Secret Pal 9

Okay. let's see if I can answer all of these. There are sooooo many questions, my attention span may be maxed out. In that case, I'll do some now and add more when the mood strikes. Also, it's nearly midnight and I'm taking some of the new teachers at school to the Folk Village bright and early tomorrow. Celebrate the biggest local holiday of the year by introducing them to some of the culture and history. Any buy stuff to take home in December. They've got the best souvenirs (and the lowest prices) in the country. But I digress. You wouldn't really know that I teach writing, would you? Trust me, I have much higher standards for my students.;-)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I don't really have a favorite. I've just discovered a sock yarn that is wool/ silk and it is soooo soft. I'm not really a snob, although I prefer not to use acrylic, that's because I don't like the look of it. That unnatural sheen can be seen a mile away.
What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Unnaturally shiny ones :-) and felting/ bleeding yarns. I do not live a life of leisure. My knitting time will not be cut into by hand washing (unless it's really fabulous yarn). Although I'm not super sensitive, I prefer yarns that aren't scratchy or "hard" feeling (you know what I mean).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
At the moment, a big plastic bin where they are mostly in a tangled mess if they are not in use.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn?
I learned to knit in the late 80's when I was an exchange student in Germany. My host mother taught me to knit a few days after I arrived. The first time I cast on, I made a sweater with no gauge swatch. It set an early precedent- both not to worry if I'm up to the task or not and not to swatch-- I accept that I have to frog more than swatchers, and I can live with that.
Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'm intermediate. I can do stuff, but I prefer not to do things that require too much concentration, because my attention wanders and I usually knit while doing other things.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not at this time, but that could change.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
I like vanilla, but I'm not really a scent person. (I don't wear perfume and I try to buy unscented detergents, soaps, etc. I'm not anti-scent, it's just not my thing.)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I am trying to end my addiction to chocolate/ sugar/ artificial sweetener. I really don't see how crack could be better than dark, orange chocolate (but I won't try it just in case).

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sometimes work on a quilt (the same one for two years now, not even getting close to being pieced) and I've taken traditional Korean sewing classes (like quilting, but with silk to make small items).

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I listen mostly to modern country (the kind that sounds like Southern rock), Southern rock, and older (60's- 80's) rock and pop.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I like deeper jewel tones, like emerald, sapphire, ruby... I generally don't care for pastels or orange. These days, I'm really into dark teal.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am recently separated, no children, except my cat, Knievel. Yes, like Evel. He was about two before he could jump from one surface to another without falling and used to only nap on the edge of things. He frequently proved that cats don't always land on their feet. So, he got named Native American style. If you are too young to remember Evel Knievel, he was a stuntman who did spectacular stunts, but broke every bone in his body along the way.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes, I do not tolerate the cold well. My hometown doesn't get snow and I've never adapted.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I go through phases where I'll just knit one thing. Sometimes it is sweaters or afghans, right now it's socks.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Hahaha. On the needles- two pairs of socks, two sweaters, a scarf and a lace stole.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Duh! I knit. I love handmade gifts (knit or otherwise).

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I only use circs. Right now, I use bamboo, because that's what is available here. In the States, I would usually use aluminum.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No, I'm trying to resist- winding doesn't kill me and I know I would just use it as an excuse to increase my stash.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
About 1.5-2 years. It's "finished", but I don't like the way the collar came out, so I won't wear it. It's still in my knitting bin so I can rip out the collar and do it over. An afternoon's work, but I can't seem to make myself do it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving)- it's going on now. It's a three-day event that Koreans go visit their ancestors graves, so it's like everyone is out of town but me (well, because they are out of town). It's quiet and peaceful, which is rare in Korea.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
yarn and knitting paraphernalia ;-)

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 can't find any lace books here and I would like to find a nice shawl/ stole pattern to use with some Helen's Laces I got for my mother. I don't subscribe to any magazines, because the international rates are so high for something sight unseen. Recently knitting magazines have become available from some bookstores here, too.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I'd like to learn to be a better finisher, but that's more patience than technique. I'm not really into intarsia/ fair isle...

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter. I wear a US women's 7-8 (23cm from heel to longest toe), regular width.

23. When is your birthday?
I'm a Gemini.

My goodness that took me a long time. Taciturn I'm not.