SP 12 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I really like Merinos and ribbon yarns. I absolutely cannot work with pure wools. I have wool allergies.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Needles: a vase or the case they came in. Hooks: a ziplock bag (shame shame) but I don't have a lot of space where I'm living now.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? About 4 years, self taught through one of those "Teach Yourself To Knit" books at Michael's. I would Say Advanced Intermediate.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? No

5. What's your favorite scent? Gardenia

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? Love sugar! Pecan Turtles, Heath or Skor bars.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Crochet, make jewelry, and I used to sew. Do you spin? No

8. What kind of music do you like? Gospel, smooth jazz, Bossa Nova. Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Black Any colors you just can't stand? Anything neon or anything flat (I don't particularly like basic primary colors but subtle shades between them).

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? Single, no pets.

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

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Cropped sweaters and lacy garments.

13. What are you knitting right now? A velvet coat and Buttony part 2

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Sure

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? Circs and it depends on the yarn I'm working with. I have a full set of metals.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? No, but when I move I'd like to get one.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Nearly a year.

18. What is your favorite holiday? Easter

19. Is there anything that you collect? Do shoes count?

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? Any books on technique including Elizabeth Zimmerman or any of the Stitchionary books.

What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? None as of yet.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Steeking well, double knitting, design

22. Are you a sock knitter? NO! J/K (only kidding about the expletive part. I don't knit socks)

What are your foot measurements? US womens 10-11

23. When is your birthday? March 19th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Yep! KinkyCoils

Coffee Swap 2 Swag!

Who says only celebrities get swag? I got my Coffee Swap #2 package yesterday and I love it! I feel so special. This was my first swap and I got the best partner. Ann over at Yellow House Treasures really knows how to make you feel good. I absolutely love everything she put in my package. Take a look:

TEAS:

(from l to R)
Top: Green Tea Jasmine Tea Cookies, Octavia Tea (Ginger Peach), Botanicals Indulgence Tea (Sparkle Black)

Bottom: Harney & Sons Tea ( Bangkok: coconut, lemongrass, ginger; Paris: currants, caramel, citrus; Hot Cinnamon Spice: cinnamon,orange peel, clove

GOODIES:

(from l to R)
1st Column: Body Bar (Jasmine & Orange), Sea Spa (Shea Butter Soap)
2nd Column: Splendid Specialties Tea Infused Chocolates (Jasmine Green, Emperor's Ginger, Imperial Chai)
3rd Column: Dragon Pearl Jasmine Tea

YARN!:

3 balls of Rowan Handknit Cotton (Buttercup), 2 hanks Tahki Stacy Charles Cotton Classic (Wine/Aubergine), Card

Well the tea cookies were gone about an hour after I received the package. So yummy! I now understand why Ann said that she had to hurry up and mail my package, before she ate them. I hear you! This morning I tried the Ginger Peach tea and it was a hit.

Thank you so much Ann!

Kamika

A knitting survey, as seen on Yellow House Treasures.

Mark with bold the things you have knit, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn (kinda, the closest is Patons Soy Wool Blend)
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

What have you learned to do that has marked a definite change in your knitting life? Gauge and swatching. Both are very important and give you a glimpse into how the garment/project is going to look by your hand as opposed to the hand of the pattern designer. I've also learned how to disect patterns and read them in advance in order to catch any mistakes before I knit them.

I found this geat survey on Yellowhouse Treasures. Ann also just happens to be my great Coffee Swap Partner. Feel free to copy this survey to your blog, just link back here!

Kamika

Coffee Swap 2

Hey Hey! Ho Ho! It's off to the tea shop I go!

I joined my first every swap on Tuesday and I'm so excited. It's the "Coffee Swap 2" organized by Knittymama. Although I don't drink coffee, she was generous enough to let a few of us tea drinkers (you know the other caffeine) in. I can't wait to go shopping for my partner and make a new friend. So here are the questions/answers for my partner. I've modified them to suit a tea drinker:

1. Whole loose leaf or bags? I prefer loose leaf tea. It usually has more flavor.

2. Fully-loaded (black) or herbal? No preference

3. Nutty or fruity flavored? No preference

4. How do you drink your tea? Blacks, usually with heavy cream and honey with an equal and or a syrup for added flavor. Herbals, usually just with honey or agave, an equal and maybe a splash of lemon juice.

5. Favorite tea ever? Almond Milk tea and Rose Tea from the ABC company.

6. Are you fussy about your tea or will any old leaf do? I'm not partial to assam, pekoe, rooibos, etc. I just like a good tasting tea.

7. Favorite treats to have with your tea? Shortbread cookies, chocolate or maple scones, english muffins, a good cake (no fruit), anything chocolate with nuts.

8. Anything else about your tea preferences? I prefer tea filters to infusers (probably because I've never had the chance to use an infuser).

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Alpaca or wool blended with silk (especially Rowan's Alpaca Silk), brightly colored mercerized cotton, other soft wools that can be felted. I also love the Amelie by GGH but surprise me!

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? ACKrylic (unless blending with another more dominant fiber), fun furs, anything splitty.

11. What's on your needles? Uhh, see 2 posts down. LOL

12. Favorite colors? Black, purples/lavenders, yellow yellow and more yellow, reds and greens.

13. Allergies? None that I know of.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I can't wait to get started!

Kamika