SP9 Questionnaire

Secret Pal 9 begins on October 15th. I'm very excited. And, this time I am early in posting my questionnaire. So, here goes:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love luxurious fibers—cashmere, silk, alpaca, merino wool, or blends of these…especially hand-dyed yarn. I love specialty yarns, like those from small farms or cooperatives, or small hand-spinners or hand-dyers. Also, I get very excited over yarns that I can't normally find at shops around here, yarns like Handmaiden/Fleece Artist or Blue Moon Fiber Arts, to name two.

I definitely am a yarn snob, which I say with no guilt…I openly admit it. I do not like acrylic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Currently, my circulars are in The Circular Solution hanger thingy, hanging on my wall. My straights are in a beautiful glass vase that was a wedding gift, just 3 years ago. I don’t have dpn’s since I do all small circular work using the Magic Loop method (1 long circular).

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit about 17 years ago; but, put it aside until about 5 years ago. Now, I’ll never stop again…I love it!

I learned to knit when I took a class at Elizabeth’s Knit Shop, in Chicago, back about 1989, I think. It was a 6 week course and the project we learned to knit was a sweater, which I still have. That's right, the first thing I ever knit was a sweater.

I would consider myself to be an intermediate knitter…don’t really understand fair isle or intarsia too well—all that color changing.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but I’ll look into it.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Let’s start with what I don’t like—coconut. I tend to like spicey, woodsy scents, an example being Sage n’Citrus, which is a Yankee Candle scent. I also like some fruit scents like apple, melon, etc. I love most Origins scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Uh, yeah! Chocolate!!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I recently learned to crochet…took a class about 7 months ago. I do not spin, yet. I bought a Drop Spindle (and some roving); but, have yet to use it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like current music, current hits mostly. Some favorite artists are Ben Harper, BlackEyed Peas, David Gilmour, Coldplay, Dave Mathews, Melissa Etheridge, Jack Johnson and The Fray. Yes, my computer plays MP3’s and I also have an iPod (which I love dearly...how else would I be able to listen to all the knitting podcasts!).

9. What's your favorite color(s? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like a lot of colors…jewel tones, soft muted tones. I like black, purple, red, pink, turquoise…depends on my mood. I pretty much stay away from yellow-based colors…tend to prefer cool tones more.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married (3 years this October). I have no children; but, my husband has two, both are in college. We have 4 dogs (2 Greyhounds, a long-haired Dachshund, and a Puggle) and 3 cats. Three of the dogs and 2 of the cats were adoption/rescues.

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

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Mostly accessories, like hats, shawls and fingerless mitts. And, as of the last couple months, socks. The sock bug has finally bitten me. I like the immediate gratification of a small project. Also, I find they keep my interest as there is a lot less repetition in something small.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Currently, I am working on 2 different pairs of socks, the Streakers! Shrug from Interweave knits, a pair of Tilli Tomas fingerless mitts, and the Big Bang Wrap from Sally Melville…to name a few.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Circular—My favorite circulars are Knit Picks! My 2nd favorite are Addi Turbo's. For straight needles, my favorite needles are Lantern Moon, 10". I also like other hand-crafted straight needles, preferably no longer than 10-11 inches max.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes, to both. I even own a yarn meter...I love gadgets!!!!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
To be honest, my very oldest UFO is about 16 years old and is an ankle-length Kaffe Fasset coat; but, I don’t know if I will really ever finish it since I have never gotten past the ribbing. Besides that, I also have a beaded scarf project which is about 4 years old…when I first took up knitting again.

I’m a great starter of projects. My greatest knitting joy is starting something new. However, recently, after counting up how many projects I actually have currently on needles, I have been in a finishing mode. I have finished 7 projects in the last month.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
My birthday! Then, my Anniversary. Besides those, Thanksgiving.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I guess you could say yarn, or UFO’s, or dogs...The real answer is “no.”

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 usually do buy books that I want; I have a pretty good collection. I subscribe to Interweave Knits, Knitters and , as a member of TKGA, I receive a subscription for Cast-On (they have good articles).

I would like to try the Socks That Rock yarn, in the thicker gauge. Also, Fleece Artist sock yarn and Schaeffer Ann sock yarn. Also, would love to try a skein of Sea Silk yarn from Handmaiden...actually anything from Handmaiden would be scrumptious. There are also a few fibers that are interesting to me, like Buffalo and Camel yarns.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I would like to try color work like fair isle or intarsia. Would like to try a pair of Toe-Up Socks.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I have become an avid sock knitter in the last couple of months. My shoe size is 9 (big foot), which measures 10 inches long. My foot measures 9 inches around the ball of the foot.

24. When is your birthday?
02/28


The countdown continues...29 Days Until Stitches