Punk Rock Gift Exchange Questionaire

1) How long have you been spinning/Knitting/Crocheting?
I have knit since I was nine, 27 or so years -- on and off, crochet since I was 13, more off then on, and no spinning - not enough time now . . .

2) Do you consider yourself a beginner, novice, or experienced Yarn Artist?
Experienced Yarn Artist, now it is all about knowing how to do the technique correctly then push that knowlege into something new.

3) What type of fibers have you worked with?
Several novelty yarns, wool, alpaca, cotton, silk, rayon, bamboo, rag, paper, wire, thread - and several combinations of those too!

4) What types are you dying to try?
When we were in New Zealand, we bought these sweaters that were Possum and Merino wool, beautiful and so soft -- I want to try knitting with that, but can't find it here. I am also seeing some wicking yarn that I am just starting to see out - the yarn wicks moisture away from the skin -- I am really curious to try these yarns for socks and sweaters. It would be so nice to have some knitted goods that I can actually wear when I am being active. Other then that I really like natural fibers but I am not sure what I would be looking for, there are so many good choices out there!!

5) Are you allergic to anything, (Fibers, Food, Smells that make you want to puke, etc.)?
I am allergic to wheat - which is in everything, so I just try to be careful about how much of it I eat, and some wools made me ITCHITCHITCH!

6) Do you have any Disorders, ex: Diabetes?
None.

7) What is your Favorite Time/Style period, ex: Romatic, Grecian,Metal, Goth,etc?
It would be some combination of victorian and goth - I love the texture, the layers, the inticate patterns of the fabrics and lace and the decadence of the way that people dressed and put these things together. Also, these times there was so much ceremony surrounding clothing and what you wore and why you wore it. Very beautiful.

8) What fibers do you dislike?
I dislike novelty and man made fibers - acrylic, rayon, polys, I tend to stick with natural fibers, there are so many choices and they look better and wear better.

9) Name some of your favorite Artist, Movie wise, Television if you watch it ex: I heart Keanu, some things cant be helped, and Rachel loves Mike Ness !?
Ryan Adams and Pete Yorn make me melt, also Jason Leigh - and he is even tall!! That has always been one of my "things" about men that is for some reason important. Then there is the cute doctor from Greys Anatomy (Patrick Dempsey??) but he is probably not tall, though. Truely, though I wouldn't trade my hot husband for any of them.

10) Whos your favorite Character ex: Jack or Cpt Jack?
My favorite character is Earl from "My name is Earl" - I love how simple and funny he is and how the tides of the gods work for him, even accidently! I don't watch much TV or go to the movies, but for some reason, this show makes my week every week!

11) Do you prefer natural colored fibers, or handpainted/dyed fiber?
I love yarn and both natural colored fibers and handpainted/dyed fibers are both regulars in my knitting. It is just finding the right yarn for the right project.

12) What are you favorite colors?
Black and purple are my favorite colors.

13) What colors do you dislike?
Bright colors - my palate tends to be more muted, and no yellows.

14) What projects are you currently working on?
By the time my secret pally sees this it could be totatlly different, but here is the real and embarassingly long list:
knucks for my husband
black cashmere scarf
wavy lace shawl for my dad's girlfriend
alpaca blanket for MIL
raglan sweater for my grandson
punk stripe hat
r2 sweater
market bag
hush hush top for me!

15) Do you have a wishlist?
I don't have a wishlist - other then for more arms and hands - so I could get through my projects faster.

16) Do you have any other favorite hobbies?
I love to garden and don't mind tending the flowers, either, and I love cooking. Those two kinda go together. Is ebaying a hobby? Then there is cruiser bike riding, hiking, camping, running and pilates.

17) When your birthday?
July 31st

18) What is your favorite food, candy, scents that you love!! Etc.?
My favorite food has to be cake! Especially chocolate cake with white frosting, yum. Otherwise, my food tastes go through phases - right now it is asian grilling but I think as fall hits it may be moving to french provincial cuisine. The scents that I love the most are not too sweet; lily, rose, lillac, cloves, vanilla -- really anything that is not too sweet. My favorite candy involves chocolate - since it is always a decadent treat. I don't care for nuts (but am not allergic) so that is the biggest thing that I try to work around with my candy - kitkat, butterfinger, twix, pretty much all of them. I am allergic to wheat so I don't eat much cake or many cookies, but it is definately a guilty pleasure and I just have to be careful. For cookies, my favorites are Berger cookies found on the east coast only, but the magic of online ordering.

19) Are you pierced at all? Any tattoos? Can you/would you wear jewelry that isn’t real?
My piercing are quite tame - just ears. I have several tattoos, again fairly tame as I have always had the theory that when I dress up, I don't want them to be seen. And I usually wear jewelry that is not real, accessories are meant to be fun, not break the bank.

20) What do you like Culturally, ex: Celtic, African, Devil Worshiping, Kidding!?
I think I tend towards native american more then any other culture. I was raised in a very catholic family, but later in my life when my parents split my dad converted to judism -- talk about guilt. Somehow, I haven't ended up with much allegience to either. When I was married the minister did a ceremony with a lot of celtic and native american rituals, it was beautiful. I tend to be very organic and into leaving the earth in a better position then I found it in. Keeping things natural, and organic , worshiping nature and the tides of the gods, of karma and the way that things are meant to be is really what I believe.

21) What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Don't laugh, while I do have one needle holder (that around our house has been nicknames "the quiver") most of my needles live in a galvanized pail, dps in a long skinny cardboard box, and a second pail holds my circulars in zip lock bags by size.

22) What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
First off, my computer does not play mp3's - which sucks and means that one day I need to update. I like all different kinds of music. Right now, it is boy pop punk that I listen to most - sum 41, the fray, blink 182, green day, 30 seconds to mars, the killers, panic at the disco, ect. There is also my singer songwriter side with ryan adams, pete yorn, kathleen edwards, steve earl and neil young. There is a little country - only old country willie nelson, don williams hank williams, bob wills, johnny cash, and such (even at the risk of being tossed out of this exchange - kidding), and all the good old 80's punk and new wave, then the silly feel good pop -- kelly clarkson, ect., and there is also my husband's band - lots of variety (I didn't even get to jazz, classical or so many other types of music!!)

23) What's your favorite season and why?
I love fall and winter, because I get to wear 17 layers (kidding - kinda). I do love the colder seasons, the holidays, the good vegetables to cook with, wearing lots of clothes, hiking in the snow, cuddling up with my husband, ect.

24) What season do you abhor?
I don't have a season that I abhor, I think my least favorite thing of the seasons is when spring doesn't come or it stays super hot into the end of October. I like to experience all of my seasons.

25) How about Sports, any that you just cant get enough of or do they make you throw up in your mouth just a little?
My secret sports weakness is Washington State University Football (we even have the flag hanging outside our house on game day -- geeky). I used to be a professional bike racer, so I do occasionally flip on the tour (de france) and see how the guys that I know are doing. Then there are the Mariners, Mubs and I keep up with them. Other then that I am not a big sports fan -- however Denver can be a pretty sports crazy town, and espcially the Broncos make me throw up in my mouth a little.

26) What is your family situation Do you live alone?
I live with my husband in a big house that is divided into apartments. We have a sort of pseudo family of our tenants, especially the man who has lived in the basement apartment for just shy of 40 years, but I swear that we are not the crazy landlords that are all in your shit. (We all have had one of those!) And I have a retail store with 8 employees who all end up being my kids too. (Again, I am not one of those weird crazy nosey employers either - I swear!!)

27) Do you have any pets?
not yet, but a chocolate lab is on the top of the christmas list (even though I know I won't be getting one till we move next spring.)

28) Do you like handmade gifts?
Yes! In my estimation, if you can knit or crochet, you are creative and thoughtful creative gifts are the best. (That is one of the things that made me fall in love with my husband - handmade gifts.)

29) What’s your favorite thing to make, knit/crochet or other craft wise?
Scarves and shawls are my favorite thing since you can stretch your knitting ability with new stitches, new shapes, lots of variety, can use any yarn, and I wear them all the time!

30) Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
I don't really have a preference - for big projects its always circular, and smaller items are on straight needles. I probably prefer straight, but sometimes they just aren't practical, so I don't want to start having a bad attitude about circular because it will make the big hard projects seem harder.

31) Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
As much as I love it when my husband acts as a swift, I do own both a swift and winder. My knitting time is precious, I don't want to waste it winding yarn.

32) Tell us how you learned to knit/crochet?
My Grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 9. I got to go to my grandparents house by myself for two weeks - it was such a big deal. That summer my Grandmother "Mubs" taught me how to knit ( I had made several dishcloths by the time my two weeks were up, the last ones were perfect, too!) and how to embroider (I made a pillow top) while I was there. It was one of the coolest memories from my childhood.
When I was thirteen, I stayed with a girlfriend while my parents were at a convention. Her mom taught us how to crochet while I was there for four days. It just never quite held the same appeal. But it is quite handy for borders and such.
About two years ago, I was with my hubby in Omaha, staying with some of his friends for the weekend. The little boy was trying to learn how to crochet for a cub scout merrit badge (that is a whole other story), while I showed him how to do a single crochet - it really jumpstarted my knitting from a casual occasional thing to a full blown "problem" (not my word).

33) Do you enjoy getting helpful hints from others or does it just piss you off?
It is great getting tips from others!

34) How old is your oldest UFO?
6 months or so - anything that is older then that gets frogged - this one is on the fence, it may be going away soon!

35) Is there anything that you collect?
Other then yarn? Yes, vintage salt and pepper shakers, vintage pyrex, 20's/30's/40's and sometimes 50's pattern books for knitting, glass art, really art of most kinds, Washington State wine, vintage costume jewelry and vintage garden accessories.

36) Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Not that I know of. My last craze was R2 by Rowan,but I think I have exhausted that -- now there are just 10 more projects on my to-knit list. I am always looking for things that stretch the boundaries of my knitting (ie, the screendoor in AlterKnits, the wire planters in Simple Knits With A Twist - weird and functional.)

37) What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have if any?
I don't have any subscriptions, I tend to buy magazines on an issue by issue basis - depending on if I see projects that I want to do.

38) Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I have never knit socks, is that a technique? I am not sure about any other that I would want to learn . . . Never close the door to learning or possibilities!

39) Do you enjoy knitting socks? How big are yer boats (feet)?
I have never knit socks, but I just ordered a pattern and some wicking (keeps the moisture away from your skin) yarn, so I am going to try - my feet are an 8 1/2 US or 38 1/2-39 euro.

40) When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
07/31