1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I'm one of those tree hugging, granola eating types (but I'm not a vegetarian...). I believe that everything should be as natural as possible; so natural fibers are my thing. I love cotton and wool (I love to make felted knitted things!). Consequently, I don't like polyester, nylon, acrylic... And I'm not a big fan of novelty yarn. I do see certain furry animal applications for novelty yarn. I also like "new" or unusual fibers like bamboo, rayon, corn, silk, etc. I'd like to try the recycled sari silk yarns, but I haven't been able to bring myself to spring for a skien or two yet.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I don't have much needle storage. I keep my Denise's in the case they came in and everything else is in a drawer in my studio. Truthfully, my needle storage is lacking.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit 6 or 7 years ago. I think of myself as an intermediate, but just barely.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an amazon wish list. It's under my email address.
5. What's your favorite scent?
I love lavender! I also like citrus scents, eucalyptus, etc. I also like plain old beeswax.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do have a sweet tooth, but I try not to indulge it too much. I have a MAJOR weakness for Reese's PB cups. And I love to bake.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do spin. I love to spin. I also like to hand-dye fabric, quilt, weave and do just about anything else related to fiber, but I don't crochet. I don't have anything against it, I just never learned how. I love to draw, paint, and make note cards. I do a lot of scrapbooky type of things that don't end up making scrapbooks, like handmade party invites and thank you notes.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm MP3 compatible. I like a lot of types of music. I love U2, folk, some alt country, some Christian...
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Green is my favorite color. And I'm not a big fan of pink.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I stay home with my 13 month old son. Hubby owns a photography studio and a website development business. We have an 85 pound lab mix who likes to escape the backyard.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
All of the above. It gets pretty cold here in the KC area during the winter. And I love unique, funky, artsy things!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Probably felted things, but it's hard to say. I like quick knits, but I don't mind doing projects that take a while either. I've been mulling over blankets lately. I knit a small one for my son, but I think I might like to try something larger.
13. What are you knitting right now?
The sweater on the cover of Adorable Knits for Tots for my son in Plymouth's Wildflower DK.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course I do! I like to give them as well...
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I have a Denise kit and two sets of size 3 DPN. I have some aluminum straights and some plastic. The short answer is that it depends on what I'm knitting. The longer one is that I like the use straights whenever I can and I would love to have more wood straights, but the one set of bamboo DPN I have seems to split and catch on the yarn; I think it's a quality issue... If someone has found a wood straight that they like; I'd love to hear about it. Of my aluminum and plastic needles, I like my lion brand plastic the best, but I haven't tried others.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, I don't own a winder or swift. I'd really like to have them and I intend on putting them on my Christmas list this year. I also know how to wind center pull skeins by hand.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I don't have any knitting UFO's. I developed finishitis after my son was born and money for yarn became tight. I finished all my UFO's and now I tend to only work on one project at a time. I also tend to knit only from my stash and buy yarn only when I have a specific project for it. That's why I love Secret Pal; I always get great stuff to add to my stash, and it sparks my creativity to use materials that someone else picked out.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Easter! And I really like Thanksgiving. I also like Christmas, but not the commercial aspects of it.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn? I love stars, especially antique iron ones. I have them all over the house! I also collect crosses to hang on the wall. And I make stitch markers, so I go through a lot of glass beads.
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 don't have any magazine subscriptions. I'd like to, but I don't. I would die for a copy of Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing.
I want to try recycled silk yarn, but I already mentioned that. I already talked about needles. Patterns? Yeah, there are, but I can't think of them. I've seen some really cute kits for knitting animals like sheep online; I'd like to try one of those. Oh, and I'd really like more books about spinning. I only know the basics. My almost LYS (Yarnbarn in Lawrence is about 40 minutes away) has great spinning classes, but they haven't offered the level 2 spinning class since before my son was born. I'm waiting... Ohhhh... Peaches and Cream cotton. And Euroflax.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
My SP10 pal, Juli, did a great job of sending me patterns and materials to try new things. And I haven't gotten to them yet. So I should just stick with those, but... I'd really like to try entrelac and mitered squares.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I'm still a sock knitting virgin, but I have an awesome kit to try that Juli put together for me. I wear a size 8 shoe.
23. When is your birthday?
December 24.
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I've applied, but I'm still waiting...