good-natured ribbing

Here are the responses I sent to my secret pal. I also think that we were matched up perfectly…she seems very cool, just like me…
She is a basketball lover!!! Although the loves the Spurs (Pistons’ arch enemy), I give her credit for excellent taste in teams. The funny thing is, she ALSO won tickets to a playoff game! I’ll have to ask her if she had to sing for them…

Here’s the standardized questions:

1. Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?
I would say Noro Kureyon – colourful and abrasive.

2. What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
I like all colours, but somehow tend to work with darker, richer colours.

3. Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
I am currently using variegated yarn for the first time on a pair of socks (which I am learning to knit well)

4. Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
I prefer natural fibers, but will work with other synthetics. I tend to choose wools/alpacas, but am learning to work with other types (cotton ribbon, for example).

5. Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls
of yarn?
I have generally worked with wound yarn, but enjoy center-pull despite the fact that it is far less entertaining for my cat!

6. Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in
trying them?
hmmm. By organic do you mean cotton and hemp and bamboo and such? If so, I recently bought some cotton, but have not started my project yet (a tank top).

7. How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
I’ve made about a hundred scarves, five hats, a felted bag, a capelet, a pair of “footies” (from Oneskein), my first sweater. I am in the process of knitting a pair of socks, a felted bag, and a hat.

8. Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
I most surely will. I’ve already given five knit gifts since January (felted bag, three hats, capelet), and plan on many more for the holidays.

9. What is your favorite one skein project?
I really enjoyed making the “footies” (my first ever “socks”) because they were on larger needles and included cables. In general, I like making hats.

10. How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
I have probably 50 skeins stashed away. I create “secret” mountains. They start as a small pile hidden behind a chair, in a drawer, under a table, and they somehow grow and morph into an insurmountable tower of fiber that not even the cat can conquer.

11. Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never
use it or part with it?
Nope. Love to share good yarn.

12. Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
I used to. But the bug hasn’t left me this year!

13. Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
Technically, two. At work, a bunch of us knit one or two lunch breaks a week. I also have a group in my town of friends that meet once a week.

14. Pal, please confirm for me your mailing address
(included in the email)

My pal also sent along some extra questions of her own devising…

Do you like animals? What kinds do you have? Saw that you mentioned a cat….fellow cat lover here :).
I have a sweet and fat kitty named Blake. He is named after William Blake, as I got him the day I defended my thesis about William Blake.

Do you have any favorite shows?
I don’t watch a lot of TV, although I try not to miss a Pistons game! (I love to knit and watch basketball). When I am not watching a game I will catch Survivor sometimes. I have to say my favourite show is America’s Next Top Model. I do not know why this is.

Books?
My favourite authors have to be J.R.R. Tolkein and Stephen King. I’ve read just about everything they have both written multiple times. Two books that are favourites that don’t fall into this category are Q & A by Vikas Swarup and Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
In general, I am a horror buff, reading anything I can that will scare the pants off me. Edgar Allen Poe is a favourite as well as M.R. James. I can’t get enough of their short stories!