One Skein Secret Pal Questionnaire

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?
Umm, what was that question? Do you mean that there is a yarn out there that resembles a frazzled 4'10" little mom of three who is constantly being pulled in 20 different directions? Now, this I HAVE to see. Maybe ratty purple fun fur???
Now, if you want to ask me something that makes more sense, not a Barbara Walters type question (what kind of tree would you be?), like what kinds of yarn do I like to work with the most, I could tell you that I like all kinds of yarn, but cashmere/merino wool blends or wool/cotton are my favorites.

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
Well, purple is my favorite color by far, but I don't knit EVERYTHING with purple, because that would be silly. I'm not a huge fan of oranges or browns, but even they have their place, like knitting a Nemo fish or brown moose or something.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
Yes. Sometimes it breaks up the monotony. I have never used the magic colors sock yarn, but would love to try.

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
It truly does depend on the project. And though I'm not a total yarn snob, I always find myself seeking out the cashmere/merino wool blends, like Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, Rowan Cashsoft, or Louisa Harding Kashmir. Not that I always buy it, mind you, but I do drool all over it.

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
Now, THAT is a good question. A worthy question. What is a traditionally wound ball of yarn? Is it that kind of figure-8 shaped skein that you have to put on a swift and wind with a ball winder before knitting with it? If it is, I don't mind, because I can re-wind it. If you're talking about the universal debate between knitting from the center of a skein or the outside of a skein, I always knit from the outside. I've NEVER pulled yarn from the center of a skein without it getting all knotted up. Plus, a hollowed-out skein of yarn that has had all its guts pulled out just looks so, well, sad.

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?
Actually, I'm working with some as we speak. I'm knitting up the Girlfriend's Swing Coat Sweater in Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton. It's lovely. I would use it again for other projects.

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
I don't have an official count, but in the last year I've knit some baby blankets (with Sirdar Snowflake/Bernat LuLu/Lion brand Polarspun), some dishcloths (with cotton), 3 baby sweaters, a pair of baby leggings (with Rowan wool/cotton--a dream to work with), heart Christmas ornaments, of course some scarves, afghan squares. I've got 4 unfinished sweaters on my needles, and I'm going to start my first pair of socks soon.

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
Abso-freakin-lutely. Does anybody get anything other than knitted objects from me?

9. What is your favorite one skein project?
Right now I'm in love with the picot bag from the book Special Knits by Debbie Bliss.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
Such a loaded question. See, it's not really my fault. I fall in love with a particular yarn (Bernat LuLu for instance, to make the best baby blankets with) and they up and discontinue it. So I can't be held responsible for gathering up and hoarding every single ball of that that I find. I can't help it, really. Other than that, I try to buy yarn for a specific pattern, and I've been pretty good about that. I store my yarn in stackable plastic Rubbermaid bins.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?
I like this question. There is a lovely skein of handcrafted yarn that I bought from the lady who made it when I was travelling in Connecticut. This was before I ever became a knitter. The yarn just called to me. I don't know what I thought I was going to do with it, but it was too beautiful not to have. This yarn recently resurfaced during my spring cleaning, and now that I'm a knitter, I'm still not sure what to do with it, since it is a solitary piece of art. I'm still searching for the PERFECT project for it. Now the Bernat LuLu, that gets knitted up for very special friends only.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
Nooooo are you crazy? I've heard of this phenomenon and wonder at the restraint. Even if I'm knitting a sweater in the summer, it will be there when the weather turns cold. Summer is the perfect time to knit! Sitting on the deck, taking your knitting on vacations and road trips. If anything, I knit MORE.

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
I knit at a lovely local store every Wednesday evening as time allows. I'm always open to more...


Please feel free to ask me if I didn't cover anything here. I'm looking forward to meeting you, O/S Secret Pal!