Secret Pal 10 - Info Post

this just looked like such a good idea . . . I'm going to be a secret pal! I'm so excited!
For those of you who are my friends, and read this to see what I've been up to lately, feel free to skip this - it's for the benefit of my secret pal.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Soft is always good, but I'm not really that picky. Probably because I'm not that experienced. The only thing I don't like is acrylic - I'm a natural fiber girl.


2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Mostly their original packaging. I've been slowly aquiring Knitpicks needles and I keep them in their sleeves in a pocket of my knitting bag. I have a varied collection of straights that I inherited from my grandmothers, they live in a tall can like case.


3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

My grandmother taught me when I was younger, maybe 12, but I've only begun to knit again in the last 8 months. I would say my skills are intermediate; I'm finishing a seamless sweater, socks come fairly easily, I've worked on some simpler lace projects, I'm good with any cable pattern, My fair isle is still a bit too tight. I learn skills as I need them for projects, so I'm slowly working my way through.


4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Yes, and if you really want to see it, e-mail me for a link. I just don't want to post it up here.


5. What's your favorite scent?

Lavender, hands down.


6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Absolutely, and I love chocolate.


7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I like to draw, paint/refinish furniture, sew, hand dye yarn, and cook/bake. I don't spin, yet, but I want to learn. Someday we hope to raise alpaca and sheep for fiber, so I've been reading up on fiber processing.


8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I've got fairly eclectic tastes in music, but my favorites are either folky, celtic, or celtic rock. My computer plays MP3's just fine. And for the record, I love listening to any music that is new to me, especially lesser known bands/artists.


9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Almost any shade of blue will make me smile, but pink makes me ill.


10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

It's just me and the boy right now (married last summer), no pets yet.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves, hats, mittens yes. Ponchos and I never really got along.


12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love socks, but since I have largish feet (I'm a US 10-11) I have to bend the rules a bit. I've been knitting up basic patterns using worsted weight wool very successfully. I love quick/short projects, since I'm still a bit slow, but any pattern that changes periodically will keep me interested.


13. What are you knitting right now?

Finishing a top-down-seamless-hooded-baby-sweater, a clapotis scarf, a reversible cabled shawl for my mom, and I'm trying Eunny Jang's bayerische socks, but thus far they've been more trial and error and starting over (because of my big feet).


14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Absolutely - they're so special!


15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I have mostly aluminum needles, and I working my way up to a largish set of Knitpicks options circs, and their dpn's. I haven't tried bamboo or any other wooden needle yet. I don't know that I have a preference between straits or circulars, I'm a bit more utilitarian - I use what I have that is the right size.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

The boy is working on making me a swift, and I was born with a ball winder (my left thumb) which works quite well for me, though I may carve a wooden one someday.


17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Um, maybe 5 months. I started trying to make-it-up-as-I-go knit a pumpkin with some scrap yarn. I'm somewhere in the middle.


18. What is your favorite holiday?

Probably Christmas, though Thanksgiving ranks a close second.


19. Is there anything that you collect?

Aside from yarn? hee hee. Not really. I have a few shot glasses from a couple places. I bought a bunch in Bermuda when my little sister encouraged me to get those as mementos because they packed well. Now I have one from Nashville too.


20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I subscribe to Interweave Knits, but that's all right now. As for the rest, I'm not really dying for anything in particular.


21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'm dying to learn to knit continental, and how to knit cables horizontally. I want to learn more about the basics of sweater design. I really want to learn to spin. I also want to learn to crochet.


22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. My feet are 10 in. around and 9.5 in. long. My ankles are a bit thicker than normal, so extra increasing/stretchy cast ons, are often a must.


23. When is your birthday?

Dec 1, 1981