Secret Pal Questionnaire

So, ambrrr convinced me that Secret Pal looked like a lot of fun. So, I too signed up and am now totally psyched. We know that it might be confusing to our pals because we share a blog, but I promise we'll do our best to make it obvious who's doing what. In fact, we created a fancy side bar just to help make things clear. Check it out.

Now onto the fun part:

The Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love just about everything. I like merino wools a lot. As long as wool is soft, I'm all for it. I also don't mind cottons, or even acrylic blends. There's nothing I can think of that I don't really like.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My needles are in a couple different plastic bags that live in my box of yarn. Nothing too exciting, though fairly practical.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I learned to knit when I was about 8 from one of my neighbors. I got back into it in high school when I re-taught myself with help from books, the internet, and my best friends' mom, and have been unstoppable since. (Which has only been about 5 years). I'd say I'm an intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Not at this moment, but if I come up with one, I'll be sure to post it.

5. What's your favorite scent?
Vanilla

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I like hard candy, and don't really like chocolate. My favorite candy is jelly beans. I'm also partial to jolly ranchers, swedish fish, taffy, sweet tarts, and various other candies along that line.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew sometimes, though I don't have my machine down here at school. I cross stitch, but not much when I'm knitting something cool. I also make t-shirts and paint a little.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I'm very ecclectic in my musical taste. Mostly punk/pop punk, but I like all things from the 80s, like some pop, rock, country and hip hop. I'm going to guess that if you took the time to send me music, I would not be disappointed.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Purple and green. I don't like browns or orange. I like yellows in combination with pretty colors, but not usually by it's self.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live in a dorm room currently, and when I'm at home I have parents and a stepsister. There are dogs at home, but nothing even remotely resembling a pet here.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I love love love scarves, hats and mittens, but ponchos aren't my thing.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I'm currently on a sock binge. I like making mittens a lot. I used to enjoy hats a lot, I've just gotten distracted lately by other options. I've also been exploring the world of lace knitting, and love to make soft, cuddly things.

13. What are you knitting right now?
I'm knitting quite a few things. I'm bad at finishing things. Well, no,I finish things, but I like to have a variety of projects going simultaneously. Right now I"m finishing a pair of socks, making my mom a shawl and making myself a Harry Potter scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Absolutely.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like straights and dpns. I use a lot of bamboo and plastic. I'm not opposed to aluminum as long as they're not particularly slippery.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Not yet. I've been contemplating buying a winder for a while.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I have scarves I started years ago, and was uninspired to finsih, but they're in a box at home. Here at school, the oldest UFO is probably two months or so old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?
My birthday. Though I'm also partial to St. Patrick's day and Halloween.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Pigs. In all shapes and forms. Plus, of course, yarn.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
not that I can think of. I have a subscription to Creative Knitting that my friend gave me for Christmas.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Not particularly. I tend to try to teach myself new things if I pick a pattern that requires new skills.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes. I'm a US women's 10. My foot is about 9.5 inches long from the heel to the big toe.

23. When is your birthday?
February 26.


Well, that's it. I'm really excited about all of this.

<3 uhlissa

UFO/FO Update, yo.

Sorry for the radio silence. Studio is heating up, and I've been ridiculously drunk for the past week (what all with Mardi Gras, Beaux Arts Ball and numerous 21st birthday parties).

FOs:
- Bob Marley's Grandma's Footies
- Mum's Calorimetry

UFOs:
- Camera Cozy

Photos/info coming soon! I promise! Ok, maybe not until Friday!

<3 Ambrrr

Secret Pal 10! Oh boy!

So I've decided to stop being such a lump and participate in Secret Pal 10. I think it'll be fun! Plus, I love to get mail. I also love to fill out surveys, as seen below!!

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

I'm just starting to explore what fibers I like. But I cannot stand 100% cotton. After Marilyn's Fetching I'm very very wary about knitting with that again. I'm a fan of merino wools, and as long as acrylic is blended with something I don't mind knitting with it.

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

Right now they're all in a tub with my v. small yarn stash. I've been thinking about getting a tin or something, but I don't have that many needles here at Tulane.

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

I've been knitting since I was 8, so that's 12 years under my belt. Nonetheless, I would consider myself an "intermediate" knitter.

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

Yes, you can find it here and another one here.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love lemongrass, grass, and green tea. Also very light floral scents, like cherry blossom.

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

You cannot go wrong with chocolate, and my favorite candy is the Skor bar. I am also partial to anything Kinder makes, and have a devestating attraction to Nutella.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Knitting is pretty much the only crafty thing I do, besides a little drawing. I cannot spin, and don't have access to a sewing machine. :C I also do a little cross stitch.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I am open to pretty much all kinds of music, excepting country and heavy metal. You can check out my Last.fm here, which tells you what kind of music I listen to and how often. I also have an iPod for MP3s and my laptop can play CDs.

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

Green is my favorite color, followed closely by black, blue and purple. (Why am I a bruise?) I have troubles liking yellows and oranges, but I'm open to them. Browns..... I guess it all depends. :D

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

Right now I live in a dorm room at Tulane University, so no pets and luckily no roommate. I don't smoke, either. During May and June I'll likely be living with my Mum in Ohio again, where I have a Chihuahua. But he stays out of the stash and she doesn't smoke either. Neither does the dog.

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

Scarves, hats and mittens yes, ponchos no.

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

I am a sock lunatic right now. I just bought some Addi turbos (my first pair!) to knit another pair, as soon as I find a pattern I like.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Socks, socks, and Fetching. And also a camera cosy, which I am weary of.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes!!

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

For knitting flat I like straight, but in the round I'm used to DPNs. I'm going to use the Addis to try Magic Loop for the first time, which I think will be exciting. Bamboo or aluminum needles, as long as they aren't the crappy aluminum kind.

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

Unfortunately no. :C

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Only a few weeks. It's that wretched camera cozy. Unless you count the fact that I still haven't found a button for my Calorimetry, in which case my oldest UFO is about 2 months old.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter! Chocolates and bunnies, hurrah!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Not really. Other than yarn, that is.

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 haven't really perused the knitting books out there. I don't even know what the fuss is about EZ. (*ducks flying objects*) No knitting 'zines here, either. I am like a blank slate.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Hmm... I'm giving Magic Loop a go, soon.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I am all about the socks right now. I'm a 9 1/2 US Woman's, and my foot measures about 9 1/2 to 10 inches from heel to toe.

23. When is your birthday?

October 2nd.



Wheee Secret Pal! Sekkrit Pal, even.

<3 Ambrrr

New FOs

So, I'm a knitting maniac. Well, that's kind of a lie, but I have recently completed a few things.

1st: Whitney's Calorimetry (still awaiting buttons) knit on size 8s with Jaeger Baby Merino DK in color 193(I think). Pictures coming soon.

2nd: My first sock! So, I haven't knit the other one, but I'm still proud. It's Monkey . And becuase I can't just use the same pattern that Ambrrr did, I also used Knit Picks Memories. The color is called Pansy, and I'm particularly fond of it. It's knit on size 2 Knit Picks double points, which are my new favorite toy ever. Pictures coming soon.

3rd: I remembered recently that I enjoy some crafts other than knitting. I made a shirt last night as a costume for a costume party I'm attending tonight. The theme is "Connections" and Ambrrr is being the internet, and I'm being facebook. I'm really proud of how my shirt came out. Pictures coming soon.

4th: I think I mentioned this the other day, but the Harry Potter scarf is finally done. I'm really proud, and I've been in contact with the buyer, so that transaction should be complete in the next few days. Earning money for doing what I love is awesome! Pictures coming soon.

I think that's about all. I'm about to cast on for my second sock, if my room ever gets clean. I've procrastinated for days, and it's finally to the point that I'm about to go crazy, so I've slowly been cleaning all afternoon. I've decided not to knit until it's clean, so we'll see how that goes.

<3 uhlissa

Gratuitous yarn shots ahead.

Architecture reviews are the best times to update your knitblog. This is true!
Here is Mum's Calorimetry, but since I am, as I said before, in the middle of a review I cannot give you all the FO info that I so love to do. I'll update with that later.



Hurrah Calorimetry! Depending on what other colorways the LYS carries I might make one for myself. It was simply amazing to knit up.



And here's the delicious Koigu I bought. MMmmmmm, Koigu. This was also the first time I'd ever used a ball winder. And by "me" I mean "the lady who wound my yarn." Uhlissa thinks that she might purchase one in the future, which I wholeheartedly endorse.

Stuck in Review,
<3 Ambrr

PS Here is a picture of me in a wig. I think that green and white hair really does something for me, don't you?

Best Valentine's Gift Ever!

After a grueling afternoon of seaming and tassle-ing, the Harry Potter Gryffindor scarf is done! Complete! Finished! Over! I'm beyond ecstatic. It's taken approximately 2029 minutes. That's almost 34 episodes of Law and Order! I was keeping track of my time out of curiousity, and it's a pretty intense result. I know it had largely to do with the size 8 needles and that I knit flat and sewed the scarf up. It's beautiful. I'm going to be sad about parting with it, though I am pretty tired of looking at it. I'm going to get in touch with the woman who is buying it soon, to make sure she still wants it and everything. I'll see if I can get some pictures up later this evening.

Uh, wow.

OK, now I swear that I haven't killed Uhlissa and taken over the blog. I just... talk too much. My point is, I have been knitting again! Hurrah, you love it.

For Mum's birthday I'm knitting her a Calorimetry, in the most luscious red variated yarn. I'll get the info all compiled in the FO shot (as I've actually already finished it, save for the button to close it). It was fantastic to knit with, really smooth and soft. Bought it at the LYS along with two (TWO) skeins of Koigu in colorway 603 (I think). MADNESS. I'm thinking it'll be turned into some anklets this weekend, or hopefully I won't be so out of it from Mardi Gras celebrations and the numerous birthday parties I am to attend.

AWAY, KNITBLOG!

<3 Ambrr

Apple Hats - DONE

Haha, I have been on a knitblog posting roll! Either that, or I just talk a lot.

Anyways, Lejejuande's Mardi Gras Apple Hats are done! I did each one in a different base color, as you can see:


The colors came out a little funny in the photo. I'll see what I can do about that.

Yarn info: the green and purple were both Jaeger Matchmaker Merino Double Knitting (100% Merino Wool); 50g and 131yds each. Although I could have sworn the colors were written on the labels, instead I shall give you the dye lot numbers: Sh 897 Lot 5A4 and Lot 5K3. I can no longer tell you which Lot goes with which color. :C The yellow was Jaeger Baby Merino Double Knitting, also 50g and 131yds. They were really nice to knit with, but I loved the purple. So nice.

Up next: everything else I've ever talked about knitting.

<3, Ambrrr

OK, I've had enough.

I am buying myself some Koigu PPM. Or is it PPPM? The point is, this sock yarn will be mine. I'm tired of reading review after review about how amazing it is, and how beautifully it knits up, and how socks will never be the same again after you use it.

IT WILL BE MINE.

Hopefully a trip to the LYS this Saturday will result in some. If not, where do you suggest I get some, internets? What online stores do YOU like to use?

<3, Ambrrr

Monkey done been photoed.

Check out this post for some Monkey photos! I'm pretty glad they're done, but I totally want to do another pair soon. Perhaps in a super fancy sock yarn?

<3 Ambrrr

Old Finished Objects

Some of my favorite knits pre-dated the blog, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of the projects that I finished long ago.

Two years ago for Christmas my brother wanted a Harry Potter scarf. So, of course I made it. It is definitely my pride and joy. I knit flat, and sewed it up. It's very thick and has proven very durable. I try to steal it every time he brings it near me.








Last summer, I tried to knit a blanket as a birthday gift. I ran out of time before the trip I took to deliver it, and bound it off. It's very rectangular, and not particularly blanket-esque. But, I ended up not being able to deliver the blanket, and instead slept under it on someone's couch for a week. It was deliciously comfortable, though I was completely covered in fuzzies. Apparently, after I did get it to my friend, her mom claimed it for herself, and my friend was unable to remove it from their house to bring it back to school.

Just wanted to share some of my past favorite projects. Clearly, I should be doing homework and just wanted to procrastinate, but thanks for looking.


<3 uhlissa

Pictures!

I finally acquired some pictures of a few things that I finished last year.

First, Kyle's Christmas scarf (a.k.a the never-ending-scarf-of-doom).
You can't tell from the picture, but he really likes it.











Next up, some baby booties from a Knitting booklet called "Knitting for Babies" that I bought at the grocery store. This pair was knit for a friend of my roommate's best friend. I've knit about three other pairs though. They're fun and quick. Sorry the pictures aren't so great.

<3 uhlissa

Fun and Giggles.

That is the exact opposite of what my life has been like recently. Architecture studio leaves very little time for knittin', which is sad.

I've finished two out of three Mardi Gras Apple Hats, and may have to make slight corrections on the first one. We'll see. So photos of that soon, and photos also of my very first Fetching, which I finished back in November and forgot to photo, and hopefully Marilyn's Saints Fetching, if she has them on Friday, because I forgot to photo them as well. I am bad at photo-ing.

Of course now my attention turns to "What Do I Want to Knit When I'm Done With This?" which is a game I like to play in class. February is a month 'o birthdays, including our dear Uhlissa! I'm pretty sure I already know what I'm getting her. :D But it is sekkrit, and I cannot tell you here. But anyways, here's what I'm knitting soon (hopefully):

- Calorimetry for Mum (in red)
- Fetching with Stars for Anushka (orange and green)
- Lickety Split for myself (green and black)
- Thermal for myself (this'll most likely be a summer project)
- Dreamswatch for ME HAHAHAHA (I'm going to look for a fun yarn at the LYS)
- A camera case for my coming-soon-camera (any patterns anyone loves?)

OK, I think I've covered it all. I also need something to do with my Leprechaun from KnitPicks.... oh, the possibilities! Why isn't there enough time to do all this?!

deep sighs of regret, Ambrrr