use anything I can pick up cheap... ;) I have also used merino wool in some of my cloths and they "felt" really nicely when they are washed, which I like ALOT! I wonder what bamboo yarn knits up into cloths like.

4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?
kitchen = navy, yellow, turquiose
bathrooms = blues & yellow (and I don't even really like yellow - hehe!)

5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite?
I love orange! blues & greens are great too! I'm not a great fan of pink!!!

6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends?
I hate winter, I prefer the warmth of summer, just as well I live in the temperate world of NZ!

7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?
To knit?!?! Actually, I sometimes just need to get out and visit someone, even if it's the last thing I "feel" like doing! Sometimes I just have to forget how I feel and go with what I need!!!

8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps?
Chocolate?!? No, that would be my hubby's indulgence ;)! I like to go out and have a really nice cup of coffee at the local coffee shop!

9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa?
All of the above, but coffee more than the rest!

10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?
I would be on a plane to the UK to see my sister and her family - I haven't seen them in around 10 years!

11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of?
Not really! Can't have mushroom's but I doubt that will come into it! :)

new dishcloth swap...

I'm always up for a good swap - and this one is a goodie! I get to indulge in my latest addiction - knitting dishcloths, and then giving them away... woo hoo! Just click on the image if you want to join in too!