"Dog Days of Summer" Dishcloth Swap Questionnaire

1. Do you knit, or crochet, or do both? How long have you been knitting\crocheting?

I've been knitting for about 2 1/2 years. My friend Marsha taught me in the summer of 2004. It was always something that I wanted to do. My grandmother was a great knitter and an expert at crochet. I have a crochet tablecloth that she made. Incredible. Marsha's husband, Jan, taught me how to crochet. I just really like being creative and making usable things. I would consider my skill level in knitting to be advanced beginner/intermediate. I'm still just a novice at crochet. I very slowly build up my knowledge of stitches and techniques. I'd like to be able to master a particular skill first before piling on something else.

2. Have you knit dishcloths or dishtowels before?

Yes. I've knit 3 or 4 dish/wash cloths so far. I bought some linen yarn to make hand towels for the powder room, but I have yet to attempt that!

3. What are your favorite cotton yarns? Is there a cotton or linen you’ve been dying to try but have not?

Well, I really like the good ol' Sugar & Cream cotton yarn. It's inexpensive and comes in a bajillion colors. I also like Bernat's CottonTots yarn. Its texture really makes a nice, absorbent cloth. I love the feel of mercerized cotton. I have yet to try that in a dishcloth because I don't know if the mercerization has any effect on the cotton's absorbency, thus rendering it useless as a dishcloth! I'd love to try a bamboo/cotton or bamboo/linen blend!

4. Are there any cotton yarns you don’t enjoy knitting with?

No, not really. Although, I tend to find cotton a little difficult to knit with in general. It tends to be stiff and unyielding and it sometimes splits too easily.

5. What type of needle do you prefer using? (Metal/Wood/Plastic)

Hmmm...well, I have all kinds of needles (wood, plastic, metal, resin, etc.) and I think my favorite needles are made by Bryspun. They are sometimes hard to come by. But use them once, and you'll love them, especially the circulars. No tangling/twisting, which is my biggest complaint about circular needles. I recently purchased some gently-used Denise needles from a friend and they are SUPER!

6. What other projects do you enjoy knitting or crocheting?

I like to knit interesting, useful items that aren't fussy or overly complicated. To me, there is really something to be said for the soft, warm garter-stitch scarf. I love knitting baby items, particularly blankets and sweaters. I like knitting things that are quick and give instant gratification, like dishcloths, hats, and baby sweaters!

7. Do you have other hobbies or enjoy other kinds of crafting?

I like to cross-stitch and needlepoint. I can sew a bit (like curtains, pillow covers, etc.). Decoupage, paper quilling, oil-painting, pastel drawing, scrap-booking, silk-screening, photography, pottery/ceramics, origami, jewelery making, beaded fruit--- you name it and I've at least dabbled in it. Hell, I used to even make rosary beads. I'm a fairly artistic person and I like to draw and occasionally paint. I'm big on home improvement, so I do a lot of wallpapering, tile grouting, house painting, linoleum laying, etc. I love putting together Ikea furniture. How lame is that? :-P

8. What kind of treats do you like? Chocolate? Candies? Nuts?

Chocolate, of course. I'll eat anything of the chocolate variety. And I am a real sucker for a good chocolate-covered marshmallow. Candy is ok, but chocolate is better! Candy I will not eat: Twizzlers or any of its rubbery, stringy look-alikes. Yuck. Nuts are cool with me!

9. What colors are your kitchen and bath decorated in, if any?

My kitchen is sage green and black with oak cabinets. I have a couple of baths. One is done in a seashell theme, and that's coral, cream, beige, with touches of pink & light blue. The other bath is basically black & white with some cream color in there.

10. What are your favorite colors and what colors do you dislike?

Well, I don't think it's really a question of me not liking colors, because I pretty much like ALL of them, except for teal. Teal should be obliterated from all human existence. Really, it's more like what colors don't like me! For instance, I love yellow and orange, but they look hideous on me. However, I will admit that I'm not a huge fan of pastels. I guess I like heathered, natural colors the best. I'm fond of plums, sagey greens, denim blues, gray, terracotta, coral, browns and mocha. I like red, too.

11. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Other beverages?

Yes and yes!

12. Do you have any kids (human or pet variety!)?

Heh. Very nicely phrased question! I have five furry children, all cats, all mostly evil, except for the oldest, Sophie. You can poke around my blog pretty easily and find pictures of them being bad. They are: Sophie, Hercules, Titus (the evilest one), Ophelia (we call her Fi-Fi for short), and Luna. So, yeah, FIVE cats. Hey, less time in purgatory....

13. Do you have any allergies?

Cats. Ha! Joke. Not really. None that are life-threatening, anyway---as far as I know!

14. Please share 3 tidbits about yourself that you think your pal and other swappers might find odd or interesting.

Gah! I always find this so hard. Um let's see...

1. I am a total video-game geek. I play Warcraft regularly and have three console and several hand-held systems. I love games and gaming in general.

2. I've seen the movie Clue more times than any other movie I've ever seen. I'm going to guess...hmmm...25 times? I can't even tell you why. LOL

3. I can't ride a bike, or roller skate, or skateboard, or ski, or surf, or swim, etc. (No, really, I CAN'T swim AT ALL. Some people say they "can't swim," meaning that they can doggie-paddle and/or keep afloat. No, I SERIOUSLY SINK LIKE AN ANCHOR. I am terrified of the water.) I pretty much can't do anything. I can't dance either. I am the least athletic and most uncoordinated person I know! :-P