Secret Pal 13 Questions

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I prefer any natural fibres, particularly alpaca. I really don't like novelty yarns at all.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
a) a knitting bag bought by my daughter many years ago b) a woven raffia bag presented to my other daughter's fiance when he completed his gap year teaching English on an Island in the Pacific. c) a vessel I made in a felt making workshop but mostly they just stick out of a basket I have where I knit. I guess I have quite a stash!

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am old enough to have learned at school very many years ago. The avatar on my blog is a genuine photo of me around that time. I think I am pretty advanced but still have things to learn
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon one which I will add later

5. What's your favorite scent?
Single flowers, particularly Rose

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh dear yes. Dark chocolate, real Turkish delight, coffee, nuttiness

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I do wet felting and have just done a class in chain-mail jewelry. I am a closet scrapbooker but we don't talk about that.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm not terribly musical. I like some Jazz, Leonard Cohen, odd things really.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
My colour choice at the moment seems to tend towards greens. I love teal too. I think the only colours I don't care for are powdery pastels and fluorescent.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my husband and Lily-the-dog. We have 2 grown up daughters and 1 granddaughter age 5.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Scarves yes, hats seldom, mittens (fingerless) often, ponchos .....not even the first time around!

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I am really enjoying shawls at the moment, fingerless mittens and anything my daughters ask for. Cardis for me when I get the chance.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am about to embark on a shawl for my daughter's wedding knitted in laceweight bamboo which is rather like sewing thread!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Very much

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Depends on the knit, but always as short as possible. Dpn's for socks. I don't understand the circulars gig, addi lace circular for shawls.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Unfortunately no but I have very convenient knees which just hold a skein

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
See my avatar....I never did complete the second mitten! Actually I have some beautiful alpaca/silk which doesn't seem to know what it's vocation is and has been frogged several times.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
We celebrate Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Do yarn and needles count? Vintage knitting things. Pottery baskets.

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 subscribe to Interweave Knits, Knitting, Simply Knitting, Yarn Forward.....far too many!

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to get more confident with fairisle.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I like to knit socks. I am an English 4, continental 37

23. When is your birthday?
May 2nd

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am although I don't take full advantage. My ID is Mazzam