SP11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really like wool years. I love merino and merino blends that incorporate mohair, angora, alpaca, silk, you name it. I also like cotton blends such as Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece and I’m currently knitting a One-Skein Wonder in a cotton silk blend that I’m really enjoying. I also love to try new fibers. I really like hand-dyed yarns as well.
The only yarns that I really don’t like are fun furs and crazy novelty yarns and super tough acrylics.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have the Knitpicks Options and Denise Interchangeable sets and keep them in their respective cases. I use a zip-up tapestry needle holder that was my great grandmother’s for straight needles and a small rubbermade tote for my circulars.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I’ve been knitting for about a year and a half. I learned from a book (Stitch and Bitch to be exact supplemented with Maggie Righetti’s Knitting in Plain English) and have been knitting away ever since. Since then, I have taken several classes at LYS to hone specific skills or to tackle projects and skills that I’m a bit leery of trying on my own. I would consider my skill level to be intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a wish list at Amazon (Jennifer Lynn Sinfelt, j_sinfelt@yahoo.com).

5. What's your favorite scent?
I like floral and clean scents. My two favorite floral scents are rose and lavender.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
My favorites are Swedish fish, sour patch kids, Ghiardelli chocolates and caramels.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I like to sew. I am planning to get back into it more this winter. I haven’t done much sewing lately. I am also interested in trying jewelry making and like to play around with refinishing furniture. I'd love to learn how to spin someday but that is far off in the horizon. I've got too much knitting to do right now to take up spinning as well.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
My taste in music is eclectic. I am really into singer songwriters like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Aimee Mann and David Gray. I also love Motown and Reggae. Am really into older country singers like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson at the moment. I am also really interested in hearing new things.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love reds, greens, purple, pink, grey and black. I’m not a big yellow or orange person.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am a petless, urban singleton.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to all of the above. I love to accessorize and we get some pretty cold winters here in the ‘burgh.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Hmm… what don’t I like to knit? If I had to pick my favorite items, I would have to say sweaters or tops and socks at the moment but I also like to knit hats, household stuff, skirts, gloves/mittens and the list goes on and on, if it can be knit, I’d eventually like to try it.

13. What are you knitting right now?
A pair of Monkey socks, a One Skein Wonder, a tessellating fish afghan, a color work/steeking project for a knitting class I am taking, a Cozy V-Neck Pullover with Deep Ribbing from Fitted Knits, Silk Sleeves from One Skein and a birthday present (can’t say what it is as the recipient sometimes checks out the blog.) I'm sure that there is probably something I am missing or that I will be adding on the list soon.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
I LOVE TO RECEIVE HANDMADE GIFTS!!!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I tend to knit most of my projects on circular needles. I am a Magic Loop sock knitter so I love extra long circular needles for that. I like all three and vary them depending on the project. I would love to get some plastic or bamboo 40 or 47 inch circulars in sock sizes (0, 1 or 2) for travel knitting. I am always afraid that my metal needles might be confiscated.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have both a yarn winder and a swift. I just recently got them to deal with my ever expanding stash that I would rather be knitting than winding. I love them and don't know how I ever lived without them.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
My oldest UFO is about a year old. It’s a Ticuna vest that I only have to pick up and knit the arm bands and it’s finished. I will finish it by fall because I really want to wear it.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas – I love to give and receive presents (hence my love of swaps) and spending time with family and friends. I love decorating the house. My roommate and I go crazy with a 10 foot tree and garland and decorations everywhere.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Besides yarn, knitting patterns and books and knitting supplies? I can’t really think of anything else that I collect.

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 would love to have the Barbara Walker Treasury books. I'd love the patterns for pretty much any of Wendy Bernard's adult tops, particulary the Somewhat Cowl and Flair patterns. I also love Cookie A. sock patterns and have all of the free ones online but haven’t gotten through knitting them all yet but also love the ones that she has for sale. As for needles, I’d like some non-metal socks needles, either dps or 40+ inch circulars for airplane knitting in any size from 0 to 2. Yarns - I love to try new yarns. If my swap partner is a spinner or dyer, I would love to get to work with their creations. I have a subscription to Interweave Knits. I am also thinking about subscribing to Vogue Knitting but haven't yet. I'd love to check out Rebecca magazine as I have read good things about it but have never seen one. I am really looking forward to getting to meet a new person and to swap fiber-related gifts. I can't wait to learn about new fiber-related stuff from my swap partner and will love everything that my swap partner sends. (I'm an ENFP Aries, we can't help but get excited and enthusiastic about everything. We're kind of the Tiggers of the personality/zodiac spectrum.)

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I am taking a steeking class and want to learn to do intricate colorwork and intarsia. I want to learn how to knit socks from the toe up as I have only knitted them top down. I have yet to felt and want to learn how to do that and am looking forward to blocking out some time to spend with my copy of Victorian Lace Today and learning to knit lace.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I am a sock knitter. My foot measurements are US size 8, 9 inches from heel to toe.

23. When is your birthday?
I’m an April Fools baby… April 1.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I’m on Ravelry. My ID is jsins.