secret pal information questionnaire


I just got an email today - from secret pal 8 , to post this.
and i am a little worried as i am not onthe participants list and i don't know who my secret pal is yet... i am sure it will get sorted.



1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love natural fibres - and soft fibres. i like wool, cotton, silk mixes, angora. I dont like 100 % acrylic. I really don't like acrylic. I really like brown sheep wool "lamb's pride" the mohair mix-- the regular bulky or worsted. they don't have it here in.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a few bags that I've made. I have one for crohet hooks, one for big needles and one for skinny/ small needles and DPs.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned how to knit when I was about 14 yrs old- i'm 36 now but didn't really "get into it", but I was an avid crochet-er since 10 yrs old- and I found knitting hard. thru the years i picked up my knitting and made scarves etc a few times. I really started again in 2000 , when I was worked at crystal palace -- straw into gold- in berkeley,California. Then I stopped excpet for a few ponchos for friends. I am really starting to get into knitting again since i moved here to NZ - 2.5 yrs ago. i had never use patterns so that probably why i stuck to hats and scarves and ponchos. Crocheting , I've made purses , bags, hats, blankets- tons of stuff.. I just started using patterns. horray- makes life simple .. der! i found a copy of stitch n bitch at the library and that with elizabeth zimmerman's Knitting Around (from my days at straw into gold) i gained some confindence in patterns..
so -hence my 2 UFO sweaters.
so i'm a beginner in knitting and intermediate -advance in crocheting and sewing

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
yes at amazon.com and i started a froogle list
If you type in my email address it comes up
http://www.amazon.com
I tried to be all computer savvy and have a link here - but I haven't really mastered that. sorry.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
essential oils - currently wearing and like gardenia and white ginger is nice too
I like lavender, peony and rose ..

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
love sweet things- dark chocolate!
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I have a hand spindle and used it a few times-- but that's a long process to make yarn ... I'd love to get a spinning wheel one day. I sew alot . I like emobroidery and crocheting.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love music all different music. Lately , I listen to http://www.kcrw.com/show/mb and streaming music- i like their show - "morning becomes ecelectic".

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
I am so boring, i love black !!! and grey and browns..... I have started wearing a little more color since i've moved to NZ (everyone wears black here). I like jewel tones too --dark deep reds are my current color.. but i like dark oli-y greens, dark purples, navy... a little rusty orange - ..but mostly boring basic black. But i really like texture !!!!

I LOVE polka dots and stripes !!!!!!!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my one husband, 2 cats. We don't have kids yet, but fingers crossed- soon. All of my family is in Hawai'i and my friends are all in California.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
yes, yes and ponchos - I dont' have one- but I have made about 6 for other people!!
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I don't have a favorite item so far, because I am just getting into reading patterns. Initally, i like knitting hats, scarves because they were easy and fast. I think I'll attempt a pair of socks -- after I complete my sweaters
13. What are you knitting right now?
I have 3 current knitting projects- 2 are on my blog and I haven't picked them up since that post because I am at the neck and arm hole shaping... i'm sacred .. but the weather is gettting cold and I'll need those sweaters.
I also have a dog sweater in an ice blue mohair started for my friends poodle.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
YEs- who doesn't?
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circular- bamboo feels good. I want to try knitting on those glass needles too.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Yes- I have one (yarn winder) somewhere . It might be in my storage in Hawai'i.
17. How did you learn to knit?
An Auntie showed me
18. How old is your oldest UFO?
I'm so embarrassed- that would be that pink sweater on my blog, that i started in 2000 .. but it was packed away in storage from 2001 - 2003 .. (like that's an excuse) see question number 13 for why it's not done yet.. I WILL FINISH it ! I started on the brown one last month from scratch because i started thinking the bulky pink yarn wouldn't look good one me-( or was i subconsciously trying to avoid the arm and neckhole shaping ??)so the brown one will be finished first!!!! i am going to state here - I WILL FINISH THE BROWN SWEATER WITHIN 30 days!
19. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween- I love bats
20. Is there anything that you collect?
I am a collect -a -holic. But i 've had to curb my evil ways since i've moved here. I love old fabrics, books ( especially craft and sewing books) linens - like tea towels etc with needlework , clothes like 1900's - 1940's. and SHOES!!!! i love Shoes - ( terrible) i also like Hello Kitty - i 've been a fan or hers since 1976..scary that havne't outgrown her yet.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Subscriptions to NZ are too expensive ... or I would have a ton of them - knittting and otherwise. Books I am eye balling are on my amazon list...

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
??umm not that i can think of right now in knitting , but my blog skills need improvement.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
no- but I will be !!! I am a US size 8- wide-ish
24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
23 May