secret pal 8 questionnaire!!

**I will probably end up posting a link to this on the sidebar @ some point, as well, fyi secret pal!**

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
honestly, I'm not too horribly picky. I do love super soft, squishy yarns. my favorite of late has been cascade 220 (I just discovered it..ha) but I'm not opposed to acrylic one bit. my favorite acrylic would be TLC essentials in Surf n' Turf...or any of the multi-colored colorways. anything I absolutely DON'T like would be anything too fussy...I don't like sparkles or the ribbon yarns or neon/cheapy colors, or any yarn that's not straight on yarn (ie...has sequins, beads, bumps, fuzzies, etc). I like just your average texture yarn. but colors...I would say the only colors are neon really that I just can't stand. I'm up for most any other colors!

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
well, nothing as of right now. this little bedside table tray thing. I would love a nice needle case for either, though (I have mostly straight needles, one circular...and TONS of crochet hooks!!)!

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'm somewhere between beginner & intermediate...but definitely more towards beginner. I officially learned the basics about a year and a half ago (december 2004), but I got bored with what I was knitting (and classes also got in the way @ the time), so I stopped. lol. then, I got the knitting bug again this January and it stuck! and I am now obsessed and hooked for life! :)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
yes, I do. the link is over on my sidebar to the left (if you're on Internet Explorer or any browser and can't see the sidebar, it should be all the way @ the bottom of my page over to the left. I apologize! I'm working on switching over to Typepad, so I don't have such problems anymore). :) but also... my amazon wish list

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
well my favorite candle ever is Yankee Candle Co's Midsummer's Night. but also...just about any scent that White Barn Candle Co. comes out with. lol. except none of that mashed potatoes and gravy mess or whatever funny scents they have. to be more specific, I generally like fruity yet spicy...clean, scents. if that makes any sense at all. bath products and such...I definitely go for the clean, fresh scents. and also, I adore Victoria's Secret Lovespell fragrance/lotion/shower gel. It has been a constant with me for the last 4 years or more. I usually mix it with my other colognes. oh but if I had to pick all-time favorite I would have to go with Gap's Grass scent that has been discontinued...I miss that smell sooo much!! but alas, it is no more. but if you happen to remember it...that might give you an idea of what I like. :) it always made me think of summer.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
sweet tooth, yes. although I attempt not indulging it too, too much. candy...I LOVE dark chocolate, just about anything. and although I love coffee, I don't tend to like coffee-flavored chocolates. dunno why. but as I said, dark chocolate is my favorite. pretty much any chocolate, though. snickers is a favorite candy bar. and I love dark chocolate truffles. I'm not big into the sour sweet candies or any candy that doesn't have chocolate in it. haha. oh, I also enjoy m&m's & reese's cups/pieces. hope that helps!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I am really in love with fabrics and the idea of quilting lately...although I don't have a quilting machine or a good sewing machine, so...you know. but I do love fabrics. I also crochet as well as knit as well as sew/embroider as much as I can. I don't spin, but it sounds just as addicting as all of the above! I love to paint, although I haven't in years...

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 all kinds...for more info on that, check out this blog. and yes, my computer can play MP3s...so can my iPod! lol.

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
my favorite color is blue. but I love greens, reds, pinks, neutrals, etc. basically, anything not neon is usually pretty cool with me.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my boyfriend in an apartment and we have a pet dog named Ashes. she is a Lab/boxer mix...white with black spots and is oh-so-cute! :) there are photos of her in various blogs of mine on here.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
scarves - most definitely! hats - not as much, but I do enjoy a good beanie in the winter. usually a beanie/scarf combo. mittens - oh yes! I love "accessorizing" my winter attire with all the above! and definitely enjoy colors for these! but also, a nice crisp neutral or white would be much appreciated! ponchos - not really. although I have really been wanting a shawl for myself lately. something feminine, lacy and delicate, but not all hole-y and nonexistant. something pretty to keep me warm without weighing me down, basically.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
well, I have a fairly limited experience thus far, but I just got finished knitting the Counterpane Accessories Pouch from Handknit Holidays (see post before this also) and it was a blast! I loved seeing the progress! I'm in the middle of knitting my first sweater..Orangina from Glampyre Knits and it's equally as fun! I'm really interested in learning to knit socks. at this point, most things are really exciting for me to knit. although nothing too plain & boring!

13. What are you knitting right now?
well, I am knitting the Orangina sweater from Glampyre Knits. I'm also contemplating starting another project, but I can't decide what. I'm also considering beginning the Counterpane Bag. lol.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
yes! that was easy enough. :)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
well, again..I'm a newbie and don't really know. I have more straight needles than circular ones, but that's only b/c I hadn't needed any circular ones till I began this sweater. and so far, I enjoy most textures of needles. I began on aluminum, so most any surface is fine with me! so basically...any will do! lol. I have a small supply so whatever I can do to enhance it, is a-ok with me! all I have are straights...size 6,8,10. and one circular size 3 24". I have a trillion crochet hooks, so I don't suppose I need any more of those, but of course, I would not pass any up if they came my way.. :) all I have are the aluminum ones, so perhaps custom ones or something nicer would be cool.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
no, but I would love one!! of either really...but a ball winder seems more handy @ the moment. but again...I would not pass up either, as I have nothing @ this point!

17. How did you learn to knit?
my mom taught me the basics...after that, I just paid attention to the directions carefully and picked up on what I could through trial and error. it's truly the best way to learn anything!

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
oh, just like a month, if even. it's the sweater I'm working on now, so I'm not sure it counts as UF, but nonetheless. I don't have any UFOs at the moment!

19. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas!! hands down. the feeling, the good times, the snow, the cuddling, the great movies (It's a Wonderful Life...my favorite!), the family times, the decorations, etc. it's just a warm, fuzzy kind of holiday.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
I have started a magnet collection, yes. any fun, quirky, unique, vintage, etc magnets. I also collect buttons...vintage ones. I would love to start a really nice ribbon collection.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I would love some handpainted/hand-dyed/handspun yarn. I never can seem to either afford it or I talk myself out of buying it..but it all always looks so wonderful! needles...well, i could use quite a bit of needles. i would love any fun ones, with neat ends on them...or really just any. lol. patterns...oh, I'm sure there's tons! but I wouldn't even know where to start. Books...check out my Amazon wish-list...you'll see plenty there! lol. and I will try to update it sometime next week/this weekend, so keep an eye out! magazine subscriptions...I have Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting for a year. I would love a Bust magazine subscription or Knit 1..or any other great knitting/crafting magazine out there that I don't know about yet! :)

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
well, I've just purchased my first yarn and kool-aid to dye, so I'm definitely interested in that. i would love a warping board, ala Scout. I would love to learn how to knit socks, as I said, although I'm not sure that's a technique exactly.

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
haha...well, if you've caught the rest of this post, you know the answer to this. and I don't know my measurements, but I generally wear an 8.5 in shoes. ..if that helps...which it probably doesn't. ha.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
august 21st. i'll be 25! :)

well, I guess that's about it. I'm pretty open to most anything, really! hope that helps you and gives you some idea of what I'm all about, secret pal! I'm so excited for this! ***i did this in installments, so if anyone besides my pal reads this, let me know if I missed a link somewhere!***

.♥.