Secret Pal 8

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

I seem to have a penchant for alpaca and wool in all their incarnations. I am learning to embrace cotton, but it's not that difficult, because I frankly haven't met a yarn I don't like. I'm more about the color than the fiber, I suppose.

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

A pasta sauce jar. (I took the pasta sauce out first.)

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

I have been knitting for about five years, but only seriously since last October or thereabouts. I consider myself intermediate because I can fix cables and improvise without too much whining.

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

No.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

No scent is my favorite scent. I am allergic to perfumes, etc. I do like milk soap, however, and a nice, hard castille.

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

Not a strong sweet tooth. I like dark chocolate, but whenever I've had it in quantity my boyfriend/ partner/whatnot ends up eating 90% of it. (He has a sweet tooth.) I like almonds, dislike gummy bears, candy corn, Peeps, Sweet Tarts, Nerds.... Yeah, I think chocolate is a safe bet.

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

I needlepoint, but only when desperate. Same goes for quilting. I pretty much just knit and crochet lately.

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

What's an MP3? I have a CD/tape cassette player.

I am very square. I like '80's New Wave and Punk. I have been known to rock out to Stevie Nicks and the Goo Goo Dolls. (Not simultaneously, tho'.) I used to be heavy into Radiohead and Pink Floyd and such. Now I am heavily into knitting and writing, so I listen to whatever is on the radio because I don't want to stop knitting in order to get up and change the station.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I am not overly fond of pink, purple, or blue. I use a lot of black, gray and green lately, but not together. I am not keen on Transit Worker Orange or Chinese or Kelly Green.

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

I have a cat and a boyfriend/ partner/ whatnot living with me in about 250 sq. ft.

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

I haven't worn a poncho since I was seven. I don't plan to do it again any time soon.

I almost invariably wear a scarf or hat every day. I am Californian and easily chilled. Mittens get in my way, I find. I wear fingerless gloves and wristwarmers.

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

This is a tough one. I am really just getting started. I mostly knit hats, socks and sweaters. I enjoy them equally. Scarves are kind of boring.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Um...Actively or inactively? Well, you asked for it.

I am knitting:

• a 1963 raglan cardigan pattern using recycled variegated brown wool
• a pair of Socketta socks of my own design in some light greenish color
• a pair of red/orange/cream/green socks out of KnitPicks Sock Garden yarn
• a brown Wool of the Andes Aran cardigan
• a robin's egg blue Katia Fanny (viscose/silk) cardigan for summer
• a black merino wool scarf backing
• a garter stitch shawl/scarf out of laceweight cream alpaca
• a Homespun leftovers afghan
• Embossed Leaves socks in oatmeal colored Jawoll sock yarn
• and I'm crocheting an afghan out of pink/brown/cream colored Cascade 220 Super Wash

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Depends on the quality of the making.

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

I don't use circulars, it's against my religion.

Ok, well,actually I just find them awkward. I avidly avoid them. I use mostly straights and dpns. I don't like plastic: the yarn sticks to it.

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

I wish!

17. How did you learn to knit?

Books, books, and more books.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?

My Gentleman's Shooting Socks have been hanging around since last October, I think.

19. What is your favorite holiday?

I generally disdain holidays. Arbor Day isn't so offensive.

20. Is there anything that you collect?

Yarn. Books. Beer bottles. (Inadvertently.)

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

Hmmm... I have a lot of books/magazines. I do want Adrienne Vittadini's Spring Collection 2006. Otherwise I would say I'm good to go, pattern-wise.

I think it's safe to say that if I have a burning passion for a particular yarn, I'll go get it. But go ahead and give me yarn anyway, I don't mind.

I could use more sock needles. I only have two sets of each size. I am particularly desperate for more US #2's.

I would love, love, love a knitting belt. Did I mention a knitting belt? I am poking holes in my stomach.

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

Hmm. I wouldn't say I pursue new techniques for their own sake. Any new technique I learn is usually a direct result of trying to work a pattern that struck my fancy.

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

Yes, I knit socks. My foot is 7 1/2 " in circumference and 8" (21.5 cm) from heel to toe.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

05/14