I signed on late (thanks for letting me in, ladies!) and lo and behold, they had someone who already needed a new match-up!! Yay for me! So I hereby answer the questions posed by the SP 11 moderators.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely NOT like?
It's hard to answer because I can find redeeming qualities in most yarns. Here are all the yarn fibers I have ever made something with: banana fiber, silk, lambswool, wool, camel, alpaca, cotton, mohair, angora, acrylic, bamboo, linen, nylon blends, soy, microfiber, buffalo, yak, and blends of many of these. I've tried corn fiber (soft! light!) and am about to embark on the Habu thing with stainless steel/silk, so you can see I like to adventure. I'm even collecting from my four cats so that I can have it spun (medium gray with a brown undertone) into some sport weight skeins soon. (Some fibers I've heard of but never run across: jute, hemp, cupro, pine, pineapple, tencel, and possum.) I guess BEST though I like alpaca, camel, and all soft wools--when I have a project going with something like this, I think of it as "knitting a kitten." I don’t do fun fur and novelty yarns anymore--got worn out on that the first year. And anything with too much mohair makes me itch like mad, but I find a tiny bit is OK to knit with, and I like the halo.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Vases, a couple needle rolls (e.g. for the few set of DPNs I own--I use them for i-cord), a fishing fly case for various circulars, and the Denise case I use for most of my circular needs.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate, or advanced?
I have been seriously knitting for about three years. I learned Continental in the 90s; before that, I first learned just the basic knit stitch in English style as a child, but dropped the hobby. I think I would best be categorized as an intermediate knitter, but sometimes I slip back into advanced beginner on some things, such as shaping and lace-stitches.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nah.
5. What's your favorite scent?
I go for flowers of various types--they're all good!
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
[Homer Simpson:] Mmmmmm. Dark chocolate. Mostly I'm a crunchy/salty kind of gal, though, which is my downfall.
7. What other crafts or DIY things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. I use my knitting for felting projects quite often. I'm learning a bit of crochet, and sometimes I try a small sewing project.
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 a bunch of music, from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and now—rock and pop. Also fond of 70s RnB. I can do mp3s.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Aqua and brown at present are my favorites. Can’t stand rust or olive green, though I have been known to knit with them.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married for 28 years next week 8^); three daughters ages 16,18, and 20 as of early September; 4 cats (two sets of brother/sister pairs).
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
All of the above. Don't need hats and mittens much in Northern California though.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to learn new stitches, so it’s often a scarf to learn the skill. But I think from my blog here you will see I like to try lots of new things. I’m hoping soon to do two sweaters for certain daughters.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Two scarves and a pair of child's slippers.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
You betcha!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love my rosewood straights. I also like circulars for the projects that work well in that form—and I usually use Denise (plastic) for those. While metal works well in certain circumstances, I find that it's usually too slippery and that people are irritated by the sound, for some crazy reason!
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a tabletop swift. It’s cool!
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Less than one year old. I will let something sit for months, but then I either frog it or finish it. I've recently frogged one, and who knows if I will attempt it again.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, with Thanksgiving a close second.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Unusual paper clips (other countries do them differently—I find that fascinating--and sometimes novelty types come out, like in the shape of a dog bone, or in various colors). OK, now do I just seem weird? I don't keep my collection in a cigar box like Bert on Sesame Street though. My collection, such as it is, is strewn through four different desk drawers--two at school in my classroom, and two at home here.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
KnitSimple is my favorite knitting magazine. I also get Simply Knitting from Great Britain at my local book chain sometimes, for the freebie it comes with, and for the refreshingly different "voice" in the text--it's more friendly, chatty. I really like them all, but those with too many complex patterns intimidate me.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Needle felting! I'm going to take a class soon.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Don’t knit socks (yet), but I love the idea. I cannot imagine someone not liking real, hand knitted socks. My shoe size is women’s 8.
23. When is your birthday?
January 15--me and Martin Luther King, Jr. 8^)
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Not yet, darn it! Are you? I'm jealous!
Posts
