SECRET PAL 13 QUESTIONNAIRE

Here are my answers to the SP13 questionnaire.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I absolutely abhor Phentex. I never made those Phentex slippers. I am becoming a yarn snob. I love the yarns I can’t get locally such as the the indie dyed yarns, STR, Jitterbug and would love to increase my lace weight yarn collection. I also enjoy knitting with Knit Picks yarn and yarns from Elann.com. I love sock yarns, wools that can be felted, wools that can’t be felted along with angora, cashmere, mohair, alpacas, cottons, even fun fur has its place as do some acrylics for baby items of which I have more than enough of. BUT I truly love sock yarns and lace weight yarns.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I keep my round needles in a bag since I really use them anymore. I mainly use my Denise needles even when knitting projects that call for a straight needle. At present the ones (tips and cords) not in use are in a plastic clear cosmetic case since the actual Denise container BROKE. The long straights I no longer use are in a big basket with matching sizes rubber banded together and I do use them occasionally but very occasionally if it is a size I don't have in my Denise. The shorter straights are in a basket nearer at hand as they seem to get more use. One day I hope to get another pair of Denise and who knows maybe even the PINK ones.

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 knitting ever since I can remember (school age) and I can’t believe how many years that is now but I still consider myself an advanced beginner - intermediate as there is still so much for me yet to learn.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a wish list on ravelry.

5. What's your favorite scent?
My newest favorite scent is from LUSH called Karma. I find it very earthy. My all time favorite after bath splash is Jean Nate which I now know is by Revlon. I haven't been able to find it here anymore so I only get it when someone sends it to me of if I can get someone going to the states to pick it up for me. Other favorites include sandalwood oil (from the Body Shop), rose, ocean, fresh scents, some musks, and lavender. AND I sell Avon and now am in my 11th year.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I most certainly do, unfortunately. I love chocolate, dark, chocolate, expensive chocolate and "American" Hershey’s chocolate especially with nuts. I also love Jelly Bellys especially popcorn, margarita, garlic, watermelon, and jalapeño flavors. PLEASE no Black licorice YUK YUK!!!! AND I do drink coffee and tea, hot and cold flavored and plain except for Irish Cream flavored coffee.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I would love to spin. I tried using a spindle but wasn’t very successful. I don’t yet own a spinning wheel but certainly hope to one day. I even took a spinning workshop in the hopes of one day getting my very own spinning wheel. I don’t have carders either. I crochet a little as long as there isn’t any or much shaping involved which means mainly granny squares. I sew and quilt and now that I have finally moved into my townhouse I can sew and quilt again. YEAH! I love to sew children’s clothes and bags also. Now I can even check out all my needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch and ribbon craft which was up in the storage unavailable but now will be easily accessible in my new place. This is all so very exciting. BUT I don't know if my eyes will let me do the cross stitch anymore and I do have a project with a few rows started I would like to finish eventually.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I am not a big fan of country although there are a very few songs I do like and I don't care for any Christian music but I enjoy Christmas music. I have a DVD player and a Walkman that play MP3’s . I have a new computer which plays them fine. I love the oldies from the 20's to the 60's & 70's and even a few of the 80's. The older the better. I also love to listen to blues and jazz. I like classical and symphonies but not opera of any kind.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
PINK PINK and more PINK. I have always embraced my feminine side. I also love purples, reds, blues, black, white, and even grey and some of the deeper greens. I really do not wear orange, yellow or lime, olive or drab green or any of those fall colors that don't include reds. I have a hard time even knitting or working with those colors and do so only when I have to. Some brown is okay if it is a nice deep brown with PINK. I am not a fan of neon.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have one feline fur toddler who will be three in March and that is basically it for family.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves, mitts, gloves and should wear hats. I live in the great white north which has a very cold winter climate.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks, bags/totes, shawls, toys and whimsical items. I also knit dishcloths since I am in a lot of dishcloth groups and hope to turn them into a dishclothghan one day. I knit scarves, afghans, baby items and hats as the need arises. I am now learning to knit from a chart.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Some of what is on my needles now include the MS4 KAL (I have completed clue #1), TLL Socktoberfest Mystery Sock KAL (I have completed clue #3 which was the heel on both socks), Cavendish Serape Shawl from Simply Noro, a couple of gifts for swaps so they can't be mentioned and a couple of dishcloths.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Most definitely. I love when someone takes the time to make something just for me.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I love my Denise and even use them when straight needles are called for. I even knit dishcloths with my Denise especially if I am knitting more than one at the same time but when I knit only one I use either short straights or my Denise. I love bamboo (both DPNs and round) especially when I knit slippery items. I have done the 2s2c method but with the cirs ends the same color I find that difficult and didn’t like the painting one set of ends with my nail enamel. I have one pair of Knit Picks Harmony DPNs and can't wait to get more. I also would love to have another set of Denise but the PINK ones. I have two sets of Addi Turbos that I really like but think the Knit Picks Options or Harmony would be just as nice.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No but I would love to.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
It is too much of an embarrassment for me to say. I am slowly finishing my UFO's and gradually hope to have no UFO's. LOLOLOLOLOL

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I always loved my birthday (HMMM love cake and ice-cream & pressies of course) and Christmas even thought I am not a Christian. Since I live alone most of my pressies are from swap exchanges although I do receive a few gifts from a few friends. I like the happiness of the season, the lights and the fact that most people are kinder to one another than usual which should be an all year round occurrence but… Living alone does make most holidays lonely. Not only b/c I am alone and these are family gathering, gift giving, food holidays but b/c I love to cook and there is just Solara and I. My next favorite holiday would be Thanksgiving. AH another food holiday. BUT of course there is Valentine Day, Easter and Halloween which are candy holidays. I had a really fun time at Halloween this year in my new home.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Yarn, angels, fairies, cat stuff, did I say yarn, fabric, books, patterns, magazines, yarn and cooking accessories. I am a bit of a textile, yarn and magazine junkie.

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 no subscriptions to any knitting magazines but wouldn't mind having knitting magazines come directly to my home. There are so many others patterns I also would love to have. I love the NONI patterns and have a couple only so far. Yarns I would like to try include Socks That Rock, Jitterbug, indie yarns and yarns I am unable to get here locally. AND to have MORE Tilly Thomas (with beads and crystals in it) would be like WOW WOW WOW!!! BUT I am not expecting to receive that from any one as it is so expensive. I keep reading about smaller yarn companies that make wonderful hand dyed sock yarns that I am unable to get.I would also love a pair of sock blockers and more mini sock blocker key chain to give as gifts since I now have one and the pattern, stitch markers and any of the latest knitting goodies that are out. There are sooooo many books and patterns I would love to have. Basically I feel I am very easy to please.

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

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Most definitely I am a sock knitter. I wear a medium size sock and a size 8 – 8.5 shoe. The circumference of my foot is 9”, my ankle is 9” and the length of my foot from heel to toe is 9” – 9 ¼”.

23. When is your birthday?
Feb 4

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
YES pennala