SP and FO

I have a couple of things I need to write about here. First of all, I have to thank my Secret Pal for the package I received on Thursday after work. I had a nice little package with a card stuck inside along with 3 amazing peices of jewelry. There are two bracelets and a pair of turquois earrings. So cool!

Thank you pal! I am sure these will quickly make it into not only my regular wear, but also into dance costume peices. They're perfect! :o)

Thursday evening I also finished Mr Kiwi's socks. They were promptly washed and left to dry over night. The next morning they were not quite dry so he did not get a chance to wear them. This morning he asked if he could wear them, but I had not yet taken pictures. We just arrived home from a few activities and I let him put the socks on and model them. I don't think he is going to take them off for a while.


Instead of staring yet another pair of socks, I have cast on for a quick hat. I need some fast knits before delving into a huge project. Plus, it breaks down my stash, which is a major goal for the moment.

SP10 Contest: Flash Your Stash!

This week's SP10 contest is to flash our stash. I am sure a number of people I knit with are interested to see how I keep my yarn and how much I actually have. I believe I do have a decent sized stash, but it is organized and tightly packed into its "home" that from the outside it may look like I have nothing at all.

Here is the unit where I keep all of my yarn. Anything that does not fit into the drawers is either piled ontop of or in front of said unit.


Here are the yarns that are piled in front. There is some Sidar, Cashsoft, Cashmerino, and the blue is a kit for the Milinda Pullover from White Lies Designs.


The drawers in the unit are somewhat organized, by what exactly, I haven't yet figured out. But they are organized! The pictures are starting from the bottom drawer and working up to the top drawer. The bottom drawer is filled with all the crap that will fit in it that I have no idea what to do with. I have some Sugar n Cream cotton that was for hacky sacks and dishcloths. There are some samples and freebies that I have obtained from Stitches West last year and never got around to dealing with, along with the miscelaneous yarn ends left over from past projects. The purple in the lower corner is some yummy yummy hand spun that I bought when I first started knitting that I have no idea what to do with. It'll come to me.. sometime. Same goes for the ornage in the lower right and the curly purple right above it. There is also a large skein of blue hand spun 100% baby alpaca waiting to be knit up.


Second drawer from the bottom has light sweater/top yarns along with a skein of blue bamboo and hand spun green cotton.


All of the yarn in the middle dreawer is destined to be sweaters or tops, all which have the patterns already picked out. It's just jumping in and doing them that is holding it up. The exception to this is the orange alpaca that will be made for Mr Kiwi. Not sure what I am making with it, but it's for him (if you have met him, you know why this is more logical that me keeping it).


Second drawer from the top has yarn that will be made into sweaters and tops, and the yellow and blue yarns will be made into blankets (too many people having babies!)


And here is the top drawer! It has mostly sock yarns and lace weights for making shawls. It also has the famed Karabella Breeze that won me the last SP10 contest.


Finally, there is the top of the unit. There is some Cascade220 that is left over from the Frog Purse I knit my mom last year, as well as some Misti Alpaca (one of which was a winning.. thank you Robin!!). Here you will also find my one and only WIP, although not by choice. I ran out of yarn at the very end of those fingerless mitts and was waiting for the recipient to send me more yarn so I could finish them. I just obtained the yarn (see the gray yarn in the first picture) and very soon it will be off the needles and off the unit.


Whew! There it is; my very first Flash Your Stash post. Now... what project to start working on next...

Contest Winning!

It turns out that my SP hostess's husband (who was judging the entries) enjoyed my story of searching for the Karabella Breeze yarn in the last contest, and I co-won with Eyevea. In turn I won a lovely skein of Misti Alpaca Lace, which Robin suggested making the Swallow Tail Shawl with, since it apparently is exactly enough. I may just take that suggestion.... after I finish my Shoal Water Shawl, which is going so nicely! Pictures later, I promise!

SP10 Contest #2

This contest is to tell of the craziest fiber-related quest I've ever been on, going out of my way and spending months searching for a yarn.

It happens that I have the perfect story. While visiting my college during the first spring after I graduated, a friend and I went to check out the LYS that was right down the street. What timing! The woman running the store decided she had had enough but couldn't find a buyer, so she was closing the store and having a sale. My friend and I took this opportunity to buy a few yarns that we otherwise would not buy at full price. Remember, at the time I was only a year out of college and well into year 1 of 15 of being in debt to student loans, so anything over $7 a skein was more than I'd usually pay. I found 5 lovely balls of karabella Breeze, and decided they were destined to come home with me to become something great. Of course, I didn't have a pattern already picked out, so when it came time to actually try to knit with them, I found for almost every pattern I was 1 or 2 skeins short. Drat! I chose the near impossible task of searching high and low for 2 more skeins of this stuff, and hoping that maybe the lots (since I knew I'd never be so lucky to get the same one) wouldn't be too noticably off. Remember, I bought these skeins 3000 miles from home, and only realized I was short after getting home,a dn after the other shop closed.

Ever since April 2006, every yarn store I would go into, the first question would be "do you carry Karabella Breeze?" My LYS conveniently carries every Karrabella yarn out there... except for Breeze. I searched another shop close to me. A shop in Berkeley; no luck there either. One in San Carlos? Nope. How about on vacation in other states? Nope, not there either. One weekend Mr Kiwi and I drove up to Davis to hit up two yarn stores, one of which was established and the other which had just opened. I was hopeful. The new one did not have Karabella (although they had lovely yarns and a beautiful set up) and the established shop had a total of 2 Margarite Bulky, and a Boulce yarn. No Breeze. I was beginning to feel like I was out of luck and may have to figure out some creative way of using my skeins that did not involve a cute top, which I was so hoping for. I had about given up when Christmas time came. The friend I had initially gone with to get the skeins had sent me a gift certificate to an online knitting shop which it turns out she loves. I think it was for $25. I cruise around the online store, and think "I wonder....." I searched, and ho, ho! They carried Karabella Breeze! In my color! No way! My gift certificate was enough to buy the two skeins that I had been searching 8 months for. Rock on! At this point, I didn't even care what the dye lots were. It had been too long searching, and what were the chances that an on line store and an out of business brick adn mortar store would carry the same lot? How big are dye lots anyway? It didn't matter. About a week later, I received my long awaited package. After opening it, I dug out one of the original skeins to see how badly the colors looked and how I was going to alternate skeins to make them blend in and not look too bad. They actually didn't look too bad. Actually, they looked pretty damned exact. I checked their tags, and wouldn't you know it. Both said color 28 (of course) and to my surprise, they were both also Lot 3692.

I like to believe it was luck and that there isn't really no dye lot for this yarn. It's just too cool. And I have plans for those puppies. Oh yes I do. ;o)

Secret Pal Gift

Yesterday on my way home, I was thinking about my Secret Pal. As is my usual routine, I checked the mail before going inside, and look at that! I had a package from my Secret Pal! How exciting! It was a very nice package, which included a pack of cute knitting note cards, a washcloth, and a note. The washcloth was apparently my Pal's first attempt at entrelac, and it was a darn good job at that! The colors are very nice and my Pal did a very good job. I finally got a chance to take pictures of everything today.

Here is a picture of the washcloth and cards:


Close up of the beautiful entrelac:


Thank you, Pal!!! :o)

Most/Least Favorites...

My SP10 Hostess, Robin has asked her group to write about their most favorite and least favorite yarns, why, and what we have knit with them. I had a somewhat difficult time trying to decide which yarn I absolutely loved knitting with, and had to think pretty hard abaout it. One of my thoughts was Karabella Boise, because let's face it. Who doesn't love cashmere? However this yarn lost love points from me because if I made one teeny itty mistake, I had to tink back extremely carefully so that the stitches didn't felt together while frogging. Speaking of chashmere, I think Lana Grossa Pashmina would be one of my tops picks. This is very soft to knit with and is increadibly soft and lovely. The other yarn tied in first would be Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb. 50/50 silk and merino wool, I made a scarf out of this for my Mother in Law. It was so soft on my fingers and it just flew off the needles. I couldn't believe that blocking it would make it even softer, but it did. This stuff was incredible.

As for my least favorite yarrn, I would have to say hands down without a doubt it would be Lion Brand Suede. A few years ago in my knitting infacy, I saw an adorable pattern for a bolero that I wanted to make, and bought some Lion Suede. It would be my first attempt at making a fitted garnment (this is pre-sock making) other than a hat. It was going great; I had the front and back finished and was waiting to make the sleeves before seaming everything together, then I realized the back was an inch longer than the front, and I had to frog. This stuff is *awful* when it comes to frogging. It lost what little bounce it had, fuzz stripped off and left balding patches on the yarn, and when reknit, it was clear which section had been ripped once, twice, and three times. Before I was able to finish the sleeves, I shoved it in the bottom of my stash and left it there. For almost 2 years, before I finally cut my losses, pulled out the needles and stitch holders, and threw the thing into the garbage. It made my hands hurt trying to knit it was it was not at all fun.
I am not one to turn my nose at a yarn because it is acrylic, or a blend, or "fake", but not all man made yarns are created equal. There are good quality acrylics, and then there are the sad excuses for plastic yarn. The second is when the Lion Suede falls.

SP10 Questionnaire

These are modified slightly from the SP9 questions so that as my tastes change, they are reflected here :o)

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don't have any favorite yarns from a company (yet) but I do have some slight fiber preferences. Absolutely love cashmere, I mean who doesn't? For the most part I can probably knit with anything, except for cheap acrylics. I don't mind acrylic blends, but if it isn't even nice to touch on the ball, I most likely won't want to knit with it. I also have no use for fun-fur.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have cases for everything. I have a case for my Options, a case for circs, long straights,a dn short straights.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
History: I learned to crochet by teaching myself single chains 8 years ago. I was frustrated that I could never find good crochet patterns and everything was knit, so I decided I had to learn how to knit to make all the cool stuff. I tried teaching myself from a book 5 years ago, and that failed when I couldn't figure out how to cast on. Almost 2 years ago a group at school got together and learned to knit. I've been doing it since. I would consider myself intermediate. I am not intimidated to try new things with knitting.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Unfortunately, no. And if I did... it probably wouoldn't be updated.

5. What's your favorite scent?
I love Indian scents, and also floral scents. I am not too much a fan of overly citrusy smells though.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love chocolate. Unfortunately I can't have hard candies, but sweets are always good.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. Too poor to get into that hard core. I paint though, but not as regularly as knitting. I also draw and color, I cross stitch, and I love love love cooking. Just about anything crafty is on my to-do list.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love all types of music... seriously. I am big right now on anything I can dance to. I am also ashamed of my very small Arabian music collection. Shakira, Jurassic5, Gorillaz, Gnarles Barkley, D.Mode, John Mayer, and Corrine Bailey Rae are some of my tops right now. The one person I can't stand? Dave Matthews (unless it is with Jurassic5 or Blue Man Group). And yes, I can play mp3s :o)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love the cool colors; blue, purple, green. Pink is the color I am most selective about, since in many cases I don't care for it.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married and have 2 cats. They are my babies and are so spoiled... yes, I knit a kittypi for them. I also have a 60g fishtank with angels, a pleco, loaches, and red tailed black sharks to name a few of the species.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
scarves, hats, mittens: yes. Poncho: no.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love socks. I like using my knitting for creativity as well as meditation. So in some cases I like knitting things with many techniques/patterns, then there are times when I just want endless stockinette.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I am busting my stash away with a cabled blanket. Once I finish, I'll get a whole drawer in my knitting dresser.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Love it!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I have become a huge fan of the Knit Picks Options. I still like Addi Turbos for sock knitting, and my other needle of choice would be bamboo. I don't use straights too much any more. Almost everythig I do can be done on circs, and it feels better on my wrists anyhow.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I am lucky to have both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I am monogomous. If there is a UFO in my stash, it is because I have decided that yarn is hideous and I will never finish it out of disgust for whatever reason. It *is* possible for someone to have no UFOs and only one (or two) WIP! :o)

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas. I don't know. Not necessarily the gifts, but things just feel different around that time. The winter atmosphere. And the massive amounts of food and cooking. Aww comfort foods.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I am a packrat. I collect everything I get. Things that smell good, yarn, I love anything by Amy Brown, candles, potpourri, little scented tarts that you can put in a burner and let fill the house with yummy smells for hours. Also, anything belly dance related.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
Hmm. Well, I have a subscription to Interweave knits, and am intrigued byRowan. I have a few knitting books: Sensational Socks, Fabulous felted bags, Vogue Stitchionary1 and 2, Vogue Knitting on the Edge/Beyond the Edge, SnB Handbook and Happy Hooker. I am always welcoming new books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Knitting backwards and how to knit with two colors at once. I just haven't gotten into a project that required either yet, so I haven't gotten around t learning them.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love sock knitting! I've made 2 full pairs now (I know, I'm still new to it but I think I am pretty good!) Circumference: 8 1/4" Heel to Toe: 8" Toe: 1 1/4" Heel Height: 2 1/4" Calf: 11"

23. When is your birthday?
08/22

Last Package

Tuesday after work I went to to the post office with my little cream colored slip telling me that I missed a delivery. I didn't know what I was getting, so it was a surprise to get not one, but two boxes! One of those boxes just happened to be from my secret pal. I opened it to find mixed in with the packing peanuts were a couple of handfulls of Hershey's kisses. Yai chocolate! Hidden in the box was Knitting Over the Edge by Nicky Epstein, and a delicious smelling set of lime cilantro items. It has a cute flower looking candle, two bath salt tea bags, some of the cutest little inscence I have ever seen and a leaf shaped burner to go with them. And to keep with the lime theme, everything was ... well... limey green :o) Thank you, pal! I can't wait to get the chance to use these!

Secret Pal Package

I came home late from work tonight and was preparing for a nice Friday night of knitting when Mr A said "Did you see you had a box here?" Hmm? Box? For me? Oo. What could it be? On the return address, it said it was from "Santa Claus". And who might that be, but my Secret Pal! Inside was a nice little card, 2 pairs of Addi turbos that are long enough to learn magic loop on (size US 1 and 2), 2 skeins of Sisu Fantasy sock yarn, and 2 tins of Indian Masala spices! Woo hoo! The sock yarn is very soft and has wonderful colors. I am also very amazed at the spice tins. I absolutely love Indian food, and my biggest complaint is not knowing how to cook it. Having the spices with simple recipes on the can will make learning much easier. That was an excellent gift! Thank you so much, Secret Pal!






There was also the added bonus that the box and packing peanuts doubled as cat entertainment, as exhibited by one of the cats in the process of attempting to taste one of the peanuts. :p

Gift Questions

My SP9 Hostess posted these questions to the people in her group since a number of gift giving holidays are approaching. I found the answers that my pal gave me were very amusing, and I wanted to find out from everyone who reads this (whether I know you or not) what your answers to these questions are. If there needs to be, give back stories! I'd love to find out the variety of responces, just leave your answers as a comment :o)

1) the oddest gift you have ever received (not asked for)
2) the oddest gift you ever asked for
3) the oddest gift you ever gave
4) the worse gift you ever got

Wee!!!!

Eeee!! So I picked up my mail after work tonight (yes, just now at 8:30pm), and woo hoo! I had a little wrapped white envelope that looked remarkably similar to those packets that Susan had recently sent out. I knew who it was from and I had a 33.33% chance of knowing what was inside. Susan did an excellent job of taping the envelope closed, so good in fact that I had to get scissors to cut the side. ;) And what is inside, but ChaCha! Not only was there ChaCha, but when I opened the packet this wonderful smell of... what is it?!?! I keep smushing the skein to my nose to smell it. It is something she washed the skein in? Is it a perfume? The smell is *almost* as rewarding as such a pretty yarn (which looks *exactly* like the picture). Eeee! I can't wait to play with it! Oh the possibilities with this one! Attached to the skein is a cute little green stitch marker, and a nice little card from my sooper-dooper Secret Pal!
It says (and I hope you don't mind me copying it up here!) "I saw this lovely handpainted yarn available only to SP9 participants and knew that you should have some! Something about it's being called ChaCha and you being a dancer that likes blues had me thinking you might like this colorway. I've been following along your knitting two socks on circs and applaud you. I tried it and after one second of mind wandering and I had a uni-sock, oh-no! I kept ditzing out and knitting both socks together on the row. I ultimately had to slip off one sock and knit each sock separately using magic loop. I'd been knitting the Icarus Shawl but have put it aside to concentrate on sock knitting. After you complete your shawl and get back to sock knitting, I hope you enjoy this skein."
Thank you sooooooo much! When I started the two socks, I cast them on independently on their own needles. Once I had the short row toes finished, I slid them evenly onto both needles. I had it right the first time, thought it was wrong and proceeded to take one off and ..undo the rightness. It took more futzing to get them back on the proper way, and since they both looked exactly alike, it was hard to tell when I was knitting what. It really did take me ALL DAY to get into one pattern row on each sock so don't give up!! And you can do magic loop, so that will make it less confusing... as opposed to having to figure out which of the 4 needle ends is the correct one to use next :p I have also seen 2 completed Icarus shawls, and they are BEAUTIFUL. I am highly impressed that you are working on that shawl :o) I would love to see progress (or by the time I am able to find out who you are, the FO), because I am sure it is quite lovely.
Thank you so much for the e-card the other day, and this pretty (and excellent smelling!!) skein. What is that smell?!?! Hooray! ...Now I need to find a box for the things I have for my pal.....

SP

Yesterday I received an ecard from my secret pal. I love ecards! It had lots of bouncey smiley faces and fun little "boing" sounds at the end. It was very cute! Thank you, Secret Pal! :o)

Today's Lesson

Today I learned that it is very hard to think of gifts for someone that I don't know and have limited information on. I decided that I would make an attempt at searching for things for my Secret Pal, and I am not sure how successful I was. I did get a few things which I really hope she likes. I bought some things that she didn't specifically say she liked, but I hope that with what I was reading from her blog that she will really like the items. I am also discovering how hard it is to spend only $60 and not blow it all on one or two things. I am excited to be sending things out and to be participating in this swap, and really can't wait to see what my pal thinks of the things I am giving her. :o)

Knitting questions

A little contest that I just became aware of via my hostess's blog. I figured it could be fun since I am still in recoup time.

1. Where is your favorite knitting spot?
There can be two answers to this question; the physical spot and the mental spot. My favorite physical knitting spot has to be (like most people) on the couch in front of the tv. This gives me the best place in the house to be, first of all. I can see everything, I am in the middle of everything, and I have have my knitting on my lap. What's better than that? My favorite metal knitting spot can really be anywhere physical, as long as it is more or less comfortable. I like to be relaxed, enjoying myself and all over getting that feeling of accomplishment.

2. If you suddenly could never knit again (shudder) - what would you do instead?
Since I have so many things I love to do, this is (fortunately?) an easy question. I would play my guitar, paint, draw and dance. If the question were instead worded "if your fingers fell off and you could never have the dexterity again that you do now" then I think my only option would be to dance. Luckily, it is something I love to do.

3. If you could travel anywhere in the world - where would you go and why?
Anywhere? I think I would have to go back to Fiji. It was so welcoming, so beautiful and in the midst of the lack of technology (where we were on the Island at least) it felt so much like home that I had missed for too long. I could have stayed there forever never even thinking of picking up a computer again and still have been the happiest in my life.

4. When you were little - What did you want to do "when you grew up?" Are you doing it?
Who says I grew up? Who says I'm not little? Who says that I can't go do something else if I decide I don't like what I am doing right now. Oh boy, I have plans. One day I am going to cullinary school to be a chef. I am going to be a dancer too. I am also going to cure the world of diseases, one at a time.

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Right now I really just want the basic strawberry flavor. Icecreams have too much packed into them now with the flavories, swirlies and other goop. What happened to the most basic and satisfying single flavor. Mm strawberry.

SP9

I was emailed my spoilee's information today. Hooray! I'm excited :o)

Secret Pal 9 Questions

There has been a lot more belly dance talk here than normal, and so much more than knitting lately. I am participating in Secret Pal for the first time, and they just put out their survey. So here goes:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I really like everything. I have grown out of my Lion Brand phase when I was first learning and it was lots of yarn for not so lots of money. I think that is the only thing I would scrunch my nose at. I am very open to all sorts of yarns. Except fun fur. No fun fur.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have a case dedicated to circs, one for straights, one for long straights, and one for hooks that (even though it is made from the same company) is too small to fit any of them in, diameter-wise. Sometimes the needles actually make it into the cases, and sometimes not so much. Those cases? Usually on the floor somewhere.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
History: I learned to crochet by teaching myself single chains 8 years ago. I was frustrated that I could never find good crochet patterns and everything was knit, so I decided I had to learn how to knit to make all the cool stuff. I tried teaching myself from a book 5 years ago, and that failed when I couldn't figure out how to cast on. Almost 2 years ago a group at school got together and learned to knit. I've been doing it since. I would consider myself intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No, I can't keep track of things like that and I know if I had one, it would make me spend way more money than I need on random useless things.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Oh, goodness... Just about anything. I love scents. Vanilla especially, jasmine, plumeria. I absolutely *love* Indian spices.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Those little chocolate things that look like flattened out kisses with the white candy dots on them. And chocolate stars. Mmm. Chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't spin. Too poor to get that hard core. I paint though, but not as regularly as knitting. I also draw and color, I cross stitch, and I love love love cooking. Just about anything crafty is on my to-do list.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I love all types of music... seriously. I am big right now on anything I can dance to. I am also ashamed of my very small Arabian music collection. Shakira, Jurassic5, Gorillaz, Gnarles Barkley, D.Mode, John Mayer, and Corrine Bailey Rae are some of my tops right now. The one person I can't stand? Dave Matthews. And yes, I can play mp3s

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love cool colors; blue, purple, green. Pink is the only color I can do without.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am married and have 2 kitties. They are my babies and are so spoiled... yes, I knit a kittypi for them... the cats that is.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I have made myself more scarves than I can count, but surprizingly only one hat. Hmm.. I have never caught onto the poncho phase and am still unclear how I feel about them. I do love accessories, though so I'd probably welcome them all.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I've caught the sock bug lately. Soon I am going to be starting my first sweater, scarves are always easy and most of my gifts to friend tend to be scarves. I'm working on a Karabella shawl right now. Favorite items? I love everything!!

13. What are you knitting right now?
Karabella Boise shawl. I am crawling along and it seems like it has been at the same length forever. But it is so cozy to knit!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
They are the best! It shows thought and care. :o)

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I'm really feeling circulars right now. I love bamboo, although for socks I've been using addi turbos. I'm very curious about the knit picks regular circs and the interchangables. I am also a fan of addi turbos and Naturas. I'm also trying to get my hands on some longer circs so I can learn to do the magic loop.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Lucky me, I own both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I am monogomous. If there is a UFO in my stash, it is because I have decided that yarn is hideous and I will never finish it out of disgust (read back to growing out of the lion brand phase). Actually.. I think a few months ago I threw it out. It is possible for someone to have no UFOs and only one WIP! :o)

18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas. I don't know. Not necessarily the gifts, but things just feel different around that time. The winter atmosphere. And the massive amounts of food and cooking. Aww comfort foods.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I used to collect model horses (Breyer) but at $30+ a pop, it's not something I can keep up with, especially if they are just going to sit there and be looked at. I am a packrat. I collect everything I get. Things that smell good, yarn, I love anything by Amy Brown, candles, potpourri, little scented tarts that you can put in a burner and let fill the house with yummy smells for hours. Also, anything belly dance related.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? Hmm. Well, I have a subscription to Interweave knits, and am letting my subscription to Creative knitting expire (I like IK better). I'm intrigued by Vogue knitting and Rowan. I have a few knitting books: Sensational Socks, Fabulous felted bags, Vogue Stitchionary, Vogue Knitting on the Edge, SnB Handbook and Happy Hooker. I am always welcoming new books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
I ususally don't know I want to learn a technique until I have to use it in a pattern I am working from. The one thing I do want to learn is how to knit 2 items at the same time using the magic loop. What is stopping me? I don't have long enough circs and I need a project for it. (socks, gloves, leg warmers... hmm there are 3 ideas) Maybe knitting backwards?

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I love sock knitting! I've made one! ..single sock. A knit along distracted me and my monogomous self from finishing the seacond one. I think I am going to have to start cheating soon. Circumference: 8 1/4" Heel to Toe: 8" Toe: 1 1/4" Heel Height: 2 1/4" Calf: 11"

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
08/22