Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire

Here's my SP12 Questionnaire.
Your normal Blogging service will resume shortly (when I get chance to upload pictures from the bank holiday!)

Secret Pal 12 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favourite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
   I use a lot of wool yarn. I like soft things like Angora and such, love natural fibre. I would like to try bamboo some time! I'm not completely against man-made fibre, but it's nicer if it's in a mix with the wool or whatever.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
   They're in some ikea linen boxes in the top drawer of my yarn chest. Totally disorganised!
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
   I started knitting in January 07, I picked up a book with some birthday money, my Mum showed me how to cast on, and I was away! I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate I think. I knit socks without too many issues, I know two kinds of cast on. I can tink and I'm okay with correcting a mistake a couple of rows down (not in lace). I have started my first lacey project and have all the kit to make a Muir shawl (from Knitty) I started crocheting about four or five months after the kniting. I don't get on with it as well, and I'd say I'm a beginner at crochet.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
   I have an Amazon knitting wishlist Here (I hope)
5. What's your favourite scent?
   I prefer fruity scents. I do like chocolate and cinnamon scent too.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favourite candy?
   I like chocolate-and-nut combinations, and chocolate and fruit. I love 70%+ dark chocolate.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
   I have a "learn to spin" kit that I haven't had (made) time to try out yet. I make greetings cards. I also enjoy baking, both bread and cakes.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
   I like cheesy pop and rock (especially 80s rock)
9. What's your favourite colour(s)? Any colours you just can't stand?
   My favourite colours are red and pink, I'm less fond of yellow and green, but I do like them in moderation (or on Jaywalkers!)
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
    I live with my long-suffering boyfriend. We have a hamster.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
    Not so much with the ponchos! I love hats with peaks to stop the rain from getting on my specs!
12. What is/are your favourite item/s to knit?
    Gosh! Well, I'm really enjoying knitting socks at the moment. I think it's because they are quick, portable and comfy when done! I get bored with knitting scarves though! I'm not fond of rib.
13. What are you knitting right now?
    Well, you can see in the side-bar that I have several projects on. These are a sweater for the aforementioned boyfriend, some Jaywalkers, a hat I'm designing, a massive throw, more socks for the Discworld swap, and my first lace scarf. The lace on the scarf makes it a bit less boring!
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
    Yes, especially useful ones!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminium, plastic?
    I think I get on better with straights, but I am currently trying to learn two-at-a-time-on-two-circs (socks) instead of my 4-or-5 dpns (which I adore!)
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
    No, although I'm borrowing a yarn winder at the moment, and I fear I might have to obtain both of these things before long!
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
    It's a 2x2 rib scarf I started in September 2007. I think it might end up being cancelled rather than hibernating!
18. What is your favourite holiday?
    I am a beach bum. I like nothing better than doing as little as possible on the beach. I like city-breaks too though, my trip to Bruges last February was fantastic!
19. Is there anything that you collect?
    I collect mugs (the kind you drink tea/coffee from).
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 subscribe to Knitters'. I usually pick up Interweave Knits from Borders. I'm thinking about subscribing to that and possibly Knit.1 too. I only get Vogue when I fancy something in it. I'm always in to trying something new, I fancy trying bamboo or tencel yarns, or possibly hemp or nettle!
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
    As I said, I'm starting to knit two-at-a-time-on-two-circs. I wouldn't mind trying magic loop. I'd love to dye my own yarn.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
    I am indeed a sock knitter! My foot length is 8" from heel to the start of the toe shaping (I do cuff down). I'm a UK size 6.5 roughly. (I think that might be an 8.5 US, but don't quote me) I'm making the smaller circumference Jaywalkers, I think that's about right.
23. When is your birthday?
    I was born on the 31st December.
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
    I am on Ravelry! My ID is Tsuki.

Birthdays and Socks

At the weekend I went back to Gainsborough for my Dad’s birthday. We had a nice time, did a little shopping, some fixing of the car and had a lovely meal out. On the way down to Gainsborough I finished a second pair of Saartjes Booties for baby Ruby. The other pair was too small.
I’m pretty happy with them. I’ll definitely use the pattern again for other babies in the future.

I managed to finish the Earl Grey Socks on the way home. They’re good, I’m very happy with them. OH wore them on Sunday night and proclaimed them to be both comfortable and warm.
Sadly at some point there I managed to pick up a cold, so I spent most of yesterday in bed. I felt properly rubbish, but was improved enough by the afternoon to pick up some knitting. Though the Sweater of Doom called to me briefly, I pretty much just did a couple of rows. It’s not that it’s not interesting to knit – it’s not bad now that I’m into the cream bit – just that I didn’t feel like knitting it. it’s so big and hot!

Anyway, I pootled around a little before finally deciding that it couldn’t hurt to cast on some more socks (the Music with Sox in Swap notwithstanding, starts on Friday – I’ll have a month to make some socks) and the Jaywalker (Ravelry link only now Magknits is no more) has been in my queue for a while. It’s really quite a funky pattern, and so easy! I love easy but funky. And oddly, it’s not as boring as it should be. Perhaps this is because I am easily amused, and so I get excited every time the colour changes in the yarn. I’m using “Lemon Sherbet” in the Magic range from Opal. (Get Knitted say it’s a UK only colour, it’s fab!)
The colour changes didn’t start until after I’d done the ribbing, which works. I don’t know what will happen with the second sock though. Despite the fact that I want to try two at a time on two circs, I thought I’d leave that for the sock swap. Also, I’ve heard that Jaywalkers are fun to knit and go quite fast (I’d agree so far). I do worry that I will not be able to put them down though!

Update

So, it’s been a while, but you’ll see why!

First, there was the PTH. I’ve been keeping schtum about the costume and theme until now, and here is mine:

This was the rest of the team. With the exception of the DS9 costume, I made all of the tops and my dress. I’m pretty pleased with how they look!

Then there was the wedding on Saturday
Leon had the camera, so most of the pictures are of me!
What do you think of the new haircut? Goes with the dress, I think!

I don’t have much other news, or knitting news, so I’ll post again when I do.
If you’re listed as Friend or Family on Flickr you’ll be able to see the rest of the pics.

Busy?

It’s been a busy week so far and it’s not getting any less busy!
Mum and Dad were up on Sunday. We visited one of the local farm shops. (The one with the chickens)

Having spent most of Saturday on the costumes, I then spent about half of Monday on them too. We then went shopping on Monday afternoon for some magi knickers for me (wait ’til you see the dress for the PTH!) and we also managed to pick up part of my Dad’s birthday gift.

Tuesday was a pretty hectic work day, at the end of which I spent several hours in a car going to Telford. At least we were staying in a nice hotel this time. The food in the restaurant was a bit hit and miss, but fairly tasty and cheap. Breakfast was the usual buffet sort, but tasty too! The meeting was reasonably useful, which is always a bonus when you’ve travelled all that way. The journey back was pretty uneventful. There was some kind of medical incident on the train which delayed us by about 20 minutes. I hope that whoever it was is okay.

So, today is the PTH (Pub Treasure Hunt) and my team at work actually have two teams this year! I’m still not telling you the theme or showing you the costumes yet. They are fab though; I’m quite pleased with them!

Then tomorrow is lots of preparation for the wedding on Saturday. (Anyone would think it was my wedding, the amount of getting ready I’m doing!)
I hope I’m not too hung over because I need to get up and epilate, dye my hair*, go to the gym for my induction, go to get my nails done, go to get my hair cut*, and have a passport photo taken. * I am dying my own hair because I’m going to a new salon and I forgot about the whole 48 hours patch test. I’m off to the York College and a trainee will be cutting my hair. Could be interesting! I’m sure that I’ll be fine, I’m pretty easy going about my hair anyway.
I have bought a hair magazine which has pictures of Posh’s hair in it. Always useful to have a picture! Anyway, there are some other nice cuts in there which are really similar too. I’ve also bought some hair colour from the “Herbal Essences” range, called “Bronze Ice” from the “Fearless Colour” range. Indeed. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes! It’s been a while since I dyed my own hair! Yey!
Now all that remains is to get a strapless or “invisible strap” bra to wear under the dress. I tried one on in La Senza (well, actually I tried two, I always start with the smaller of the options since I seem to be between sizes) and it made my boobs look a really funny shape! So I’m hoping to find time tomorrow to visit the M&S lingerie department in town (after the gym, before I get my nails done) to see if they have anything more suitable. Ho hum. My own fault for making a dress where the bra straps are visible!

There will be pictures…