Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I LOVE wool, angora, alpaca, cashmere, silk, most cotton, and well, pretty much everything but chenille and mohair (bad experiences!) However, I am always willing to give anything another chance.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have 2 straight needle rolls handcrafted by Thimble. I store my DPNs and my Addi Circs in a Bass Pro Shop Tackle Bag. My crochet hooks are in a pencil case. I am addicted to organization and can never have enough boxes, bags, etc.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I've been knitting since the beginning of 2005. I taught myself how to knit with Debbie Stoller's Stitch n Bitch book. I would consider myself early-intermediate, I suppose. I am definitely always learning more, which I LOVE!

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes, see my blog sidebar for my 2 wish lists. Unfortunately, I am always wanting something!

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) I love anything soft and flowery. I also like vanilla, cinnamon, and apple.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I love anything dark chocolate, and tart candy like tangy taffy, sour worms, and sweettarts. I am also a firm believer that ice cream fixes everything. I chew a lot of Big Red gum.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don't spin, probably because I do too many other things! I enjoy beading, and make mostly jewelry and stitch markers. I want to teach myself how to sew on my grandmother's sewing machine. I'm still trying to learn to crochet too. I love reading books and magazines about all kinds of crafts.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) My computer can play MP3s, my car plays CDs. I have an IPod that goes everywhere with me. I like a lot of different music, except rap. I mostly listen to country and alternative rock, although I have to admit I also have a thing for Justin Timberlake too. I've been really wanting the Grey's Anatomy soundtracks as well.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite colors are green and red (not necessarily together.) I also like combos such as pink and brown, red and aqua, pink and green, brown and turquoise - well, the list is endless!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am single and live with my two cats, Muffin (female, age 6) and Sam (male, age 4.) I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE animals. I also have a 10 month old niece I am enjoying spending time with, and spoiling!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I love to wear scarves and gloves. I would like to eventually wear shawls, if I can ever muster enough courage to knit a beautiful lace one. Ponchos are not my thing.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I have enjoyed most everything I have knitted so far. I like to have something small going to give myself a sense of completion fairly often. I'm really starting to get into socks, and collecting sock yarn.

13. What are you knitting right now? I'm working on the Heelless Sleeping Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks, Rusted Root from Zephyr Style, and the Toshiko Tote from Berocco. I have a huge list of upcoming projects too!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I would LOVE to receive handmade gifts - I search them out!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I like both straights and circulars, bamboo and aluminum, depending on the project and my mood. I probably knit with circulars the most. I have the Knit Picks Options set, the Denise Interchangeables set, and the Boye set. I use my Knit Picks and my Denise needles the most. I also love my Addi Turbos for certain things. I'm really interested in trying the Knit Picks DPNs. One can never have enough needles!

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I own both, and I love to wind yarn!

17. How old is your oldest UFO? The Toshiko Tote - I started it when I first learned to knit. I even bought the yarn on one of my first trips to my LYS! I guess the yarn is just so odd to knit with, that it doesn't seem to be top on my list to finish any time soon.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

19. Is there anything that you collect? Beads, yarn, paper, journals, notecards, notebooks, pens, post-it notes, magazines and books related to knitting, beading, sewing, crafting, and interior decorating, elephant and cat related items, purses and bags. I love to shop on Etsy too.

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 have a subscription to Interweave Knits - hands down, my favorite knitting mag. I also love Bead Style, Adorn, and Vogue Knitting magazines, but I don't have subscriptions to those. I am addicted to magazines. I can spend hours at the bookstore looking through all the craft magazines and books! My wish lists show how many books and patterns I would like to have! I am dying to try Koigu, Lorna's Laces, Handmaiden Sea Silk, Lisa Souza, all the indie handdyed sock yarn, and bamboo.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I hope to learn Entrelac, cabling, knitting from charts, and maybe even color knitting sometime this year.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am just now knitting my second pair of socks, and I love it! I wear a US Size 7 1/2.

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) May 10

Anthropologie Ahead

Pattern: Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet

Yarn: 3 skeins Lamb's Pride Bulky

Needles: Size 11 Denise Interchangeables

Started: 2/17/07

Finished: 2/19/07

I lengthened the pattern a bit on both the body and the sleeves. I love how fuzzy and soft this yarn is. Unfortunately it is being held closed with a safety pin right now. I would like to keep the look simple and maybe just sew a hook and eye in. Wish I had someone here who could take better pics of me in my FOs!

More Hats!

Pattern: Scallop Brim Instant Hat from Just One More Row

Yarn: 3 skeins Tahki Baby Print (1 1/2 for each hat)

Needles: Denise Interchangeables Size 15 16 inch

Started: 2/12/07

Finished: 2/17/07

I made 2 of these quick hats. I plan to take them to our Cancer Center on Monday. I love how floppy and warm they are. I also like the fact that I'm starting to really get my money's worth out of my Denise Interchangeables. I started on the Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet earlier today on Denise Needles. And yes, that is Sam in the pic - he just can't stay away from an open window!

Check Me Out!

Here is the article on Webster Bloggers for which Christina and I were interviewed. That pic is of me knitting Heelless Sleeping Sock #1, from Knitting Vintage Socks. You have not seen any pics of these socks yet, as I am only through the cuff on Sock #2 at this point. I keep getting distracted by other projects. I have so much to knit!

I started a Cable Down Raglan KAL on Craftster. Looks like I'm going to have some company knitting this one - how cool is that?! I need to hurry up and swatch. Plus, have you seen the new Interweave Knits KAL? Of course, I have already asked to join because yes, I'm a joiner. I can't help myself!

Look at the fantastic prize I received today for being nominated as one of the best Secret Pals of Secret Pal 9. (My spoilee and spoiler were awesome, by the way.) Gorgeous sock yarn and a pattern from Gardiner Yarn Works. Mine is the Indian Corn Sock Kit. I love it! I am so looking forward to Secret Pal 10!

I'm working on a couple of Scallop Brim Instant Hats I think I'll take to the Cancer Center at work next week. I finished the first last night and seemed to have enough yarn for a second, which is now on the needles. I'm using Tahki Yarns Baby Print. I've never knit with yarn this thick before. I love how quickly it knits up. My hats aren't really scallop-brimmed though, since my yarn isn't thick and thin. But they are cute anyway!

Turtleneck Shrug

Pattern: Turtleneck Shrug from Scarf Style

Yarn: 7 hanks Elsebeth Lavold Angora in Aubergine

Needles: Denise Interchangeables Size 6 16 inch

Started: 9/16/06

Finished: 2/11/07

This yarn is super soft, and the pattern was easy to knit. However, my turned out to be a mock neck rather than a turtleneck, as I ran out of yarn. It's ok. I still think it's cute, and definitely warm. And, I'm glad I finally finished it. Now I can start on one of my many sweaters!

Spring 2007 Interweave Knits

I received my copy today. I have to say, I am in love with a number of patterns in it. Seems like a few people on live journal might not have been so impressed, but I am! Maybe I'm just so ready for some Spring knitting. I lust after this the most:

The beautiful Cable Down Raglan. Do you think I can pull it off? I've never done cables. Well, and as some of you know, I've never even done an adult-size sweater. I've been planning on knitting the Hourglass Sweater from LMKG. But it's more of a Fall sweater, don't you think? (Yes, I'm trying to rationalize this here.) The Cable Down Raglan screams Spring to me. I even like the color. Hmm, may be time to search for a yarn that would work for this, wouldn't you say? Why not jump into sweater knitting head first?!

I'm also wanting to knit Wicked, by Zephr Style. I'm getting ready to download the pattern. I think I'm going to make it a Spring sweater as well, maybe with some Shine Worsted from Knit Picks I've got in Green Apple. I wonder how that will knit up.

Spring knitting, here I come!

Secret Pal 9 Revealed!

I can't believe Secret Pal 9 is finished. I had a great pal - Hope Curtis of http://www.procrastiknitter.com/. She sent me a fantastic e-mail telling me all about herself. It sounds like she has an awesome family and a home full of animals - my kind of girl! Plus, I received my final package yesterday. Look at all the goodies!

All kinds of fantastic things, including some great yarn, needles, chocolate, a Boyd's bear, a pen, and some fantastic "learning to crochet tools." I have been itching to learn (remember my 2007 Crafting Goals?) Now I have no excuse not to start immediately! I'm really excited about the interactive CD. I actually still refer to my knittinghelp.com CDs - the videos helped me tremendously. Anyway, thanks so much Hope - you really spoiled me!

I went to Urban Knitters again yesterday (the SnB group.) Christina and I were there - she is a pretty awesome knitter. I don't know yet if she has a blog though; I'll have to ask her. You wouldn't believe how many people came up to us and asked about our knitting - kids and adults! We were even interviewed by a student from Webster University who will be posting a story on knitting on Webster Bloggers later this week. How cool is that?

I can't say enough how much I love knitting, and everything about it...