Learn a New Skill Swap Q&A

The first swap of 2012 is the 'Learn A New Skill Swap'. It is a new year, and what better way to kick it off than learning a new skill?

My Q&A

Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?

I knit, and have for over 4 years now. But guess what? I want to (re)learn to crochet!

(I know I could crochet when I was 9 or 10, because I made my baby cousin a little vest out of granny squares. But it's been a while, and I seem to have forgotten what I used to know.)

What are your favorite yarns/fibers? Are there any that you want to try but haven’t?

My favourite is anything Noro, but especially Kureyon and Silk Garden Lite.

Are there any yarns/fibers that you don’t like?

Alpaca makes me itch, so I avoid it. I also tend not to knit with yarns that are lighter than DK weight (so no sock yarn). I normally prefer natural fibres, but I'm not against a nice blend with a higher proportion of natural fibres.

What colors do you like/dislike?

I prefer bright colours to pastels or neutrals. I steer clear of yellow, except as an accent colour to set off other brights -- though I do like yellow-green. In general, I prefer solids and tonals to variegated, though self-striping yarns with long colour runs are obviously on my list of "likes".

Are there any skills that you have been wanting to learn, but were afraid to try?

If I wanted to learn, I would not be afraid to try. I have tried things that turned out to be total disasters... but that's a different story.

What would be the number one ‘skill’ you want to try this year?

I want to crochet. I already have a specific project in mind, the Babette blanket. I have the pattern for it, I have (finally) collected the yarn, and I even have a couple of little 'how-to' booklets for learning to crochet. I would really like to learn how to make different types of squares and hexagons, not just the conventional granny square.

Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?

Yes, I have both.

Do you have a blog?

You're looking at it!

Do you collect anything?

Um, yarn? (Also handmade soap, and small sheep-shaped items. But I'm not quite as obsessive about these as I am about yarn.)

Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?

I am a fiend for Jelly Bellies.

What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children?

I live in the suburbs with my husband, a teenage son, and a cat named Cali who is a spoiled princess.

Are you allergic to anything?

I avoid wheat. I tend to use "gluten-free" products to achieve this, but it's really just wheat I am trying to avoid.

Is there anything else that you want your pal to know?

For picking up stitches I have used a couple of different types of crochet hooks. In general, I prefer metal to plastic or wood, and I tend to have an easier time when the hooks are "egg-shaped" rather than just flat notches cut into the shaft. (But if I happen to get matched up with an experienced crocheter, I defer to superior knowledge!)