Secret Pal 10 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Currently, I am *in love* with sock yarn, it is so much fun to knit a small sock or glove and have it just pattern itself. My blind DH likes it too, no annoying stranding in the back. I am not fond of rayon, slippery devil yarn at the moment. I hate repairing the stuff.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I use cosmetic bags with little zip pouches, and I am currently knitting a berroco pattern to felt a needle case, my first felt project.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am a intermediate knitter, I can do everything but lace, reading charts makes me woozy. My grandma taught be the basic skills and my mom brushed them up.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I am making a froogle list for my husband I will list it in my profile when it is done.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Freshly made yeast bread, lemon trees in bloom, Pleasures by estee lauder, my husband freshly shaved, clean linens off the clothesline, and vanilla.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Dark chocolate, I am a Trader Joes addict, I go there for a coffee taster, food sample and dark chocolate whenever I need a break. I loved Chantico when starbucks had it, I was addicted, miss that very much. It was chocolate ectasy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Ok laugh, I still like coloring books and colored pencils. I love logic puzzles. Solitaire Card Games. Cooking & Gardening we are planning a large garden this spring. Embroidery - Love it. I am currently tailoring and embellishing J's stage clothes so that when he returns to gigging he will have a "look". I am easily amused. I haven't attempted spinning, yet. I am a little stymied by crochet, but I haven't really applied myself to it yet either.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love bluegrass, 80s, Cat Stevens, Opera, Musicals, Jazz, Classical, I like it all, if there is anything I don't like...it's when music becomes noise or painful.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Favorite color on it's own Green. Favorite colors together, purple, blue. brown, a nice camo combination and neutrals. Things I can't stand? Lots of orange can bug me; but I am game to try anything.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married, my DH is disabled, we have the cutest service dog in the world. My family lives nearby and we have the most awesome nurse who gives a hand. We are praying that as J recovers from his surgeries we will qualify to be foster parents and have little ones in our lives.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Being beach girl, hats yes, scarves-if they are lightweight more decorative then warm, mittens, not often. I would love a poncho.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am totally into socks and fingerless gloves made with sock yarn right now. It totally rocks.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A case to eventually felt and then hold my needles, a right hand glove to match the left one I finished this weekend, a red sweater for redsweaters.org, a dog sweater for Miss Penny, A lap blanket for my husband and pair of socks on circulars. I try to keep 4-5 things going all the time, so there is something always in the "easy" stage and something that requires concentration.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, they are the best, they inspire me!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
My current favorite is knit lites, I just love that LED on the end. I like Bamboo DPNS although the way my ribbing turned out on the glove I am thinking about getting Addi DPNs I always try to move things to circulars to take out weight. I just got a pair of flexible straights, I think they may be my favorite.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
He's called my husband, he is quite reliable and works for cheez-its.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
18 months, I am considering ripping it down and making something that I want to finish.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
April Fools - it our service dogs birthday!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Musical instruments are strewn throughout the house, the cheap tourist attraction stuff you find in foreign countries. We have asked everyone we know who goes on a trip to buy us some musical trinket and then put it on display in our house. This year I am asking travelers to pick on 1-4 skeins of yarn while on vacation and send it to me to build a more varied stash. My husband and I are waiting with baited breath for the last Harry Potter book!!!! July is so far away.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
No knitting magazines, I love interweave and knit.1 I am dying to look over books about using just a skein, ethnic socks, and the one about fixing your mistakes would be a huge help.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Entrelac and illusion knitting are high on my list.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, love it!!! I wear a size 8 so nice and medium, I like a turned loose cuff.

23. When is your birthday?
Sigh.... Ground hog day.