Secret Pal 15 sign ups end January 18. I'm a bit concerned, since there are only seventeen members and it's January 10. I don't know how many people they need to run it. There are 111 people in the
Ravelry group, though. I hope more of them sign up before the deadline.
So in hopes that it runs, here's my questionnaire:
What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?
Favorite: Wool. Soft, squooshy yarns that feel like butter in your hands and are really elastic when you do a knit two purl two ribbing.
Secret Desire: Something Interesting. An interesting blend or an interesting texture.
Can't Handle and Why:
Ladder yarn - seems to be too slippery. I have quite a bit of it, and in different brands, but I can't seem to actually knit with it.
Chenille - increases my blood pressure for no good reason. I tried. It was a very rewarding learning experience and I intend to never repeat it.
Red Heart Acrylic - if only it didn't feel so indestructible. There are a lot of acrylic yarns out there that are soft and washable. If I ever lose all feeling in my fingers, I bet I'll still be able to feel this stuff enough to knit with it. I'm not there yet, and I'm not stashing the stuff, either!
What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I sprang for a circular needle case a few years ago - that was totally worth it. I could definitely use some kind of case for my straight needles, but I get by with keeping them in drawers and in a pen-holder from Staples. My Knitpicks Harmony interchangeables came in a case that I haven't destroyed yet so I'm perfectly happy with that!
How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'm intermediate to advanced in socks and stitches, but beginner to intermediate in color work and sweaters.
Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yeahbut. I don't tend to take stuff off the list when I get it. (Truthfully, I have to be careful not to get something twice, because I'll shop for something for six months and then forget I got it.) Tell you what, I'll do a blog post wish list and link to it - usually when I have an item on my wish list I have a particular reason for my desire, so you can come up with something similar but not exactly it and still make me really excited!
What’s your favorite scent?
I like lavender, citrus, rose, mint, rosemary.
Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate is my favorite. I like nuts in my chocolate, but I don't like anything that sticks to my teeth or any fut in my chocolate. I am also a fan of SweeTarts!
What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
When I'm not too lazy, I'll do something fun. Today I covered a plastic container with photos cut out of magazines so I'd have a pretty container on my desk to throw my used tissues into. So instead of having an empty Maidenform container on my desk, I have a National Geograhpic Cruises container on my desk!
Under duress, I do plumbing. I've also been known to help build a computer from parts. I once designed and built my own bookcase. I've also built self-watering planters. I'm just as happy to hire a plumber, buy a fully-assembled computer, knock together a bookcase from
Ikea and hook up a
Vertigro or
Aerogarden. Just because I can doesn't mean I can always be bothered.
I crochet, I tat (a little - maybe I'll actually make a bookmark one of these days), I've learned to spin. I have grand plans to haul out my sewing machine and turn some sweaters into market bags. I cook and I garden and I generally make a mess.
What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
What I'd
really like would be links to places like last.fm to check out an artist.
What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
This is such a hard question to answer. Probably because I'm a little nuts. If I am by myself in a yarn store, I will avoid reds, browns and oranges. I will also avoid anything even remotely neon. I shudder when I see photos of the 70s because I really detest those color combinations. I've bought stuff for other people and thought, "Gee, if I liked orange, I'd love this yarn." I've also knit with colors I hated that were a part of a blend and wouldn't want the finished product without that splash of color I usually avoid.
Also, if I get a gift of yarn that I don't really like very much, I'm more likely to try to come up with something creative ASAP. If I really like it, I often hoard it. So I have several pairs of socks made from gifted yarn that I don't really like all that much, but boy do I get compliments on them. I've also got some beautiful yarn that I take out and look at before putting safely away.
Told you I'm a little nuts.
What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my sweetheart. He only has one flaw - he doesn't knit. It's not much of a flaw, since it means I get ALL the yarn for myself!
Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear hats and gloves. I considered wearing mittens this year because it has been so cold, but I vaguely recall getting fed up with them and switching to gloves, so I couldn't find any in the house. I wear indoor scarves more often than outdoor scarves. And I can't imagine wearing a poncho - but I'm sure that's because all the ponchos I've ever seen were 70s colors or granny-square based.
What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I rather compulsively knit socks.
What are you knitting right now?
Socks. I'm about to re-start a sweater for the third time. I'm failing to figure out the instructions for the Elizabeth Zimmerman baby surprise jacket. Hey, look, there's
help on YouTube! Oh, look at that, I need to rip back to row 2. Hmmm.
Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, thank you.
Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I think every kind of needle has its uses. I have a lot of aluminum and two sets of circulars. I think I only have one pair of shorter straights. I sometimes find myself looking at the shorter Harmony straights thinking they'd make nice scarf needles.
Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes. Thank you. They're wonderful!
How old is your oldest UFO?
I have a couple of projects I've finished knitting but never put together. One is a sweater circa 2007 or 2008. The other is a small purse circa 2005.
What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I'm not really all that into holidays. I have very little family left and I was never into all that cooking. My birthday shows up 3 days after Valentine's day, so I really enjoy getting discounted Valentine-themed chocolate (really, I prefer he get the bargain)! I also get all excited when I can get the egg dyes on sale after Easter. (I've really got to do some dyeing this year.)
Is there anything that you collect?
Well, I seem to like small containers. If you spent a couple of months eating Altoids and sending me the empty tins, I'd be quite thrilled. I also seem to have a thing for giraffes. I don't have any kind of extensive collection, though. Just a few items.
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 Knitcircus, Vogue knitting and Interweave Knits. Last year a friend gave me her unusable Knitter's, which I really enjoyed but that's over now. Stashbusting ideas are really what I need. I have quite a bit of Farmhouse Yarn in one-off colorways that I would like to use up. I need to make room for more yarn!
Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
I've recently learned to spin with a drop spindle. I can already see why they bothered to invent the spinning wheel!
Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a compulsive sock knitter.
foot length - 9.5"
ball circumference - 9.5"
When is your birthday?
February 17.
Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID? Yeah, I'm Procrastinatus.
Labels: Secret Pal 15
