Secret Pal 10 (Leopard)

So, I’m doing secret pal 10… I know it costs some cashigola, (the total cost, before shipping is 60% of what I make a month), but I just love making friends with folks – and nothing brightens my day like a random package.  Read on if you’re interested in the Secret Pal Questionairre…. (some is the same the one I did for SP 9 – but some are different…) – Oh, and I called this Leopard because I really, really want Mac OS 10 Leopard to come out – cause my parents have told me they’re buying me a laptop for graduation and I want a Mac… a shiny new mac with cool stuff….

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love natural fibers and I’m totally into socks right now – so that means I pretty much only buy sock yarn. I’m not such a fan of heavy cottons and/or any acrylics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a roll-up needle case but I don’t usually use it unless I’m traveling. Normally, I store my long straights in a vase. Double-points are stored in a cheap mug that was a freebie from our on-campus bookstore – and I’ve been using those little spiral thingies to keep the sets together – handy, but they’re expensive….. My circs hang in a home-made circular solution. You can see more here.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I consider myself at an advanced level. Nothing really scares me in knitting (except intarsia – and I probably could do that if I tried – I just don’t have a good enough reason to try). I’ve taught myself just about everything as I needed to know it (how to do socks, fair-isle, seaming, lace, etc.) I celebrated my two-year knitiversery this past December.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, but if I did, it would definitely have this book on it. Oh, and the last 2 of the Barbara Walker Treasuries.

5. What’s your favorite scent?
I love clean smells – laundry, cotton, vanilla, spring rain, fresh air type of scents. I also have lotion and body scrub in the Happiness Scent from Mary Kay and kind of wish that I had the perfume for it. I can’t have candles though because I live in the residence halls at IU and open flames are BAD (and I’m an RA so I have to set a good example).

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I like Milano cookies in the raspberry flavor. Actually, I like a lot of things in raspberry flavors. – My last secret pal sent me some chick chocolates in a raspberry flavor that was incredible.  Also, the Chantilly Raspberry cookies from Pepperidge Farm are pretty much to die for.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I sort of spin on a spindle. The only thing I’ve ever spun into yarn was pretty ugly and really, really thick. The post about it is here. I really, really like dying (again, I’m a snob and I like real acid-dyes – not drink mixes) and I wish that I had some of the dyable sock yarn from Henry’s attic – but right now I can only afford Knitpicks dye-your-own.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes, it can play MP3s. I like some country (the traditional stuff (Dixie Chicks, Home)or the sappy chick stuff (Trisha Yearwood, I would’ve loved you anyway) NOT the hick stuff (I’ll stick a boot in your ass), most of the music from Paste Magazine and almost all the music from Grey’s Anatomy (best show ever, by the way! -Note – my secret pal 9 spoiler sent me both soundtracks though (love ’em!) – so beware with that one) – I dislike rap and heavy rock. And I kind of think Dave Matthews is a tool.
9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I like earthy, natural colors. Green is my favorite ever in the whole world, but I have a lot of green in my stash. I’m not a big fan of bright, bubble-gum, pop colors.  I really, really love the look of yarns that have been kettle-dyed (or are subtly variegated solids).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
’m a single college student – It’s my senior year at Indiana University. I’m an RA in the dorms (no pets allowed) – My parents and my younger sister live at home in Northern Indiana. My brother (also younger) goes to Ball State.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes. Particularly scarves (but not fun-fur ones).

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Socks.  Socks.  Socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Socks.  My giant log cabin blanket.  Some other stuff.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Ooh!  Ok!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like Bamboo and Birch needles – it’s always a treat when I can use them. The KP options are nice, but I still find myself knitting socks with my Clovers and not my KPs. I like the nickel plated circular that my blanket is on – but I do appreciate the bamboo and I find myself preferring bamboo (or birch) in just about every situation. I dislike aluminum and plastic but have no particular preference for circulars or straights – I use them both – it really depends on the project.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Both, actually – Christmas  gifts from my parents.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Old.  It makes me too guilty to think about…

18. What is your favorite holiday?
The Fourth of July. It’s a family holiday for me with memories of good food, good weather and great fun.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I’m very into tea right now. I love the Tazo teas, particularly the fruity varieties. I also like mugs for drinking it from. I want to have a collection of mugs with varying looks/styles and stories behind them. And of course, I collect yarn and knitting books.

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 don’t have any knitting magazine subscriptions. I like Interweave Knits, but I’m not a fan of Vogue Knitting. Also – much of the other magazines are too boring/simple for me (this does not include Rebecca – I love that magazine -it’s just so expensive!).  The Big Book of Knitting has been on my list for a while also.  I also kind of want some bamboo needles in those weird sizes (2.5 US or 1.5 US) – I knit socks all the time!

21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
I want to make a sweater with a fair-isle bust but I think I already know how to do that. I guess I want to learn to spin on a spinning wheel (I don’t have one, though). I guess I’m such an independent knitter that nothing really scares me. I guess steeks scare me – but that’s because I’ve only used a sewing machine 3 times in my life (with bad results). So I guess the short of this answer is “no.”

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I am a sock knitter. I think that I have a size 8 foot. Nothing real abnormal – I’m not wide footed or anything so the basic women’s medium size always works for me.

23. When is your birthday?
9/19

Also, just to note… I am allergic to smoke and to some animals. Just an FYI.

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