Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

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

I'm having a great time knitting my mystery stole in Knitpicks laceweight Alpaca. My yarn does not need to be top shelf. And I do definitely like a top shelf yarn now and again. I like scarves to be two skeins long. One skein turns into a hat. I knit a lot of socks and I demand that my sock yarn be able to go in a machine. I'm even beginning to get along with cotton.

I have said in the past that I don't like acrylic. And that's true to a point, but I'm talking about that old standard Red Heart and anything that feels like it. Yet...that's the perfect yarn for indestructible winter slippers. And then there's baby acrylic - it's fine with me, since I only use it for charity baby knitting.

I did find myself physically unable to knit with chenille. And I got my hands on something else that I couldn't deal with. It was a thick and thin multi-stranded Noro thing that had at least one strand of something with the consistency of very thick, splitty, non-waxed dental floss and another strand of something that just kept sort of pulling and splitting and was white and somewhat cloud-like. I simply couldn't manage it. I know it was from Noro, but I can't tell which it was from the photos I can find of Noro yarns at the moment.

So, in the end, send me anything but chenille. If it's for socks, make it machine-washable. And stay away from anything that has completely different personalities of yarn wound together.

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

I just broke down and bought myself a folding circular-needle holder and I love it. I've been keeping the rest of my needles either in a drawer or in one of those desktop pen-holders. Now I'm thinking that I really might like one of those fabric rolls for the rest of my needles. I resisted this idea for so long that I'm not really coming to terms with the idea.

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

My skill level is probably more fearless than beginner, intermediate or advanced. Too dumb to realize I can't do something - I'll get it if I just work at it, right? I learned (continental) from my grandmother when I was a kid, but I only started making stuff I could wear (mostly socks) in the past year.

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

Yeah. I don't know that I'd send you there. It's more a place I store stuff people have recommended to me, or stuff I want to think about wanting. Maybe I'll make a version for this and link to it. If I get to it...

5. What's your favorite scent?

A single favorite scent? Hah! Lavender. Rosemary. Rose. Coffee. Honey. Chocolate. Citrus - especially lime and grapefruit.

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

Dark Chocolate and SweeTarts. I absolutely can not say no to Dark Chocolate.

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

One of these days I will learn to spin. Not just yet. I have started doing a little tiny bit of beading recently. Not much. I like to garden and I'm not good at it.

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

Yes, I can play MP3s, but I'm really against breaking copyright laws. I am an Arrogant Worms fan - I have two of their CDs - Dirt and Semi-Conducted. I'll get another one when they come through next year. There really isn't much of anything else that I like that I'm looking for at the moment.

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

I tend to prefer violet/green/blue/black. And feel free to surprise me. If you've ever heard of that summer/winter/spring/fall color thing, I'm a winter. I really don't like orange and don't much like the classic fall color scheme - rust, tan, brown. And yet, I'm much more likely to try knitting something completely off-the-wall if I've got a color scheme that I don't like. It's almost as though I figure I can't make it any worse!

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

I am staff to one slightly ill white kitty cat (she's only got one working kidney). My sweetheart and I have been together for over 10 years.

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

Yes to hats, scarves and mittens. No to ponchos. >shudder< Too 60's for me, sorry.

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

I am a sockaholic. I just cast on for another pair. I'm feeling much better now.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I've got the Mystery Stole 3 and a short-sleeved cotton sweater/jacket on the needles at the moment. Plus a pair of socks.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Oh, yes.

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

I mostly stick with my Addi Turbo circulars. But I got the KnitPicks circulars in 1,2 and 3. I really like them a lot.

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

Yes, I'm very fortunate!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About a year old. It's a sweater. I blocked half the pieces, put them somewhere (I'm not sure where), and blocked the rest of the pieces. Now I have to find the first half, sew them together, and do the button band and neck. Ok, I have to put my knitting needles down long enough to go looking for the first half of the sweater. Never fear, I will go hunting as soon as I start to get chilly.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Whatever is coming up next. Could we make one up? International Knitting Day? Sorry, I'm a little burned out at the moment...

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I am rather fond of giraffes.

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 could use a renewal for my Interweave Knits. Especially now that Eunny is editor.
I find it very strange, but I just discovered that I do not own dpns in size 1.
And I've got a really strong hankering for the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Does it come in adult sizes, too?

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

Well, yeah. I've signed up for the Mittens of Rovaniemi class at Webs in September. I'd like to learn to spin, but I'm not on fire yet. I haven't gotten the nerve up yet to either learn to make soap or to dye any yarn.

And I dream of raising chickens and/or rabbits. Some things should stay in fantasy-land, you know?

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

My feet are 9 inches in circumference by 9 inches long. Just call me square. I'm actually about to start knitting socks for my sweetheart, since I've got plenty at the moment and he's only got 3 pair from me. That means I'm in need of black, navy blue, dark gray and maybe dark brown sock yarn.

23. When is your birthday?

February 17.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

I'm on the wait list. There are over 8,000 people ahead of me. And now I hear that it's an incredible way to spend time. I'm wondering if that's going to turn out to be like LibraryThing for me - sign up, get overwhelmed by the amount of work and just never go back...

Please note: If you sent me nothing but yarn, I would be completely happy.