Secret Pal XI Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love natural fibers, except for anything that feels scratchy. Though scratchy wool is good for felting, hmmm…. Merino, alpaca, cotton, and silk would be my favorites against my skin. I prefer lighter weight yarns like lace, fingering, sport, or DK weight instead of worsted/bulky. Please no “accent” or “fun” yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have 2 Abra cases for my straights and circular needles, the gorgeous DPN case that Barbara made for me, a Levenger formal pen case to hold my crochet hooks, and a Pottery Barn tall crystal vase that Paul and William gave me/us for one Christmas

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I began knitting on the first weekend of January 2005 by myself. I had been sitting in a knitting group every Thursday crocheting with my friend Cathy since the September before. I consider myself an intermediate knitter, but can be sometimes lazy and lacking in time to knit as much as I would like.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes…Just HERE ;)

5. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I love vanilla, especially Victoria’s Secret’s “Vanilla Lace” lotion. Gardenias and honeysuckles are a close second. Thanks to my sister, I discovered VS’ discontinued “Secret Crush” collection, and I think it is YUMMY.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark and white chocolate and anything with them! I do adore Lindt’s truffles, like Toblerone bars, and LUVLUVLUV English toffee.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Does gardening count? I crochet, and am hoping to find the time to card my 3 bags of fleece for my drop spindle.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
No pop or Top 40 please (Brittany, Kelly Clarkson, etc)… love Fiddler on the Roof (saw that years ago when I was just out of college) and Phantom of the Opera (already have soundtracks to both theatrical productions!); Chopin and Mozart; Tom Petty and Clint Black; The Clash and the Psychedelic Furs; and one of my all time faves, The Eagles. …Oh, and MP3s are my friend!

9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I dislike anything neon bright or glowing. My favorite color palettes: neutrals (blacks, browns, greys, creams), and jeweltones (deep red, green, violet).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a husband (anniversary is on May 8th) and 4 house rabbits (future baby hopefully in a couple of years).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I actually prefer shawls (my Clapotis gets a TON of use!) over scarves (I crocheted one in Denmark when I forgot the black cashmere scarf Rich gave me for a Valentine’s Day gift). I love mittens and hats too. No ponchos for me please.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Lace shawls, any kind of hand-warmers, and socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks, a log cabin blanket, a red scarf for OFA, a soft brown lace scarf, a jade lace shawl, 2 grey sweaters, and some others I cannot think of at the moment.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I love getting stitch-markers and handspun/local yarn. A great example is the gift of hanks I received from my Danish co-worker and his wife. They gave me yarn that was spun from their goats’ mohair.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the project and where I may be knitting it. I LOVE my Plymouth bamboo circular needle set, SRK bamboo straights, Inox aluminum circulars, and Addi Turbos the most. However, I keep breaking and chipping Brittany needles. :(

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I received as a thank you from Regina the most gorgeous swift in natural cherry wood. A large ball winder is still on my wish list.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Umm, in knitting? Well, there is the kid-sized navy chenille sweater I need to sew up, Gabby’s practically frogged purple BFF socks, Heidi’s shawl, and Paul’s sweater. There may be more in my Lantern Moon rice basket.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
It is a toss up between Easter (spring and baseball are here!) and Thanksgiving (American football season and that holiday is around my birthday).

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides fine yarn??? I have a model train collection, and Wedgwood sage green jasper — but please, I really want to get rid of the Jasperware to make room for more yarn… ;) almost anything related to my 1970 Ford Mustang fastback, and copper bunny garden items. Also, I LUVLUVLUV watching baseball, American football, NASCAR, and rugby.

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 would love any of Fiddlesticks’ shawls, Sharon Miller’s Heirloom Knitting, or Miriam Felton’s shawl patterns. I have subscriptions for Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits (love the intricate patterns and inspirational ideas). I just stopped my subscription to Creative Knitting (not too crazy over because the designs are a bit dull for my taste).

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
I would like to learn steeking, but am not sure if I have the patience or the time to finish a full project. Currently I am so wrapped up in lace, that everything else is being set aside.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I still considering myself a novice sock knitter, having made Knitty’s Fuzzyfeet and lots of baby socks, am in the middle of Cookie’s Pomatomus and BFF Socks. Foot size would be US-7, EUR-38, at 8-3/4 inches long and wide.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
11/25th — I am an American Turkey baby.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?
Yes, I am “somebunnyslove”