My Favorite Knitting Tool

Secret Pal 10 has a contest! What is my favorite knitting tool. Could it be a storage bag? That is my favorite tool! I found it in California last August. It had little plastic storage pockets in the fold over pouch with zippers to close off each little pocket. I can store my markers, a small pair of scissors, a tape measure and vaious other little items. This can then be easily dropped into my tote of choice and I am ready to go. I really love it, love it, love it!!!!

My Weekend Wasn't Long Enough

But I did get some things done.....

Friday night I met with friends and we tried a Tai eatery in the large shopping area in the area. Food was excellent, but service was slow. They were busy with several large parties...ours included. It started sleeting and snowing and when we left....roads were okay but side areas a little slippery. By the next morning it was non existent but it put me in the mood not to leave the house or do a thing. I watched TV and movies all day long and I didn't really feel like knitting or sewing. I think I was just so tired from a rough work week that I needed the day to mentally wind down.
Sunday I visited my mom and my daughter and grandson came down from Maryland. We had a really nice time. Mom loves to fuss over all of us. For 81 she is a spry little lady! She gets more done than I ever thought about.

I didn't let Sat. go completely down the drain. I spent "thought" time as to my SP 10 swap partner. I have come great ideas and this weekend I am planning on shopping to start her surprise packages!!! I got my daughter involved in this and she has really made her partner some neat items already......
This weekend she and I are going exploring at some new shops we heard about (yes yarn shops) and well....let the creativity begin!

I hope to post pictures sometime this week....I have taken pictures of some of my projects and just haven't taken the time to post..NO EXCUSE!

I Heard From My Secret Pal 10...YEAH!

I am so excited! I heard from my SSP10 today and I can't wait to be spoiled! On the same note I can't wait to spoil mine. I contacted her today and do I have plans for her! Searching looking through her blog has been sooooooo much fun! It's like being Santa or the Easter Bunny.

I Have My Secret Pal 10 Swap Partner!!!!

I am so excited! I have my SP10 partner. I emailed her this morning and I am ready to spoil her. Wow...for the next three months I am going to have to remain anonymous and that is going to be tough. I have so many little surprises in my little head! Like visions of sugar plums dancing around....whoops wrong celebration!

Anyway.....exciting as it is, I will have to seriously buckle down and get my project done for school this weekend. Just finished my mid-term and my presentation in marketing class is the 22nd so serious business first....then FUN,FUN, FUN!!!!!!

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

I am participating in two swaps. Look to the right of my blog and you will see under March the links to each of them. I am very excited about both swaps. To both of my partners I thank you in advance for the anticipation of the fun we will have!

Knitters Treat Exchange Questionnaire

1. What's your favourite type of yarn?
I love natural fibers. I have in the past knit with others, but I guess I have become a knitting snob. Mixtures for socks are fine, but I really love the natural fibers the best.

2. What's your least favourite type of yarn?
The 100 percent acrylics. I have only used these for afghans which get a lot of use and usually thrown in the washer.

3. What's the first thing you do when you visit a new yarn shop?
I go to the colors that attract me. Then I go to the gadgets and then to the patterns. After that I go back to the yarn and I start to squeeze, smell and rub the bundles to me face. Sounds sick...but it is so soothing. Then I focus as to what I actually came in for and then I buy more than I actually needed!

4. What other crafts do you do / would like to do?
I am a quilter. I love fabrics and I act the same way in a fabric store as I do in a yarn store. I have a new Bernina and I just love to sew new things on it. I can't honestly say which is my favorite hobby...I indulge myself in both.

5. What magazines do you currently subscribe to?
Right now I only get Southern Living and Angels.

6. Put this type of magazine in order of preference:Knitting / Crochet / Other Craft / Food / Home / Fashion / Celebrity Gossip / Garden
Knitting/Home
Crochet/Other Craft/Food/ Garden
Fashion
Celebrity Gossip

7. What items do you like to knit / crochet?
I love to knit socks the best. I like to knit scarves and I plan on working on some lace items.

8. Are you allergic to anything?
Nothing in the food line....only things like trees, grass other things like that.

9. What do you like to smell of?
I love the smell of roses. Brings back very fond memories of my great aunt and uncles house which had loads of roses in their backyard. I also love the fragrance of Freesia or most light floral. Anything with a clean smell.

10. What's your favourite way to relax?
Putting me feel up and knit or sit at my sewing machine and work on a project. When I don't feel like those things, I just relax in front of the TV and watch a good movie or a program that interests me.

11. You're stood in front of a Victorian style sweetshop, an Italian cafe, an old fashioned bakery and a dainty tea room. Where do you go first?
I would go into the old fashioned bakery.

12. What do you come out with?
Yummy pastries, good hearty bread, and scones.

13. Where do you go next?
The tea room. I love tea in china cups and saucers, silver spoons and the atmosphere of a tea room. I love lemon tea and the whole ritual of pouring the tea and sipping it from the china cup. Sooooooo feminine!

14. Any other words of wisdom for your pal?
I am just very grateful for any gift I receive. The fact that someone went to the trouble to look for items to please me is a special gift in itself. I love surprises and I love creativity.

Secret Pal 10

I am so excited about this swap! I have waited so long to participate. My info is below for my pal. This is going to be so much fun!

Secret Pal 10 Answers

1.What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love knitting with natural fibers. The sock yarns with a little man-made fiber is fine, but acrylic is tough to knit with and I would prefer not to knit with it.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Right now I have nothing. I usually put them in the package they came in or thrown in the bag of latest yarn! Bad…I know. I am working on a good storage place for my newest obsession. I recently bought a large tote for my yarns and whoops...not enough room. Need another tote.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I am self taught and that was about 33 years ago. I think I have reached the intermediate/advanced level by now.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Yes I have an Amazon wish list.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Roses. It reminds me of my great aunts and uncles home. They had a rose trellis that I just loved to sit by and to this day the smell of roses brings back wonderful memories! I also love the smell of freesia which is what I buy at Bath and Body works.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I love good dark chocolate candy. I love butter or chocolate creams. Of course any type of candy I can’t turn down. I am not crazy about licorice or root beer candy....it is as the kids would say yucky.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I love to quilt. I am such a fabric-holic. I love any type of colors but I really love the soft Victorian country look. I have not learned to spin yet, but my daughter said she would teach me how with the drop spindle.

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 all types of music. But the 60’s is my favorite. I love the old groups and Motown groups being some of my favorite. I love soft music and I am really liking some of the newer artists who play the easy listening music. I like country too. I guess you could say I am not really that picky. I don’t like rap or hard core stuff. Yes, my computer will play my MP3.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Blues, purples,some greens and pinks are my favorite colors. I don’t really care for oranges or browns. But if they are mixed with colors I like they are okay.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live alone, divorced a number of years ago and my cat Fluffy died several years ago. My life is so hectic I just haven’t wanted to get another animal and not be home enough to enjoy them.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear scarves. I love scarves…all types. Hats….not so much…and I am not crazy about ponchos. I love mittens, just don't have any right now.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Right now I am knitting socks and some scarves. I have one sweater coat in progress. I am pretty enthusiastic about everything.

13. What are you knitting right now?
All of the above.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes, yes, and yes!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? , aluminum, plastic?

I love my circular needles and I also love beautiful knitting needles like the hardwood or bamboo ones you see now. I love the way hardwood or bamboo becomes smooth with use.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have a yarn winder but I do not own a swift.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
An afghan I started several years ago. Just kept frogging because I didn’t like the pattern and it was acrylic yarn. Can't bring myself to start is again.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, 4th of July (US)…..I guess all of them. I like celebrating each of the holidays at church or at work.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect tote bags and snowmen! I also like any sewing gadgets. Whether it be antique or not, they fascinate me.

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 would love to try the Tofusie yarn I have read about. I do not have any magazine subscriptions for knitting. I just keep buying books.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
The magic loop. I have watched a video on line and it baffles me….but I have promised myself I will try later on a pair of socks. I just bought a book on it so I will have to try it one day soon.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes….I love my socks! My foot is a size 10. The length of my foot is 9 3/4 inches and the circumference of the toe area is 9 3/4 inches.

23. When is your birthday?
I am one of those Christmas babies! I was born December 29th. Thus I either get the birthday Christmas present combination or I am forgotten all together…Boo hoo…really it isn’t that bad now, but I do like to treat myself on my birthday and I usually do.