To my SP..

1. What is/are your favorite yarn(s) to knit with? I don’t have a favorite. I like natural fibers a lot. Not such a big fan of acrylic or synthetic fibers anymore, though they do have their uses (infant/baby/toddler clothes – cheap indestructible yarn is good for that sort of thing…)

Do you like solid or variegated colorways? Yes. It does tend to complicate finding a pattern, but I love how they look.

What fibers do you absolutely NOT like? Acrylic. Though, as I mentioned, I do use them for kids stuff… I made myself an acrylic sweater and it turned out great… until I wore it.

Are you allergic to any fibers? Not a single one. (lucky me!)

2. What do you use to store your hooks/needles in? a small carebear lunchbox.

3. How long have you been knitting? Ok, here’s where I age myself. I’ve been knitting for 21 (!) years. To be fair, I was taught by my father, who not only was a lefty, but was trying to recall what his mother had taught him about 40 years before. It didn’t really click for me until much more recently, so I’ve really been knitting consistently for about 10 years.

Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate, or advanced? This is a difficult one. I don’t know that I’d consider myself advanced, but I can pretty much learn any technique out of books… (except kitchner bind offs! That took me months of reading!) I’ve done some minor designing, but nothing too difficult. I’d say in between intermediate and advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yep. It’s all mostly knitting related too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/KE6641VC4240

5. What’s your favorite scent (for candles, bath products, etc.)? lavendar. By FAR. Rosemary, citrus, sage, and rasp/blackberry are nice too.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Oh, dear god yes. Way way too much of one for my own good.

What’s your favorite candy or snack? Chocolate. If I’m going to splurge, I get lindt’s milk chocolate truffles. Not a big fan of semi-sweet. A close second is really good shortbread or scones.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like? Pretty much everything.

Do you spin or do other fiberwork? Spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s (in case your buddy wants to make you a CD)? Swing. Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington… that sort of thing.

9. What’s your favorite color? Purple (and blue)

What color can you not stand? The Orangey-yellow end. However, it can be used sparingly in colorways to great effect.

10. Do you have any pets or children? One 2 year old, one cat, two fish.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens, ponchos, wrist/arm warmers, gauntlets, and/or legwarmers?

12. What is/are your favorite item(s) to knit? I am really enjoying lace at the moment.

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks, shawl, sweater(s) and a hat. Probably a few things I’ve forgotten. (I have a problem)

14. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I use circular and DPN exclusively. I actually gave nearly all my straights away this weekend.

Bamboo, aluminum, or plastic? well, i have alum. DPN (000-10) and bamboo DPNs (sizes 2, 7, 10 1/2) as well as a boye interchangable set (which i'm not a huge fan of the smaller sizes or the larger sizes.. eventually i'd like to get some bamboo in the sizes i use most...) i have some plastic circs, which i LOVE for the lace shawl i'm working on.

15. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? no

16. How did you learn to knit? From my dad.

17. What is your favorite holiday? Hmmm. I’d have to say probably Christmas.

18. Is there anything that you collect? Not really.

19. Are there any books, yarns, needles, or patterns out there that you are dying to get your hands on? Oh man. I’d love some bamboo DPNs. A set of size 1 circs in bamboo or something nicer than susan bates would be cool.

What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? none

If you don’t have any subscriptions, which knitting magazines do you read regularly? Only what’s online.

20. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn? Hmmm. Probably.

21. Are you a sock knitter? Yes

What are your foot measurements? 8.5 womens. i've lst my measuring tape temporarily (part of having a 2 year old is that they steal your stuff!)

What are your hat measurements (the measurement around your head)? 22”

22. When is your birthday? 02-07

23. Are you a vegetarian, vegan, or have other dietary restrictions? No. not a big bean fan though.

24. Do you have any blogs (personal or knitblogs) other than your LiveJournal where you regularly post? http://dragonintherain.blogspot.com/

25. Do you have any blogs (knitblogs or otherwise) or websites that you visit often (besides LiveJournal)? This piece of info is to help your Secret Pal learn more about the things that interest you.

Yarnharlot.

Youknitwhat before they disappeared.

Upon occasion, I read grumperina, eunnyknits, wendyknits, and any other knitblog that I come across.

wait, i bought what?

holy *^&#!

um, i just got home from the Garden State Sheep & Fiber, and dragged home a llama *and* an alpaca fleece.



*shakes head* the woman thinks the llama may be part suri, but as it's her friend's llama, she wasn't quite sure.

at least i only spent $30... and that includes the entry fee.

and since i met a friend and she got some stuff, we traded. i gave her a bit of each of the above, and she gave me:

the tri-colored one is jacob/mohair (50/50) roving. the other two are llama/wool (70/30) and the softest roving ever. if i hadn't spent all of the money i brought with me on the fleeces, i would've gotten some of this.

so i've decided to actually use this one for knitting and other crafty things. my one (and only) post was from when i was pregnant... two years ago.

things i've got going now.
shapely tank (it's never ever going to be done. i just figured out that the 3rd time i actually finished the back, it was knit on ever so slightly smaller needles than the front, and has to be totally redone. *joy*)

fair isle sweater (also never going to be done, for a totally different reason. or not so much. i started this one before i knew about guage, and that worsted weight is totally and completely different from worsted spun... so it has armholes to my waist, comes down to my knees, and let's not get into how long the arms are!)


scarf of handspun (first handspun/dyed that i finished) it's just feather and fan, so it's not interesting, and it was more something to do with the yarn than anything else.

sweater for my mom. all this needs is sleeves and hood. however, i need to remember to measure her arms the next time i see her.

clapotis. if you knit and don't know what that is, you have been living in a bubble under a rock.

socks. size one needles. need to find an appropriate pattern that isn't stockinette that will work with the trekking xxl in varigated purples.

i'm sure there's things around i've forgotten....