It seems too early to be thinking of winter already. Yet, the air is getting cooler and soon the holidays will be upon us. Why not rev your crafty engine a little early and join in the fun with a Holiday Potholder Swap?

How it works: You sign up to make one potholder and you receive one potholder made by a fellow sewist somewhere in the world. Some of the Sew News editors are joining in, so you might be matched with one of our experts!

The deadline to sign up will be October 29, 2012, 11 am.

Finished potholders will be sent out no later than November 26, 2012.

This gives you just about a month to make one glorious potholder. To make sure you receive a potholder you love, you can choose the palette. Choose your favorite palette from the three provided and sew a potholder for someone in a palette they love. When you receive your potholder, post a photo to show off your fancy new heat resistant digs!

Feel free to keep everyone updated on your sewing status on our specially designated forum found here.

To enter all you have to do is send me, SD Jessica, a Sewing District message providing the necessary information. I will pair you up with another swapper and send your answers on to them. {Sewing District Messages are sent using the messages tab on the blue bar at the top of your screen.}

Please provide the following information in your Sewing District message.

1) Your email address

2) The palette you prefer

3) Your home address

Here are our palettes:

Wintertime - blues, greys, and white.

Autumnal - browns, golds, greens and deep reds.

Holly - bright reds, greens, and white.

Here are a few potholder patterns and tutorials to get you thinking. You don't have to use either of these patterns, but they are here to inspire.

The Beat the Heat Potholder (with directions here).

The Protect & Serve Oven Mitts (pattern here and directions here) and the Hot Seat Trivet (pattern here and directions here).

Basic Requests: Please only sign up if you have time to sew a potholder and send it out into the world by Nov. 23. Should anything happen that keeps you from sending out a potholder, let your partner (and me) know immediately. Sew something you would be excited to receive. Please join Sewing District to keep up to date on the swap and see any in progress photos. Directions for the Protect & Serve Oven Mitts and the Hot Seat Trivet.