Secret Pal 10 questionaire

1. What is/ are your favorite yarn/s to kint with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

• Any natural fibers but mostly wool. I currently love superwash merino like mission falls 1824. I love cascade 220 for felting. The only fiber I am allergic to is acrylic. I do not enjoy the feel of it as I knit.

2. What do you use to store your needles/ hooks in?

• Straights in a needle roll, circulars in a plastic storage tote, and dpns in a plastic pencil case

3. How long have you been knitting and how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to beginner, intermediate or advanced?

• I learned to knit at age 10 or 11 from my Grandma Aileen. Up until 6 years ago I only made dishcloths but I was inspired by a knit out event to learn more. I am now an intermediate knitter. If I would allow myself to take more risks I could move up to advanced.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wishlist?

• No

5. What's your favorite scent?

• I love coconut or anything tropical.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

• I have a BIG sweet tooth. I love dark chocolate.

7. What other crafts or do-it -yourself do you like to do? Do you spin?

• I do a lot of kids crafts with my 3 girls. Currently beading is their favorite. I sew a little bit. I really want to learn to spin but have no idea where to start.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/ stereo play MP's?

• I like most music except for heavy metal and rap. Country, R&B and top 40 are currently on my playlists. I can play mp3's.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you can''t stand?

• I have always been fond of blues but lately I have been straying more towards pinks and greens. I like all colors.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have pets?

• I am a single mother (divorced) of 3 daughters, ages 4 years, 5 years and 6 years. I work full time (12 hour shifts) as a certified surgical technologist at a level 1 trauma center. We have no pets as we have no time for them.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

• With our Michigan winters scarves hats and mittens are a definate yes. I have never wore a poncho in my life.

12. What is are your favorite item/s to knit?

• Currently socks but felted purses come in second to mittens.

13. What are you knitting right now?

• The clementine shawlette from the new interweave knits and socks with blue moon socks that rock

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

• of course

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

• Depends on the project. Bamboo is usally my favorite but I just broke down and bought addi turbo's for socks on two circs and I LOVE them. Previously I knit socks on my brittany birchs which I loved but this is even better.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/ or swift?

• No but I desperatly want both. But if I had to choose one I would take the swift first so I don't have to bribe my kids to hold the hank while I wind.

Stash

Today's goal is to rearrange the stash so it follows some order and move it to a new location. I am hoping to get part of this done, however the little one is still feeling sick. Her temp was 104 this morning. I have not left my house in 3 days and I really need to get out. I am hoping this afternoon my mom will stay with her for a little while so I can go to the grocery store (actually this is an excuse to get a latte since the coffee shop is in the grocery store) Today also marks the first day of Lent and I am putting my lenten promise in writing this year. No more Coke. I heart Coke with all of its sugary sweetness. I am going to try to give up all soda pop but Coke is a good start since I am addicted. I usually drink two a day. It probably would not be so bad if I was drinking the diet stuff but this is the hard core regular stuff I drink. Any diet soda makes me have intense headaches so I don't bother. If I can cut back the soda I am hoping this will also mean some weight loss, but I won't hold my breath.

Heatwave

While the weather was warmer yesterday (up to 42 degrees) the real heatwave is going on inside our house. I now have two sick children. The oldest has been running a 102 fever since midnight Friday night. Now the youngest started with the 102.5 fever at 5am this morning. The doctor says that this infection is viral and it just needs to run its course. That means I have to take time off of work to stay home. Normally grandma watches them while I am at work but I won't even send them like this. They are supposed to go visit their father this weekend but I think I will try to keep them home. 8 hours in the car with a fever and headache would not be fun for them or me. Hopefully I can get some knitting done today. House work is all done since I thought I would be going to work today. This should give me some free time this afternoon.

It's 6 o'clock already!?!?!?!

That was how I felt this moring when I was awoke by the cries of my 6 year old. She has had a headache and fever for two days but no other syptoms. She slept well all night but awoke in pain. I was glad that she slept because my 4 year old did not. She is having some sleep apnea which wakes her up so she sleeps with me most nights. (but she kicks in her sleep so I do not get much rest) She will be having her tonsills out next month which I hope corrects the problem. I took the 6 year old to the ER this morning since her temp was still around 102. I was smart and brought my clementine shawl which I swatched last night. It looks great. I am really liking this pattern. I have never did any lace projects before so this is fun.

Happy Birthday!!

Today is daughter #3's 4th birthday. It makes me sad to see how much she has grown up. She absoultely LOVED her new purple sweater. She put it on as soon as she opened it and has not taken it off since. Except when she put her PJ's on a little while ago and then the sweater went back on over top. Now I have to make two more sweaters. (For the two older girls) I also finished my first pair of sock for this year. Lorna's Laces sheapherd sock yarn bittersweet. They are just a basic stocking stitch. When I have such lovely yarn I prefer plain Stockinette stitch. I also cast on for my second pair of sock. Socks that rock by blue moon fiber arts. I am loving this yarn. Great stitch defintion and they feel soooooo soft. I can't wait to wear them. After I put the girls to bed tonight I think I will swatch for the clementine shawl in the new interweave knits. I have never did any lace knitting nor have I made a shawl but this one has caught my eye. I have some louet gems that will try.

I heart socks on 2 circs!!!

I am just finishing up my first ever pair of socks on two circs and I love it!! I have forever been a fan of double points and was very reluctant to try two circs. Everyone I know says they are faster than dpn's so I broke down and tried it. I cast on my first sock last Thursday and I should be able to finish the second sock later today. (If I get every thing done for the big birthday party tomorrow.) I am still trying to figure out how to post photos. I guess I need to find someone to help me.

Day #3

It is now day three of being holed up inside my house with 3 children under the age of 6. We have did many activities but I seem to be running low on ideas. Right now the temp is -8. (And that is without the windchill factor) or if you are my 5 year old it is the windshield factor. I am on call for work tonight so I am praying that it is slow at the hospital so I do not have to go out. (However I am not looking forward to leaving my house at 6am tomarrow to go to work) I have used my time home to do some knitting. I frogged the socks but did not have the desire to cast them back on. (This is actually the second time this yarn has been frogged, so I feel that it is not ready to be knit) Instead I cast on for a draft blocker for my daughters bedroom window sill. Her window is the only one on the eastside of the house and when the wind blows it is rather chilly. I will be felting and filling with rice. Hopefully photo when finished.

Happy / Sad

Today is filled with both emotions as they relate to knitting. First the HAPPY. I finished DD3's birthday sweater. She will be four in 2 weeks (I thinks this is great to be done 2 weeks early) I am hoping to post pics sometime soon. Now the SAD. I finished the gusset on my Jaywalkers and decieded to try them on. (They are for my sister in law's birthday on the 20th) I could not get them over my heel. Not sure what happend. I checked my gauge and it was spot on. Maybe I should have made the bigger size. I will be frogging this afternoon. It's a great day to knit here in Michigan. It is blowing snow so hard that I can not see much farther than my backyard.