Fair partnering??

[Annchen]

Hmm... Interesting. I try to ask myself "Will X enjoy crafting for Y?" Skill level plays a part in this, sure. But it's not always mad skills + mad skills or newb + newb that makes sense. My thinking can go "Ok, B is a newbie that can do these crafts, I must pair her with someone that wants what she's good at making and/or that is an awesome person that seems to love anything." In fact I avoid pairing newbies together unless they seem like an awesome match personality wise.

I also try to ask what kind of crafts people can do so I know for pairing. It makes everything sooo much easier to know.

[tiffi_333]

Im considering that as well, i mentioned that i consider skill level after the allergies, and the crafts they can do and the ones they want. if someone specifically says they want a crocheted doll and someone says they can make one of course i would pair them together...but after all that there isnt much else to use to pair them up. The swap im organizing now, alot of people dont have anything specific they want, a few do, but most dont, saying theyd like anything well thought out, and im sure all of them will be crafting well thought out items. Ive looked at the items theyve commented on in some cases to see what they like because they literally have nothing else for me to see so ive been recommending to some people to set up a wist to help.

[A2JC4life]

I also have noticed that it's helpful for me to know seemingly-irrelevant things.  Whether someone is a 20-something who lives along with her dog, a mid-thirties SAHM, or a grandmother in her sixties (or whatever else), for instance, helps gives me a sense of the person I'm crafting for and/or pairing up.

[amigurl55]

I partner my swappers 1) based on allergies/allergens, 2) based on whether or not they want to send out of country, and fianlly 3) similar interests.  Sometimes it turns out that no one wants to send out of country and you have someone in, say, Australia.  Therefore, being the organizer, you have to partner with the person from Australia because no one else will send out of country.  Stuff like that happens often.

I do understand your frustration, though.  Maybe next time you can ask to be partnered with said craftster.