Tada! Time for
And I'm super excited! So I'm filling out the questionnaire in case my very own secret pal (from whom I've already received a nice e-mail) would like to know more about me and my knitting...
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
I definitely enjoy natural fibers, especially wool, but seeing as how I'm on a college student's budget I have no aversion to using the less expensive acrylics and acrylic blends. The only thing I don't like is the acrylic that actually squeaks when you knit it and the furry yarns that knit up to look like Muppet body parts - eek!
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I do crochet and I'm interested in learning how to spin even though I've never done it.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I'm allergic to cats even though I think they're super cute, and I just found out that knitting for any length of time with angora makes me all itchy.
4. How long have you been knitting?
I learned freshman year of college, so this will be my 5th year!
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Ayup. There should be a link in my profile :)
6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Anything citrus-y and fresh - grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, you know, those things that make your house or your skin smell like fruit!
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Yes, and it is made out of caramel-covered custard, though I suspect there is a chocolate center.
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Let's see... sewing (I recently made two small quilts for my sisters' birthdays and really enjoyed it), drawing, coloring with markers... I like to be able to send friends and family decorated letters instead of just plain words, cuz what fun is that?!
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love country music. There, I admitted it for everyone to see :) I also like bluegrass - Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss - and a bunch of other random stuff, from Sheryl Crow to John Mayer to Maroon5 and Black Eyed Peas. And I'm always open to hearing new kinds of music. I'm pretty sure my computer plays MP3s.
10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I think half of my wardrobe is blue and the other half is a mix of pinks and greens. I also like grey of any shade and I'm a big fan of rich, dark plum/burgundy colors (Go UChicago Maroons!). I do NOT like most browns and oranges.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I have a relatively large family - Mom, Dad, and four of us kids (I'm the oldest) plus 9 aunts/uncles on my dad's side and 4 on my mom's side and all their kids. However, I recently moved far far away from all of them and I'm trying to get used to the quiet of having my own apartment (ack, feeling homesick!) in a new city. I don't have any pets yet, but I'm sure by spring I'll get myself a goldfish or two :)
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Hmm, get a PhD, teach at a university, have a family of my own, and use my powers for good, not evil haha.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Self-striping sock yarns. Or pretty much any sock yarns. I love using aluminum dpns and hearing that click-click noise and watching stripey patterns emerge. And with a mother who wears mismatched socks to entertain her first grade students, I think I come by my fascination with/love of socks naturally.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Again with the Muppet fur thing.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Socks, socks, and more socks at the moment. They're easy and portable, but you can still make intricate lacey patterns, too. And I just learned to make them from the toe up with short row toes and heels - talk about cool!
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Top down raglan sweaters in the round. Hats in the round. Simple scarves out of really soft yarn. Um, SOCKS!!!
17. What are you knitting right now?
Because I just moved I brought a very limited yarn supply and I haven't gone shopping for yarn yet. So currently just the Elfine 2.0 sock #2, and I'll start another project tomorrow or so.
18. What do you think about ponchos?
I missed out on the trend the first time, but I've never in my life actually worn a poncho, so I"m not feeling too left out. I don't think I'll be making one anytime soon.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
It completely depends on the project. I really really like metal dpns, though.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Click Click Click! Aluminum, please.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Why, yes!
22. How did you learn to knit?
In the beginnning I learned from a couple of girls in my house, and we spent a lot of evenings watching tv and having knitting time. Later, I got Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch, found out I'd been purling incorrectly and twisting all my stitches, and gained the courage to try cables, intarsia, and a whole bunch of new projects.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Older than dirt. Just kidding. Um, about 3.5 years. And I don't think I'll ever finish it.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Spongebob Squarepants all the way, especially in his manifestation as the Amazing Mr. Absorbency. I also like monkeys.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween, hands down. My family really makes a big deal out of decorating the house and eating way too much candy, so I always enjoy that time of year.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really. I guess academic books and class syllabi? Haha
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Yes! Elizabeth Berg's new one, The Mermaid Chair. I only saw it in one bookstore and I didn't have any money on me - boo. In terms of knitting books, I've had my eye on the Last Minute Knitted Gifts and Vintage Knits - there are a couple of really cute projects in each.
29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??
Nope.
30. What are your foot dimensions (in case your pal wants to make socks)?
From heel to toe my feet are 9.5" long, 9" circumference around the ball of my foot and 10.5" at the widest part of my ankle, probably because I've sprained my ankles so many times :)
Wow, I guess that's it! I'm going to go work on my socks now (see in-progress pic below)
and hopefully have an official FO this evening.
another (which I'm not going to show yet) for a secret surprise gift, and a skein of green and blue laceweight. Those should keep me occupied for a while, especially since I'm anticipating having to slow down once classes start on Monday.
(hooray, lots of room for homework - uh, should I be happy about that?), a futon bed, a nice little kitchen, tiny bathroom, and giant walk-in closet area. It also now has a ton of junk that I bought to fill it up :) And food! I won't starve, even though my siblings were worried about not being able to find any large grocery stores near campus.
