Faves

Secret Pal 8 starts in a week or two, and I know that my secret pal is on the edge of her seat waiting (don't fall off!) to hear alllll about me. So here's the dirt, in the form of the Secret Pal supersecret questionnaire...

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Hate. Scratchy. Yarn. And glitter. Other than that, I am open to the excellent karma of all of the vast opportunities of the yarn universe. That wasn't that helpful, was it? Ok, I love Koigu (could ya guess?), and I think that Rowan yarns rock. Also, I don't generally use bulky yarn- usually I am a dk weight or less kind of a girl.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a lantern moon and a home made needle case.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
Jeez- it seems like an eternity, but really I have been knitting for a measly 4 years. I am the most advanced knitter ever in my dreams, but when it comes to actually knitting stuff, I am juuuust intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
A what? Ok, I wish for a new car. How is that?

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Citrus scents- lemon, lemongrass. And rosemary. I don't care for stuff that is too flowery.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Heck- I've got a whole mouth full of em! Milk chocolate (don't like dark chocolate, though!), fruit slices, jelly beans... mmmmmmmmmmm caaaaaannnndy.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I spin, sew very badly (sewing machine challenged!), plan to embroider but never do, and buy beads that I never make anything out of. Oh yes, and I also plan to paint oil paintings that I never get around to.

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 contemporary alternative music generally- my favorite cd's right now are Evanescence, Sarah MacLaughlin (I have no idea how to spell that), Moby, Garbage, Stereolab, and The Strokes. I am MP3 worthy.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My fave color is orange, but it is not a good color for me to wear. The only colors that I can't stand are really really bright colors (think Bernat Disco in Aqua Velvet) and most pastels (with the noted exception of pastel pink and lavander). I love orange, raspberry pink, lime green, and neutrals.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, and a cat lady. I won't say how many we have- it's too embarrassing.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves and ponchos- it is too warm in the Bay Area for hats and mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit sweaters, and accessories, like handbags.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Project one: Koigu Cardigan
Project two: Bathroom curtain panel

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Sure!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer straight needles, under 12 inches, non metal. Picky picky picky.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
You mean the thing that you put your yarn on, or the small bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight? I own the yarn one, but not the bird. And a winder.

17. How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me when I was about 8 (poor mom!). I really never did it more than occasionally until 4 years ago, when I was inspired by uber cool knitted curtains in Home and Garden Magazine.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
I had to think very hard about this- I am not a UFO kind of girl. Either I finish it, or I frog it. However, after much reflection on the subject, I remembered that I do have a single sock lying around somewhere. Now, that knowlege will eat at me until I find it and make it a friend- which I will start doing tonight, thank you very much.

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, without a doubt.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
Yes, I collect money. American currency, and my favorites are the larger bills. OK really, I do collect some things- I collect brightly colored two tone vintage plastic knitting needles, and old matchbooks from the fifties with cool graphics on them. Oh, and I like to grow orchids, but that is not really collecting.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Well, there are all of those Alice Starmore books... Actually, the only book that I am really dying for is The Knitter's Handbook : A Comprehensive Guide to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting by Montse Stanley. And I subscribe to VK and IK.

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I am currently trying to learn to knit Fair Isle...

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Ooh, this is sooo embarassing... I will email you my GIANT foot measurements privately if you ask very nicely in a way that impies that my feet are very dainty, even though you know they are gigantic.

24. When is your birthday?
August 6- same as David Bowie, Lucille Ball, M. Knight Shyamalan, and Punky Brewster.