Wool & Words

For your reading pleasure, here are my answers.

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high-end/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Truth be told, I've got plenty o' Lion Brand in the house, particularly Wool-Ease. I like it for quick washables and playing around with techniques. That said, I'm not buying anymore. I have plenty and I really prefer nicer yarns. So I guess I'm not a "snob," but I am not purchasing the "less expensive" stuff anymore. Love Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and Fine, and just about anything wooly.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

No crochet happening here. I just took a handspinning class, but I wouldn't ever characterize myself as a spinner.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I am highly allergic to pet dander and am sensitive to smoke and strong perfumes. I have found that knitting with mohair and angora makes my throat itchy and my nose sneezy--sniff! Wool, however, is always delightful.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I started knitting 2 years ago last July. Wow. Has it been that long?

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

Ah, Amazon. I love you so. I need to do a bit of weeding and watering to my list, though, since it's looking really crazy. I've got this bad habit of stashing book titles of interest for my teaching there, so there are a bunch of books on the list that I'm no longer interested in getting. I'll try to weed it out and freshen up.

Find the list here.

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

I love vanilla, Opium perfume, smoky florals, spices. Mmmm.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

My mother used to eat dessert before dinner. Does that answer your question?

Love York Peppermint Patties.

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

I'm in the Clean Sweep mode right now and I'm beginning to dabble in scrapbooking. But knitting is my one true love.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if you want to make her a CD)

Eclectic tastes. No rap, no hip hop, no techno. A quick sample of the faves: XTC, Lyle Lovett, They Might Be Giants, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder. Eclectic. And yes, I'm mp3 ready.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

I tend to wear black, blue, khaki, white, brown...are you sensing a theme? I look great in blue-reds, but I tend to be shy about them. I wonder why? No orange or pumpkin or yellow. And for some reason lately I've been drawn to greens--olivey greens.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I am single and have no pets of my own (see above), but I am "stepmom" to my sweetie's kitties, Mercury and Zeus, who, when they aren't making me sneeze, are the sweetest orange chunks around.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Someday I will teach my grandkids to knit in the community center my husband and I have developed. It will be a shop selling craft items with a cafe/community gathering space for evening poetry readings and musical performances and, of course, knitting and crafting classes. Oh, and I dream of this shop selling its own line of books on tape, read by local students to joyous crafters on weekend nights. Bliss.

The hubby will likely run his own brewing training center as part of the deal. Mmmm.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I love Brown Sheep Nature Spun (no Lambs' Pride because of the mohair), Cotton Fleece, and Cotton Fine. Elsbeth Lavold's yarns are divine. I'm about to have my first Frog Tree Alpaca experience, and if I don't sneeze, I'll be a devotee. Silk. Silk is sexy. Patons Grace and any good quality mercenized cotton. Even soft silky nylons/acrylics (the high end stuff) are good. And sock yarn. Mmmm. Socks. Love Lorna's Laces.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Hmmm. Scratchy stuff. None of the stuff that makes me sneeze. Not into the glitzy novelty stuff, but the fluffy stuff is amusing for kicks.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Lace. Socks. Stranded/Fair Isle. Cables. And, believe it or not, at least one project of mindless stockinette in the round. Keeps me balanced.

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

Finished items. It's all good.

17. What are you knitting right now?

An endless pair of knee socks. A poncho. A hat. A pi shawl. Wow. That's all?

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)

They make lightweight sense. I'm making mine out of an inexpensive acrylic for easy washing and guilt-free tossing when they go out of style.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I'll pick circs almost every time, but when I do knit straight, I like bamboo.

20. How did you learn to knit?

A crafting friend taught me to knit one of those diagonal dishcloths. It looks like a Christmas tree. Then I took a class in sock knitting--no guts, no glory!

21. How old is your oldest UFO?

Well, it can't be more than 2 years old. I'll have to check the Evil Box of Finishing to see.