Secret Pal Question and Answer


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

I love to knit with cotton (I'm such an MDKer), I like acryllic ok (not my fave), and it's too damned hot most times to play with wool. Actually, I've never knit wool up yet, so I'll keep my opinion out on that one. Anything rocks for me. I am hating Lionbrand Homespun at the current moment. I'm tired of it. I've been knitting a blanket for like 6 mts with it. Hate. It.

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

Righ now, a three drawer plastic shelfy thing. I just chunk them into the top drawer.

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

I'm an enthusiastic novice. I will try anything and s-b my way through it until I get tired, break something, or figure it out. I've just started my 1st sock, I ripped out. Now I've cast on for another, but it might have to come back out too. I’ve been knitting about 10 months and crocheting since I was a little girl. My grandma taught me, but I’m a terrible study. I can do most of the stitches, but can’t keep them straight long enough to do a pattern. I can sort of read knitting patterns, altough charts elude me.


4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No and yes. I tried to set one up but always screw up how to get to it and so it's just easier to ask me what books I'd like. *grumps*

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

Please NO vanilla. It makes my head split open and my brain wiggle out to hide. I like light scents and gardenias are the most magnificent smelling flowers know to man in my humble opine. I’m a little weird, so I must tell you that the majority of bath stuff wouldn’t be used much if you send them. I’m sorry to take out this huge area of gifting, but I’d hate for your gift to go to waste. I like antibacterial soap, so body wash isn’t my thing. I also have a tub the size of a small thimble, so bubbles would be of little use. I LOVE lotions and body spray though. Bath and Body Works is the bestest store in our mall. :D


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

Chocolate is never turned away from this door. I am not big on dark but do like a little white (in moderation…my mom found the white choc. Reeses and almost ruined me on them forever. I got them for every holiday for a year). I like the 100 cal. Packs of oreos, almost better than the real ones. I’m student teaching currently, so snacks and yummy crackers would do well for planning snacks. Cadbury choc. bars...mmm...and their caramel truffels or whatever..heaven. :D

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

I craft all sorts of things. I sew and love collecting remnant fabrics. I am in love with learning to quilt, I would love to get a lesson in that. A crazy quilt sounds like the perfect project for me. I like to cook too. Any kind of kit in a box or something like that would go over well too because I’ve tried all sorts of crafts in the past. I’ve done counted cross stitch. I’ve done latch hook, although not my fave. I’ve done some stained glass, wood projects (bird house in a box), and scrap book in my “spare life.” I'd love to learn how to spin, but I'm thinking that I should save that until I can see someone do it, I'll leave knitting to my one book learned craft.


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

I listen to all sorts of music. I like John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Pachabelle (spelling ?), The Doors, Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, The Fray (new addiction), Franz Ferdinand, Jason Marz, Guster, and tons of other stuff. If you want specifics, just ask. My comp does MP3, but I think it has to be wav files for my radios to play.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I love purple. Blues and greens are great too. I’m more of a BRIGHT color person. Always have to stand out. I also love the fall color palette, the reds and oranges are nice.

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

I live with my boyfriend in my very own apt. I have no pets, not even a fish. Although, we do have a plant lizard outside who REALLY likes our geraniums. My BF is allergic to most inside furry animals, so we’ll never have one.


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

I wear scarves in the depths of winter, but in GA these are rare. I love to have them and have made bunches of them, but gloves are good too. Hats, not so much. I'm very rotund kinda lady, so ponchos tend to make me look well...fat-er. So no on the ponchos.

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

I think the ballband dishrag is my fave right now. I'm a newbie knitter and these things just kinda knit themselves. I love the cheap feeling of accomplishment I get when I finish one and weave the four ends in. But, I'm a habitual blanket/throw and scarf knitter. I think that scarves are the way to go as a knitting gifter. I have two balls of yarn that I bought for a buck each, a $2 christmas gift for my boss. :D

13. What are you knitting right now?

a) stripe/ long rectangle pieced homespun blanket
b) a log cabin blankie
c) a sock
d) about 5 scarves at various stages and patterns

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

YES! Those are the best. It’s the thought that makes it wonderful.

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

My fave pair of needles right now are straight plastics in a size 10 or something huge. They are short so I don't have 6 miles poking around while I work. I like circs pretty well too. They make the log cabin work. I'm not particular. I only have one set of DPNs although I don't have them with me to be sure of the size (3.75 mil I think).

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

Nope and nope.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

I decline to provide this infomation. (like 6 mts, really)

18. What is your favorite holiday?

It’s a tie between Christmas and my birthday. My mama has always made those holidays rock in our family. But since my birthday is a ways off, hands down Christmas! :D


19. Is there anything that you collect?

Flamingos. I have a tattoo of one on my left shoulder. :D

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 to have the stuff to knit Mrs Beetons by Brenda Dayne. I'm broke so I don't even have stash cash or anything. Shoot...I'd take stash leftovers or cast offs from someone else and knit with it for those. I think I just bought the two knitting books I wanted. I would LOVE a stitch dictionary or encyclopedia or whatever those things are called. I have Stitch and Bitch, one issue of Interweave Knits (not my fave), Knitting Rules and At Knits End by the Harlot. I think that is all I have as far as knitting lit I have. I would love to try koigu (spelling) because it seems so cool with the colors. I would LOVE anything handpainted by my pal or by others. I'm waaay into handpainted right now.

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

Lace and doilies look so neat, but I’m afraid I’m not patient enough to do such small work and tedious counting. I think that after I finish some more objects, lace might be my next stop on the list. I want to get sock knitting down first, and then I will move on. I am still trying to get the whole sock knitting think tacked down before I move on though.

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

A flegeling. Um, I'll have to get back to you on the foot measurements as I have NO idea where to measure. I wear a size 9 and have a flat, wide foot.

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

April 9