6 posts tagged “sp11”

Well, I've been struggling with my camera for the last couple weeks and I think it's officially dead. I've rudely made my upstream Secret Pal wait for a public "thank you" for quite some time while I tried to get some pictures of the awesome goodies she sent me. For now, my gratitude will have to be text-based. For the record, I just want to say "Thank you so much!" The very cool thing about my SP is that she really paid attention to some of my knitting issues and has helped me solve them. The bigee was my inside-out socking knitting. Solved...thanks to my secret pal. The second is my problem with casting on and binding off...and, well, finishing.  In my October goody box she sent me some wonderful tasty treats and tea (all of which I had to eat/drink quickly to avoid being pilfered by husband and children), some gorgeous purply mohair and the perfect book ever: The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques. I've already referred to this book over a dozen times in the past 2 weeks! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Secret Pal! You are very sweet and it's been such a pleasure getting to know you.

Yesterday, I came home to a mysterious package. Funny, how excited a grown woman can get over a box with her name on it. Weird, even. Anyway, my pictures are kind of sucky, but I think I have the most considerate and thoughtful Secret Pal evah!

She obviously read my blog and picked a box of goodies that is absolutely perfect for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for realizing how badly I want to be a sock knitter and how much my one little sock knitting issue (knitting inside out) is keeping me from that goal. Not only did she include an amazing soft skein of Lana Grossa sock yarn, delicious chocolates (that I've had to hide from my husband and children...the little piggies), some printed instructions for using 2 circulars to prevent knitting inside out, 2 adorable little zippered bags (so, so cute), a bonus Debbie Macomber book, but she also sent me Ann Budd's new Getting Started Knitting Socks. Score!

Really, thanks again. So much. You are awesome.

So did I mention that I sent out my very first Secret Pal goodie package last week? I'm dying to see if she likes it. I think I did a pretty good job...maybe even went a little overboard. I guess I can't really say what I sent because it's, uh, a secret. I really hope she likes it. 

1.  What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?

• Probably my swift and ball winder. Everything else is pure luxury.
  

2.  If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you?  If so, how much and what type of project?

• This is the problem I'm having right now as I pack for our trip. Because we're driving I can actually take a bunch of projects. I think I'm going to take a circular baby blanket (yarn is MCY cotton) that I just started and Girlfriend Swing Coat (yarn is Mission Hills Cotton 1824 in red), I might actually also take yarn for Fetching and a Clapotis. I'll probably also bring Romantic Handknits and some gorgeous bamboo yarn for Sarah's Yarns....just in case. Oh, and there's great Buddha pillow from knit.1's Spring 2007 issue that I'm dying to knit. Look, it's a long drive and a lot of slow time on the boat. Knitting heaven.

3.  Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?

• I've been to a lot of places. I love Hawaii and I love our trip to Lake Powell. My husband and I are going to Italy, France and England next year for the first time. I'm soooo excited.
  

4.  What is your favorite knitting book at the moment?  Do you own it?

• I just bought Knitting Lingerie Style and Romantic Hand Knits and I love them both. My two favorite designers.
  

5.  Do you listen to podcasts?  Which is your favorite(s)?

• Yes. Way too many! My favorite is probably still Brenda of Cast-On, with L&V close behind. I also really enjoy CraftyPod, Craftcast and Craft Sanity (among others).
  

Dude, I'm in Secret Pal 11. Squeeeee! This is my first secret pal exchange and I'm so excited. I have all kinds of great stuff I want to spoil my pal with. Of course, I need to wait until I find out what she/he likes first. :-)  So maybe I'm jumping the gun here, but I thought I'd post my questionnaire early since I'll be out of town from August 18 through 29 (family vacay...houseboat....water....fun...sun....days and days of knitting). So here it is:

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

Loving bamboo and natural yarns right now. Always a sucker for indie dyed and spun yarns. Trying to stay away from synthetics and 100% wool (have so much wool in my stash right now). Really, I'm a total yarn ho and love trying new yarns, fibers and colorways.

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

Cute little bag and the circular sets have their own cases.

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

1 1/2 years. Strong intermediate.

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

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1KUPJA6H2Q7KC/

5. What's your favorite scent?

Vanilla and florals.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
    I love butterscotch and truffles. Love candy, but only in very small doses.

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

Trying to learn to spin on a drop spindle. I also make jewelry, mostly out of vintage beads with new and repurposed findings (vintage MIriam Haskell and vintage Japanese beads). Sew a bit. Love fabric.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Big iTunes fan. I love music: Ramones, The Cramps, Holly Golightly, Social Distortion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Stripes, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley,Amy Winehouse, Van Morrison, The Misfits, The Cult, John Lee Hooker, Gwen Stefani....the list goes on forever. 
My Last.fm profile: http://www.last.fm/user/modmom/

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

Love colors. All colors. I'm really partial to chocolate and blue hues right now...trendy, I know.

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

Son 10 years old and daughter 4 years old. Husband (together 17 yrs, married 11). Cats, dog, fish, chickens...

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

Yes!

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

I love hats...instant gratification! But I so badly want to be a sock knitter!

13. What are you knitting right now?

Flourish Shawl in Noro Kureyon, Monica in KnitPicks, and a stack of Baby Bibs O' Love. Getting ready to cast on one of Joan McGowna-Michael's patterns (can't decide which) and swatching for Stefanie Japel's Simple Knitted Bodice and Girlfriend's Swing Coat Sweater by Wendy Bernard.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

More than anything!

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

All of the above. I mostly use my KnitPicks and Denise sets, but I love bamboo, too.

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

Both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Moldy old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween...and Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Japanese craft books, Pullip dolls, yarn! Books. Miriam Haskell and vintage beads.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine
subscriptions do you have?

So many!
Any Noni pattern (except #114)
Anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman
PUnk Knits by Share Ross
One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant
Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel
More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Sock knitting (the right way). I have this problem, see, where all my socks start out inside out! I've watched online videos and read every flippin' book, I can't seem to figure out what I'm doing wrong. Spinning. Dying (yarn).

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I wish I was. I so want to be. I pretend that I am. I have tons of yarn, but all my socks turn out inside out. Women's size 9...wide foot.

23. When is your birthday?

May 6...the summer of love.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

My newest addiction is Ravelry, for sure. My ID is Rusty.