We interrupt the regularly scheduled blogging to post answers to the Secret Pal 5 questionnaire. This is my first time participating in one of these things. While I might have issues with dealing with the pressure of picking stuff for others, I’ve been jealously reading about the packages folk have been receiving from their secret pals. I wanna play too! I love surprises! This is also to disguise the fact that I have yet to take pictures of the SEX from Mass. The twins went to bed later than normal to begin with and then Kat had a bad dream or something and was up with me until 10pm. Needless to say, nothing got done last night.
I did start the heel flap on my gull wing sock this morning on the train. Haven’t I blogged the start of that sock? I might not have. Oh well. Started it Friday on the train home and am using Paton’s Kroy in Retro Red. While I was slightly embarrassed at taking a picture of my knitting resting on my leg on the train, I sucked it up for all of you. I wasn’t about to hold it to the window where the big old power station and its mountain of coal dust was visible outside. It does look nice with jeans, my primary wardrobe.
Hopefully I’ll have more to show tomorrow. At the very least, here is the one picture I took all weekend. Some blogger I am. I should hang up my keyboard in shame. That’s Rosemary, Claudia and Laurie as they stood opposite the Merlin Tree as I was trying out my Hitchhiker.
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Now my answers to the multitude of questions:
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
–Yup. I am a yarn snob. Not so much a brand snob, but more of a natural fiber, classic yarn kind of snob. I prefer a nice wool, or wool blend in a classic composition. If Red Heart or Lion Brand makes such a thing then bring them on. Right now I’m drawn to things like Rowan’s Wool Cotton though I was perfectly happy with the Elann Peruvian Highland, so I don’t only use the expensive brands.
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
Yup. Both. I don’t do much crochet, other than half that poor little thread bear a couple of months ago, I haven’t even held a crochet hook in as long as I can remember. Now spinning is another story. If I love anything more than knitting (besides my kids) it is spinning.
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Perfumes and scents. They can trigger a migraine before I even can even realize what is going on. I have to hold my breath walking through the cosmetics area of Macy*s. Shame the purse area is right next to it, but I digress.
4. How long have you been knitting?
Far longer than I care to admit. My mother taught me when I was 8. While I don’t think I knitted constantly from that day forward, it was an on and off hobby of mine. It became more of serious thing in probably college. Ain’t nothing compared to how crazy I’ve become about it since I discovered blogging, but that is another story.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No. Sorry.
6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
As I’m generally not allergic to them, vanilla. Classic scent too that generally doesn’t over power.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
I’m a woman aren’t I? 
Of course. Prefer coffee to chocolate though. Actually, prefer coffee to most everything!
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I sew, quilt, cross-stitch, embroider, tat. I have a lucet and would love to try naalbinding. Someday I’ll get around to using the scrap booking stuff.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love classic rock and classical. I’ll listen to top 40 and the oldies. I have a trusty little iPod and my computer can more than handle some MP3′s.
10. 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 colors tend to be red, black, white and I’m trying to expand them out. I’m not entirely sure what my seasonal colors are, someday I’ll figure that out, but my sallow skin tone, brown hair and hazel eyes dislike most greens, lilacs. I’d guess pastels are definitely a no-no for me. I’m being drawn to the fall colors though I suspect I’m more of a winter.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I’m a single mother of 19 month old twins. I have 3 cats and one angora rabbit.
12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
To be happy, healthy with friends and family around me and the means to make most things possible. Oh wait. I have that now. I’d always dreamed of having a car and kids. Got em. The rest of life has been like icing on the cake.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
This is a tough one as it tends to vary a smidge. I’m very much enjoying the Rowan All Seasons Cotton that I’m using for Trellis. I really liked the Jaeger Shetland Aran. I definitely liked the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino and the Elann Peruvian Highland. I love a good sock yarn and did enjoy using the Cascade 220 when I made Hatmione this past winter.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
100% cotton. Ack-rylic (*without being blended with something else, aka Rowan ASC).
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Cables and lace. Oh and socks. Always sock.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Shawls and socks.
17. What are you knitting right now?
A shawl (stonington), socks (Gull Wing – Socks x3), cabled sweater (trellis), and a ribby out of cotton-ease
18. What do you think about ponchos?
That they should die a horrible death… at least for adults. They are cute on little girls. I still have bad memories of the crocheted ones from the 70′s with the huge pompoms hanging from them. Shudder. I won’t miss the poncho craze when it goes away again.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Circular. Hands down. Can’t remember the last time I used straight needles. Did that stop me from splurging on a set of lantern moon needles? Uh nope.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
All of the above. They have their uses. Little pointy metal ones for socks, bamboo works nicely there as well. Plastic worked nicely for the cotton that I hated knitting. I do love my casein dpns that I bought a few years ago, but they taste terrible. Addi Turbos for FAST knitting where super points aren’t necessary.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
Am I a sock knitter? Oh yeah. Always have one pair on the needles at any time.
22. How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me when I was 8.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
Two years ago I would have answered this question differently. When I was pregnant and cleaning out the craft room to make it a nursery, I killed all UFO’s, reclaiming yarn, needles and trashing the rest so I would have nothing older than that. Before then, heaven only knows. I get distracted by shiny pebbles and found plenty of half finished sweaters, the oldest of which was probably started in 1986 and only needed half of one sleeve to go. I’m not entirely sure what my pregnancy induced pitching craze had me do with that one. The oldest UFO now is Big Sack Sweater.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Speedy Gonzales.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
July 4th. I’m a summer baby!
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Loyal readers will snicker and wonder if there is anything I don’t collect 
Umm yarn. Spinning wheels. Drop Spindles. Knitting Needles. Patterns (lace especially). Cat figurines.
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
IK, though I think my subscription expired with the summer ’05 issue.
28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Dying? Not really. I get a pretty good employee discount on books and usually pick up what I’d like before long, especially during those weeks where they up our discount. I would like Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, Knitting on the Edge and Knitters Workshop.
