If your friend jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?

Well, duh...when it comes to the Secret Pal 5. Everyone is doing it...so I had to do it too...gotta hang out with all the cool kids! What fun! There are over 500 knitters participating...wow. I love Pinku's swaps, so had to do this one too.




Here are my answers to the Secret Pal 5 Quiz - Warning: I'm a little long winded, but I'm sure you will find it all so fascinating (Hope this helps my pal out):

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Well, I suppose I kind of am a yarn snob…but I’m also snobby about paying full price for the good yarn. If I’m making something big, like a sweater that calls for a ton of yarn…and the yarn is not on sale, I might as well buy something already made from the mall that I can afford. I really don’t like the feel and “cheapness” of Red Heart etc. brands cause they just don’t look or feel as nice. I tend to stay away from that stuff.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I have good intentions on learning how to do both…have the books ready to go anyway.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
I recently became aware that I am allergic to cats and don’t really care for the scent they leave on you.

4. How long have you been knitting?
I have been knitting for 3 years full time…but knitted and crocheted when I was a youth…just need a refresher on the crocheting.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do have an Amazon wish list – see my blog link.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
I like lavender, vanilla and citrus scents

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Oh my goodness do I! I’m not a giant chocolate fan as apposed to sugary things, but do like an occasional Snickers or M&M’s, etc. I’m addicted to those tropical flavored Certs and usually only get them on vacation cause the only place I can find them is at convenience stores. My favorite dessert is Crème Brule – just got a kit for Christmas. I like cookies with milk too.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
I am so surprised that I have been into knitting for so long because I tend to go from one type of craft project to another fairly rapidly. I guess I accomplish one thing and then am done with it usually. I do everything from jewelry to photography, home décor, feng shui, embroidery, painting, whatever…I can pretty much do it. I’d rather do things myself and “do it right” than pay someone else a ton of money.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I have a pink mini i-pod…and like a lot of different things…not really into country, classical, heavy metal, hard rock or rap, but pretty much anything else is fun. I love 80’s music. I like alternative/indy stuff and dance music. Listening to Franz Ferdinand, Le Tigre, Ian Moore, Aimee Mann, Carina Round, Mono and PJ Harvey.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
My fave color is hot pink or fuchsia or turquoise blue or emerald green. I wear a lot of black. I like jewel tones and the fall season. I can’t stand yellow, especially golden-rod…yuck.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married for 3 ½ yrs. and have a one year old pug, Ape Carlino (Ah-pey)

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)
Oh my goodness – I will just say, I’d rather be at home with a flexible schedule instead of working full time at a job I’m really not in to. That would give me the time to travel with my husband. I want to run my jewelry/knitwear business full time and help my husband with his many endeavors as well.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I really like the Blue Sky Alpaca…it is so so so soft and full.I guess I like mostly natural fibers in any form.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I can’t stand eyelash yarn with all those fake colors…gross. It's so cheesy!

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Capelets, lapblankets, ponchos, boleros – anything that wraps or goes around the shoulders - great accessories

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like things that are fairly easy… Scarves, wraps, hats…that don’t take a lot of thought and planning and reference to intricate patterns. I will and can do the more detailed things, but not as often. I prefer things I can do while riding in a car or watching tv.

17. What are you knitting right now?
a lap blanket, shawl and baby hats

18. What do you think about ponchos?
I actually like ponchos. I tend to be cold and they wear like a blanket and keep me warm. I like the way they look on if they are a stylish pattern, not the trendy crappy ones that anyone could buy at Walmart or the mall.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I heart my Denise circular needle set.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
And, I also heart my size 13 US bamboos…faves…they are what I learned on and are perfect for most scarves. I hate aluminum needles…too slippery for me.

21. Are you a sock knitter?
When I first learned to knit, I started so I could make socks, cause they also had these cool see-through plastic shoes that you could wear to show off your makes, but now I really am not interested. I’m having so much fun with the apparel, etc. and still haven’t learned how to make socks.

22. How did you learn to knit?
I knitted at a young age, but it had been so long I had forgotten everything. So, I took a quick class at my LYS and it took off from there. I’ve bought most of the knitting books that exist and have taught myself all other stitches and patterns as needed.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
3 months - lap blanket

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love my pug baby…I also like butterflies and ladybugs and bumble bees. Of course Hello Kitty is awesome!

25. What is your favorite holiday?
I like my birthday and my anniversary and any holiday that gets me out of work

26. Is there anything that you collect?
hello? I’m learning to stop with the collecting…it’s crazy. I have got to get rid of stuff. I collect snow globes only from places my husband and I travel to. I try to get sterling charms for my charm bracelet – don’t have any knitting or pug related ones yet. I also kind of collect linen kitchen towels, shoes, handbags, vintage ceramic or modern glass vases and am obsessed with anything hot pink. I am also in love with fashion & home décor magazines. I can’t get enough.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any subscriptions…just buy one every now and then if I like the patterns.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
As far as knitting goes:Loop-d-Loop, Vintage Knits, Missoni (Made in Italy) and 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar