Secret Pal 7
I signed up for SP7 and I have already heard from my Pal! Hi Pal! This is so much fun already! (Exclamation overload!!!!!) So here are my answers to the questionaire:
ETA: updated on a couple of questions.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Yes, I’m afraid I am a yarn and fiber snob. I like all natural fibers and quasi-natural plant-based fibers like rayon, tencel, etc. I don’t have a preference for expensive yarns. Many quality yarns are reasonably priced. I’m interested in quality not prestige.
2. Do you spin? Crochet? I spin. I *adore* spinning. I know how to crochet, but I am not a big fan of crochet; I mostly use it for edgings.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have an old tin that my needles stand up in. I desperately need a good way to store my many double pointed needles and circular needles. Hint, hint ;)
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Not sure how long exactly, but it is over 30 years. I would consider myself an advanced knitter.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes!, I just made an Amazon wish list under the name Miss Maia in Richmond, CA.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I make soap and lip balm. I prefer natural scents (essential oils). Citrus, cedarwood, lavender, black pepper, and cardamom are favorites. I tend to prefer unscented candles and don’t use too many of them.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I love chocolate and citrus sweets!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I can (jams, chutneys, relishes), garden, weave baskets, . . .
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like a lot of music, in no particular order: old time blues, country (before 1980), funk, R&B (love Al Green and anything from Stax Records), world music, rock (Wilco, Fountains of Wayne, Elvis Costello, Nick Drake, They Might Be Giants, Nirvana, . . ), punk, new wave, jazz (before 1940), disco (in moderation), classical. What I don't like is free-form "art" music. I don’t know about mp3 files; I am such a dork. We have a CD player in the car and the house. I listen to NPR on the computer at work (dork alert again).
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is yellow from lemon yellow to bright orangey yellow to mustard yellow. I like most colors. I wear mostly earth tones, muted tones, or dark saturated colors. I like but don’t wear jewel tones.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married to a wonderful man, we have two rescued Boston Terriers.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats, and shawls. It is too warm here for mittens and I am not a poncho kinda gal. I have been wanting some fingerless gloves (I have large hands).
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I don’t have favorites. I usually pick yarns based on how they feel (must fondle yarns! why else do we have LYSs?). I tend towards sport, DK, and worsted weights.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Acrylic. I can tolerate it in a blended yarn if there isn’t too much of it.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Socks, I am really into socks right now.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks, I am really into socks right now. ;-)
17. What are you knitting right now? Socks, scarves, toddler sweaters (multiple), lace shawl, more socks.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES, YES, YES!!! Handmade gifts are the best!
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular or double pointed.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Metal, definitely, I am a very tight knitter. I always go up at least one needle size to get gauge.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both.
22. How did you learn to knit? I can’t remember learning to knit. I can remember begging my mother to teach me to knit when I was 8 or 9. I probably learned from both my mother and grandmother. I learned to purl Norwegian style so I know my mother taught me that since she learned in Norway as a girl. In my early twenties I taught myself fair isle, aran, sweater design, and lace knitting. I have been learning and exploring since then.
23. How old is your oldest UFO? I’m going to have to take the 5th on that one. I am too embarrassed to admit. Let’s just say I know lots of people younger than my oldest UFO.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I love dogs and appreciate most animals. I sort of have an outdoor decorative birdhouse collection.
25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween. I love seeing the little kids dressed up! And, any holiday that comes with a day off of work.
26. Is there anything that you collect? Fiber! No collections, I am trying to cut back on the amount of “stuff” (non-fiber stuff that is) I have.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Spin-Off, I have been buying Interweave Knits at the bookstore and considering a subscription.
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Heirloom Knitting, I love Shetland shawls. I like technique books rather than pattern books. I design most of the things I make. I like things about unusual and traditional techniques (not necessarily both at the same time).
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Not that I know of at this time. Have you got a technique I must learn? If you do, I do.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Why yes, I *am* a sock knitter. I also wear socks, daily. I wear size 10.5 - 11 shoes. My foot is 10 inches around and 10.5 inches long. I prefer ankle socks. Have I mentioned that I love socks?
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) January 19th.
If you have any other questions, ask away!
ETA: updated on a couple of questions.
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Yes, I’m afraid I am a yarn and fiber snob. I like all natural fibers and quasi-natural plant-based fibers like rayon, tencel, etc. I don’t have a preference for expensive yarns. Many quality yarns are reasonably priced. I’m interested in quality not prestige.
2. Do you spin? Crochet? I spin. I *adore* spinning. I know how to crochet, but I am not a big fan of crochet; I mostly use it for edgings.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have an old tin that my needles stand up in. I desperately need a good way to store my many double pointed needles and circular needles. Hint, hint ;)
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? Not sure how long exactly, but it is over 30 years. I would consider myself an advanced knitter.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes!, I just made an Amazon wish list under the name Miss Maia in Richmond, CA.
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.) I make soap and lip balm. I prefer natural scents (essential oils). Citrus, cedarwood, lavender, black pepper, and cardamom are favorites. I tend to prefer unscented candles and don’t use too many of them.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I love chocolate and citrus sweets!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? I can (jams, chutneys, relishes), garden, weave baskets, . . .
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like a lot of music, in no particular order: old time blues, country (before 1980), funk, R&B (love Al Green and anything from Stax Records), world music, rock (Wilco, Fountains of Wayne, Elvis Costello, Nick Drake, They Might Be Giants, Nirvana, . . ), punk, new wave, jazz (before 1940), disco (in moderation), classical. What I don't like is free-form "art" music. I don’t know about mp3 files; I am such a dork. We have a CD player in the car and the house. I listen to NPR on the computer at work (dork alert again).
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand? My favorite color is yellow from lemon yellow to bright orangey yellow to mustard yellow. I like most colors. I wear mostly earth tones, muted tones, or dark saturated colors. I like but don’t wear jewel tones.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I am married to a wonderful man, we have two rescued Boston Terriers.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I wear scarves, hats, and shawls. It is too warm here for mittens and I am not a poncho kinda gal. I have been wanting some fingerless gloves (I have large hands).
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? I don’t have favorites. I usually pick yarns based on how they feel (must fondle yarns! why else do we have LYSs?). I tend towards sport, DK, and worsted weights.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Acrylic. I can tolerate it in a blended yarn if there isn’t too much of it.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s? Socks, I am really into socks right now.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks, I am really into socks right now. ;-)
17. What are you knitting right now? Socks, scarves, toddler sweaters (multiple), lace shawl, more socks.
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? YES, YES, YES!!! Handmade gifts are the best!
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Circular or double pointed.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Metal, definitely, I am a very tight knitter. I always go up at least one needle size to get gauge.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both.
22. How did you learn to knit? I can’t remember learning to knit. I can remember begging my mother to teach me to knit when I was 8 or 9. I probably learned from both my mother and grandmother. I learned to purl Norwegian style so I know my mother taught me that since she learned in Norway as a girl. In my early twenties I taught myself fair isle, aran, sweater design, and lace knitting. I have been learning and exploring since then.
23. How old is your oldest UFO? I’m going to have to take the 5th on that one. I am too embarrassed to admit. Let’s just say I know lots of people younger than my oldest UFO.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird? I love dogs and appreciate most animals. I sort of have an outdoor decorative birdhouse collection.
25. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween. I love seeing the little kids dressed up! And, any holiday that comes with a day off of work.
26. Is there anything that you collect? Fiber! No collections, I am trying to cut back on the amount of “stuff” (non-fiber stuff that is) I have.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Spin-Off, I have been buying Interweave Knits at the bookstore and considering a subscription.
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Heirloom Knitting, I love Shetland shawls. I like technique books rather than pattern books. I design most of the things I make. I like things about unusual and traditional techniques (not necessarily both at the same time).
29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Not that I know of at this time. Have you got a technique I must learn? If you do, I do.
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Why yes, I *am* a sock knitter. I also wear socks, daily. I wear size 10.5 - 11 shoes. My foot is 10 inches around and 10.5 inches long. I prefer ankle socks. Have I mentioned that I love socks?
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) January 19th.
If you have any other questions, ask away!