I've been running around like a one-armed paper hanger - I'll post about my wonderful trip very soon, I promise! :-) Meanwhile, it's time for the next round of Secret Pal, so I need to get my
questionnaire posted.
1.
What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love any natural fiber - especially wool. I love Wool of the Andes,
Jamieson & Smith, Bartlett, Briggs and Little,
Harrisville,
Cestari, most small-mill yarns, and anything that Schoolhouse Press sells. I love knitting with pencil roving, too. I won't knit with anything acrylic (except for
WoolEase in an extreme pinch) or anything that looks like the pelt of Grover.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Since I got the Options set, I've been using that almost exclusively. For everything else, though, I have a
2-sided worm binder from Bass Pro Shops; I have at least 40 pairs of circulars, crochet hooks, markers, tape measures, etc. in it.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My Grandma
Benefiel taught me when I was six, so I've been knitting for 37 years. I knit
professionally (for the
KnitPicks catalog, books, and knitting magazines), so I would have to say that I'm an advanced knitter. :-)
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? It's right
here5
. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.) I make a lot of my own bath products, but I love a good, straight-out vanilla.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Dark Chocolate!! And
Gummies! I LOVE
Jaffa Cakes, but they're not available in the states.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I spin, quilt, sew, make soap and lotions, crochet a bit, cross stitch, garden, and can food for the winter.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like nearly everything except rap and hip-hop.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love maroon, dark blue, purples, dark reds...anything in the warm category. I don't like orange, yellow, gold, light green - I have nothing personal against those colors, but if I wear them next to my skin, people keep asking me if I'm going to be sick. :-)
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have
3 children a husband and 2 children. My boys are 17 and 14; the 17 year old leaves for college at the end of August, and the 14 year old starts high school next month. I have 2 dogs (a Mini-
Dachsund named Tick and an Airedale named Gracie) and 5 cats (Moe,
Repo, Rambo, Sparky and
Itty-Bitty).
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes, Yes, Yes, and
NoNoNodeargodNO.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love knitting sweaters, shawls, socks, and anything that catches my fancy at the moment
13. What are you knitting right now? I'm knitting a men's sweater in 1x1 rib for a book project, a test sweater for Schoolhouse Press, and 2 baby sweaters for showers next month.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes!!!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I don't use straights (except to hold spinning bobbins), and my favorite needles are my Options and my
Inox greys. I love my
Holz & Stein needles, too.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes to both!
17. How old is your oldest UFO? About 3 years - I have several sweaters in progress that are in perpetual time-out.
18. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas or
Thanksgiving - anytime family gets together
19. Is there anything that you collect? Pre-1960's cookbooks, vintage knitting patterns, stitch
dictionaries, roving and yarn!
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 love Hazel Carter's lace patterns and
Fiddlesticks shawls. All of my magazine
subscriptions have lapsed, but I really like Vogue Knitting and Interweave Knits
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I'd love to learn combination knitting
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I love to knit socks! I wear a US 8-1/2.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd) 12/17
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? I'm
SanityKnit
Cleveland may have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but did anybody actually *read* this when they put it in the terminal? There's nothing like a grammatically incorrect sentence to make a really good impression! 
