Secret Pal 10 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

- I prefer natural fibres - i'm a yarn snob, what can i say? :)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

- A needle case that I made several years ago. But its getting a little full.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

- about 5 years now, all thanks to Miss Tiffany and my cousin Anne... I'd say i'm an intermediate level knitter, but that doesn't stop me from trying more difficult patterns.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

- yes, its here... but please ignore the very expensive things that make me look very greedy... my list doubles as a 'when i am very rich i will get this' list. I also haven't updated it recently... I'll do that in the next few days.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

- beeswax for candles, lavender or vanilla for bath stuff. Oh, I love that menthol/eucalyptus baby bath stuff too - I got hooked on it one time years ago, when i had a bad chest cold.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

- i love all candies, except for those little black Dutch salty gummy things... (its been years since I had them, don't know why i suddenly thought of those!)

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

- I can sew (badly) if I really have to, and I keep meaning to try out my yet untouched embroidery kit. I also do a bit of card making (but all my stuff is back in Ottawa), and I really want to try freezer paper stenciling.

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 almost all music, except for rap and punk, and the really obnoxiously loud stuff. my computer is very much overloaded with mp3s, but im always happy to increase my collection! :)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

- I like blues and non-fuschia pinks and those really buttery yellows. I think I look scary in most reds, so i tend to stay clear of those. Grey seems to have become my new black for the moment, but I think that's just because of all the sunny weather we've been having.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
- I'm currently renting a room in glittrgirl's flat (she makes a great landlord!) in Newcastle. She may own the place, but its really Greebo the cat who runs it! Whenever possible, I live with my fiance back in Ottawa, although that probably won't be happening again soon, unless someone out there knows the secret to Captain Kirk's transporter device!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

- yes, yes, yes, no. Scarves especially, as I find they keep off the chill in an otherwise drafty office (or lecture hall!).

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

- I like knitting gifts, for some odd reason. almost everything I made last year was for someone else. This year I'm trying to knit more for myself - the current score is tied at one gift, and one gift for me!

13. What are you knitting right now?

- 2 sweaters for myself, and a gift for a certain pregnant friend of mine...

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

- yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

- I'm kind of up in the air on this. I used to think straight was better, but now I like circulars because they're more portable - and usually make for less seaming, depending on what you're making. Bamboo is better for some fibres, but i can't resist the new fun-coloured aluminum needles that Boye is making, even if they are kind of cheaply made (especially their circulars!)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

- yes to both

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

- 4 years and counting... its an afghan thats in the bottom of my stash box. Maybe I'll have it finished in time for whenever it is that we buy our first house/flat/place we plan to live in for more than one year.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

- Halloween. I'm already scheming to see if I can be back in Canada for this year's celebrations!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

- not really. craft supplies is the only thing I can think of, but that's not really a collection, its practical! :) it includes stuff like paper punches, embroidery threads, rubber stamps, fun scrapbook page decorations which I use for cards... that sort of thing.

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'd like to get Mason-Dixon Knitting, and there are a few baby books I've been eyeing. I frequently buy Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting International, but I don't have any subscriptions. check my amazon list for other books I've been considering.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
- I want to start designing my own knits, probably starting with baby stuff, cause its the easiest.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
- yes, sort of. I wear I size 9 us (39 european), and my foot is 25cm long, and 22 in circumference. I have very long, skinny feet, especially considering I'm only 5 feet tall!

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

- June 11th.