Slaving over the weekend

no 'nitting,'nuff said





Have you seen Emy's ring pillow??

I never had one - the best man did the honours. Would anyone else like to share theirs?

I am so pumped up by this pillow I feel like making more. I have so much lace and jazquard and stuffing from my last Crazy quilting craze that I think I could make some for sale.

Stay tuned for the finished product.

A little bit of this and that

I am rich!!! I sold off some Cross stitch patterns on Ebay UK and made a cool US$40.00. What a dilemma - what shall I buy?? On my eBay watchlist I have handpainted Jaggerspun Zephyr, Lorna's laces sock yarn, Handpainted yarn from South America, Turkish Novelty yarn from Yarnart.
BUT what I really want is some Knitpicks Shimmer yarn - will someone help me buy some? She doesn't ship overseas.

I am in a major lace kick currently. I keep looking at lace weight yarn and lace patterns until I'm really dizzy.

I started a little bit of Kiri with some Cherry Tree Hill laceweight yarn I had (colourway Dusk) and was mucho dissapointed at how the colourway pooled - I guess I need either bigger needles (I used 3.5mm) or different pattern to get the best out of this indigo- purple-green colurway.






The good news is my Kid Silk Haze order arrived yesterday so I will probably start this again with the Nightly colourway and bigger needles.

Then I also casted on for this top

Forgive the funny reflection of the ceiling lights in my office.


I am using a fuschia Turkish cotton yarn from Yarn Art I got from ebay. A whopping 400 mt to a 100gm ball. The yarn is light and perfect for lacy tops BUT very splitty. Splits don't normally bother me but with a complicated pattern as this , the frogging is almost unbearable. But still I plug on and here's almost one little sleeve done.

For a close look at the detail, click here


BUT no more knitting for me for the next few days - I have a ring pillow to do for my sister-in-law's wedding. I've been postponing it for a while, it's hard to pick up an old hobby while one is still crazy about another one. But since the wedding is next weekend , I guess I better get a move on or I won't be able to show my face at the church.

Midnight Show

I was sorting out my stash yesterday and found some scarf yarn that I hadn't touched. Before I knew it I was sitting down and casting on for a two hour scarf, forget the housework and the tax returns I was going to do...

What's a two hour scarf? well you take the biggest needle you have and cast one about 100 or so - I used 10mm needles and casted on 120 - That's the length of your scarf. Then you knit one or two alternating rows with each yarn - using a combinations of 3 or 4 yarns for a fun effect. Leave about 8 inchs tail at each end for a fringe. Keep going until you have the thickness that you want.

And if you don't understand all that - please go here for the Berocco version - only you can substitute which whatever yarn that you have on had. I used a Schachenmeyr Salsa yarn for the fur element, Sirdar cotton chenille and Schachenmeyr Jupiter.

And after all that you get a scarf - presenting the Midnight Show




*Forgive the gratuitous advertising of our company logo but it's T shirt Friday and we HAVE to wear our company t shirt on Fridays.*
And a closer look

Why did I call it the Midnight Show ? well it was past midnight when I finished it - it wasn't really a 2 hour scarf - it was 3 hours - but then I was kind of caught up a little by West Wing Season 3 finale on DVD and American Idol on Cable.

Then I also thought it would be just the type of thing you'd wear to the freezing cinemas during a midnight show, especially if you're trying to avoid getting hickies from an over- amourous boyfriend. I used thinner yarn cause I wanted it to be wearable in tropical weather but the fun fur gives it just a little hint of being warm. The whole thing is incredibly soft though and a lot of fun -think I'll do a pink one next.

In the meantime - I casted on for I do" but ripped it cos I didn't think it was the right yarn. Lace in circulars is also the pits. I have a phobia of putting it down just in case I forget which row and where in the row I left off.

On a more happy note - here's my april stash of yarn ( more coming but we won't talk about that right now.)



That's Lorna's Laces in Motherlode and Hawaii and the ball on the bottom left is a Japanese carry along yarn called Flowery and Thready ( yeah they have some strange names for their yarn ). It's ruinously expensive but it's gorgeous and I am thinking of running it together with my Kid Silk Haze yarn for a shawl.

Catching up

Just a few things happening in my life at the moment.


Last Friday the KL Knitting Meet up group went met up at Jackie's place for a slap up gourmet dinner. Check out the pic on Vanessa's blog. we were all supposed to act natural, but when Laura clicked on the button, everyone looked up and smiled. I was still trying to act natural, instead I look liked the glutton! But seriously, the food was great and the company was even better.


Lyn from Knitties was admitted into hospital for an appendectomy on Friday itself so she missed our meet up. Do send her your well wishes. Thank goodness she has mountain of NEW yarn to cheer her up.


My secret pal sent me a great Easter package which arrived on Friday too. I couldn't take a pic cos I don't have the camera with me, but I received
1. two packs of candy
2. a peeps backpack clip
3. a bar of botanical soap and a bottle of Euclan(sp??)
4. an Easter chicky that peeped when you pressed ( my son thanks you for this, he absolutely loves it)
5. An easter Bunny filled with notions.
6. Hello Kitty! clips.


I'll try to take pic of all these goodies tonight - minus the candy - they're long gone (YUM!!!)


On the knitting front, I'm in a little bit of a rut at the moment. Since I finished the FBS, I've been casting on and abandoning swatching several projects with no clear objective in sight. I really have to start work on my sister's cardigan again but I'm unmotivated. I have a million scarves I want to Knit from Scarf Style but am discouraged by the fact that I would probably not be able to wear them.

Hopefully I'll feel better knitwise tonight as just settle into something that will hold my interest for more than a week.

Yarn-orexia

In my short yarn fast last month I seemed to have accumulated a very long list of stuff I really reallly want. I actually did break my yarn fast by making a totally impulsive Best Offer on eBay for a lot of Noro Silk Garden in the colourway #88. Oh and an order for some Malabrigo yarn from the yarn co-op group.


I thought I'd put up a pared down list of what I am looking for in the next few months.


If anyone would like to sell their copy of any of the magazines I covet below - please email me.

Phildar Ete 2004
Can't seem to find an english version.


Knitters Summer 2004
I'd love to do this Lily of the Valley shawl.


One skein of green based KPPPM and Charlotte's web shawl pattern
Do you know I have been trying to place an order for this but have been faced with shipping being ridiculously high at Patternworks, and colours out of stock at Threadbear and pattern out of stock at Kaledeiscope yarn.


The following yarns are listed in no particluar order, just what will probably be my next purchases -whenever I find a good deal on any.

Jaeger Siena ( any colour but white)
RYC Cashcotton DK in Quartz
Elann's Alpaca Silk or Baby Cashmere
Hand Painted yarn in Candy Colorway
KSH in Trance (as many balls as it takes)


And after that I just... might... go for another long yarn diet.

Spring is Here!

I just finished a very simple Spring scarf for a very secret recipient. I won't disclose who she is until she receives it but let's just say she has been a warm and generous knitting friend.

I call it the Spring Scarf because the Noro Silk Garden has every colour of spring imaginable in it - pink and blue and green and rose and lavenders and marigold.




It's a simple lace pattern I picked up from my chinese "600 knitting patterns" book and I am sure it has an english name.

The instructions are as follows:-

Cast on 17 stitches. The 1st 3 and the last 3 stitches are the border and can be done in seed or garter stitch.

Work 3 rows in seed or garter stitch

Row 1: work 3 stitches in seed or garter stitch, [ knit 2tog twice, yo,k,yo,k,yo,k,yo, ssk twice ] work last 3 stitches in seed or garter
Row 2: work the border for 3 stitches, purl until last 3 stitches, work border.

Keep going until you want to stop and knit the last 3 rows in seed or garter stitch
Cast Off.

I used 5mm needles with Noro Silk Garden -which is a worsted weight.


Enjoy!!

Finally - a yarn for Clapotis

I finally found a yarn suitable for Clapotis.

I blogged about this quite some time ago and though there are plenty of great yarn substitutes and dozens of beautiful Clapotis around the web, I never really found something that met my criteria.

until now




The yarn is for my favourite handpainted yarns from the ebay store Over The Rainbow - and is called Shmmer in the crocus colourway. It is a Rayon/silk mix and the worsted weight makes it go real fast. The drape in this thing is unbelievable.

I am making a smaller wrap - only 14 inches as opposed to the original 21 inches and this one is for me - nobody else but me.

My baby was 2 on Saturday. Wasn't it only yesterday when he looked like this



or like this



Now he's a gorgeous kid who looks like this




Sigh!

FBS Debut

Just a quick one before I rush off for Easter.




FBS Blocking




Wearing FBS in 35 degrees C.



Taking a closer look.




Happy Easter everyone!

FBS unblocked!

Take a look at my finished Flower Basket Shawl, half draped over my office chair



Done with 2 strands of laceweight merino from Lotusblossom (ebay) colourway - Lagoon
Click here for a closer look.


If I had not seen the other similarly unblocked FBS's in blogworld, I'd be crying in my cups right now. BUT I have faith in my blocking abilities. It's going for a nice warm "bath and block" tonight.

Oh by the way - started this on 11 March and finished on 20th March - one of my fastest project ever.

I have found my perfect Clapotis yarn. More pics later.

Celia, I drew your name out of the correct guesses for the Broadripple socks - I'm almost starting the toe - got distracted by the Flower Basket shawl. Please email me your address so I can send you a nice ball of Filatura Kid Mohair in Blue.

Another Clue??

I'll do the drawing on next Friday 18th March. Oh BTW you can guess more than once you know.

OHMIGOD

Look what I got from my Secret Pal !!!





From top to bottom:- Noro Daria for a necklace scarf; Noro Lily for socks ( oh no won't use this for socks! Will hoard this for something special!) and Bernat Boa - just for the fun of things!
You're the greatest !!!!


Lyn came over last Friday to do some winding and we took some pictures but it needs some touching up. We sat outside on the patio cos it was an extremely hot night. I must say that the ball winder is a great investment, what took me 2 -3 hours to wind now only takes about 10 minutes.

We gave our hands and waists a good work out cos we took turns in holding up the skeins and moving it back and forth in time with the ball winder - so hey! who says you don't get any exercise from knitting.


Click the thumbnails for a closer look at we were doing



Fired up by the gorgeous skein of handpainted merino lace from Lotus blossom that I wound up, I started the Flower Basket Shawl.
Lyn asked if I could figure out the casting on - and after frogging twice - I did! I originally cast on with a red viscose cotton from Garnstudio which I thought I might wear for my sister-in-law's wedding in April. But a visit to the tailor's the next day resulted in me choosing a blue- green dress. So the handpainted colourway names Lagoon won and I've been obsessed by this shawl every since. I'm at the 1st repeat of the upper Basket pattern - another 6 to go.




I've also been working on a mystery project - so mysterious that when I tried to upload the photo to photobucket - I hit a scheduled maintainence page. So I'll let you make guesses on what my mystery project is. Just to make it a little more fun, any right guesses will go into a draw for a ball of Filatura di Crosa Kid Mohair fine - the same as what I am using for the Lacy Lattice Stole. ( *oh Lyn you can't join in the fun cos you saw it already*) A clue? - well it's rippling.

Just send in your guesses through my email or in the comments here.

From the comments

Melanie was asking about the shawl/shrug pattern in one of the previous post. She didn't leave an email address so I'll answer here.

It's from Panda Yarns leaflet#108 4 designs in Bracken Tweed. Have googled the life out of it but I can't find any information on this yarn anywhere so I guess it's been discontinued.

The Panda yarn site is http://www.pandayarns.biz. Perhaps if you email them, Melanie they may be able to give you more information on where to get the leaflet.

Cheers

Fiddlesticks!!

I just have to share with you what I discovered during the weekend.

Filatura di Crosa Kid Mohair rocks!!
I got some from Emy a couple of months ago and decided to break it out this weekend to do a small swatch for my Fiddlesticks knit a long.

Yes I have sadly neglected my lace knitting after my pathetic attempt at Inky Dinky stole, so I decided to try again this time using the Lacy Lattice Stole.




Take a closer look



I feel like I am knitting with clouds, it's that soft and airy. Of course the downside is that it does fly about a lot if you're knitting under a fan so one has to get a good grip on the yarn. Occasionally I do feel bits of fluff itching around my nose and in my throat but it's not as bad as some other mohairs I have used.
The best part is that it's way cheaper that Rowan Kid Silk Haze so I think the next project with this yarn would be Polly's Kiri.


Stasher's Anonymous 5 step programme

I was just having a conversation with Laura about yarn obsessions.
I though I'd share the things I do to stop myself from buying yarn - especially in the last few weeks ( I have 20 days to Easter and counting!!!).


1. The worst place of temptation - EBAY! Whatever you do,don't visit it everday. If you have anything in your favourite searches, don't set it to send to your mailbox.

2. Ditto for your favourite online shop.

3. If you just can't resist something, click save it to your watch list instead and wait 24 hours before you do anything.

4. When surfing in an online shop - click the desired items and place them in the shopping cart. THEN CLOSE the window and do not go back to the site for at least 24 hours. Repeat everyday if necessary.

5. Don't drive anywhere near your LYS. If you must go in, drag along some knitting friends with you and watch them buy up the store. This just gives me a such a sick vicarious (sp??) buzz.


On suppressing impulse buys ( especial when Sales occur)

1. Repeat this mantra " There will always be another Sale"

2. Set a budget every month for Stash and do not deviate!! Don't make up for the fact that you spent less last month either.

3. Have a list of your most wanted and set what is the most you are willing to pay for each item. Update this list only every month.

4. Compare every yarn you are thinking of buying with this less and do not deviate. If you must buy something not on the list- take something out.

5. If you take something out of the list - put it back in only after 2 months. After that time you might find you don't want it as much. ( Or most probably ,you might find something else you like better).


And if all else fails -
DESTASH FIRST BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT LOT OF YARN.


Did I say there was 20 more days to EASTER??

Round Up

So here's the Butterfly in all its glory.

Noro Silk Garden

Colourway #137

I haven't a pic of me in it cos I can't seem to get one which looks passably decent. Lyn was supposed to come over last Sunday to take a few photoes but we were both tied up and did not meet in the end.


Anyways - I need to do some major fix up on this one. As you may have noticed - one side of the front is longer than the other. I don't how that could have happened unless it was during one of those marathon late night/early morning knitting sessions watching Deep Space 9 DVDs. I'm not sure how I am going to fix it yet, probably pick up stitches on the cast-on edge of shorter side and knit about 1 inch.


Secondly, it's huge!! I really over estimated my size this time. Probably over-reacting to the other time with the Shapely T when I under-estimated.


You know what I might just re-do the whole thing in maybe about oh... 3 years time or so - around the next time there is a recycling campaign. In the meantime - my Mum seemed to like it so she'll probably get more wear out of it than me.

I've finished one sleeve of the Zara project (which I'll refer to the Pseudo Gansey, because it reminds me of some other ganseys I've seen around the net, in particular Rachel's )


I'm doing this project in tandem with the Zara.







It's for my sister who sent over the wool last year with my Mum. She'll be coming over in July to pick it up, so I probably should get started on it. Check out this yarn - Panda Bracken Tweed - a mohair acrylic mix.

I just love the name "Bracken Tweed" - it's so descriptive. Everytime I say it "Brrracken Tweed" I just imagine the scottish highlands surrounded by heather, moss and tweed, wind in my hair and some handsome scottish laddie walking around in kilts.




"Brrrraaacken Tweeed"






Sorry! got distracted by the scottish laddie! I went to boarding school in Dunedin NZ so am a little partial to handsome scottish laddies.




My sis asked me to make the cardigan but I'm more intrigued by this pattern



I've asked her to get more of this yarn but she says it was discontinued. So if anyone of you knitters out there have some (about 5 balls) in your stash you'd like to get rid off... please let me know.

NYBA

Yep No Yarn Buying until Easter. Since:-

1. it's my current obsession which I feel I should learn to control (yeah right)
2. my credit card needs a break
3. I decided I like the feeling of finishing something for a change so I want to work on the stash I have first before buying some more.


After finishing Butterfly, I was half heartedly knitting on the green Japanese Lacy Top and looking around for something new to start. I know I was thinking of Rogue, but I can't seem to print out the pattern. For some reason, I get stuck at page 15. Something about slow network connections in the office. I can't print it at home as my printer there is on the blink ( need more ink!!).


So I casted on for Lara from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk collection using Filatura di Crosa Zara. WOW! this is just about the best wool yarn I have ever knitted on. I mean it's soft and not fluffy and it doesn't have those bits of vegetable matter you have to pull at every yard intervals. It feels lighter and cooler than some cotton yarns I have felt up. I guess it's true that some wool yarn can be lighter and cooler than some cotton yarn.




The colours looks like freshly steamed prawns - there's no other way to describe it.


Then I caught sight of these two lovely patterns in a Japanese pattern book while browsing in a book store yesterday -




(sorry about the quality of the pic)

So I thinking of not doing Lara with this yarn and using it for the sweater on the left.

Decision! Decisions!

Secret Pal

I think I have the best secret pal ever!!

On valentine's day I received a $20.00 gift voucher from Amazon - whooo!
Then the next day I received a little postcard from her with recipe for Southern Fried Chicken.
And yesterday I got another package containing the Knitter's pocketbook - a journal where I can keep track of my stash and projects- and a kit to make a beaded clown fish which is too cute.

I surfed around Amazon a bit before deciding which books to buy and I settled on



Spin It - by Lee Raven - of course so I can learn a little more about what I am doing with that Spindle.


Knit Socks - cos I want to try knitting socks and don't have a clue where to begin.


Thanks Secret Pal Mwahh mwahh!!!

The other big news is .....

I FINISHED THE BUTTERFLY

I sewed the last seam yesterday at 2.30 am. My little boy has a fever and I was waiting up to give him his last dose at 3.00 am, so what better activity to keep me awake then seaming? Let's just say today is not a good day to be talking to me about quantum physics or asking me to operate heavy machinery.

I put it on immediately to have look at myself in the mirror and ... hmmm. although I am pretty happy overall- I just have to knit pick a little on this project.

1. I have the sloping shoulders - perhaps it's to do with the seaming - perhaps If I used a binding stitch instead of a mattress stitch to seam the shoulders, it might tighten up the top a little.

2. I liked this pattern partly because the front left and right looked as if it was cut away - ie slimmer at the bottom - gradually increasing to the bottom of the collar than decreasing back. Mine just hangs straight down and looks kind of limp.
If I ever do this again, I'd probably draft it out and do the increase - decrease myself. Or I may put a little button flap at the back of the jacket to pull in the waist a little.

3. I love this chevron stitch - it really shows off the Noro colourway and I am happy with the colour way I choose. BUT after putting it on for less that 10 minutes, I was already swimming in my own perspiration. Also I don't like the heavy drape, it seems to detract from the lovely pattern. I am very tempted to try this again using a double knit cotton yarn with similar variegations - a yarn that doesn't hang so heavily.


I will be putting up a pic - just as soon as I block the collar.

Catch the Spindle

It's arrived!

My little starter kit arrived on Monday from Inspirations Yarn and I wasted no time in opening it up and giving the spindle a little twirl. But the twirling spindle caught the eye of my two-year-old and he came running to inspect the new Toy. No amount of "Mustn't touch" could stop him from trying to play "Catch the Spindle" which meant I had to put it away until he was in bed for the night.



What an appropriate Valentine's Day surprise for my love affair with fiber.



Unfortunately, DH and I had to do this dinner thing that evening so I couldn't play with the spindle until the next evening.



The next evening - this is what I produced:-

Corriedale roving

It's looks like more roving than anything but I've seen some novelty wool which looks similar. I have to save this little skein for posterity. My first skein of hand spun yarn.

My next efforts did look a little more promising but with a different roving - a Shetland

My DH looks like he's seriously worried. He said " umm.. I thought spinning was done with the wheel thing and Rumpelstiltskin will come and help you at night?"
I just answered " I haven't got a wheel yet, but maybe I'll get one once I've saved around US$700."
I think he turned a slight shade of green but he didn't say anything more. I'll give him a break - I won't buy any more stash for the whole of Lent.

Butterfly update
I am still halfway through the Butterfly's Collar - with another 6 inches to go. It's slow going cos it was freaking hot here over the past week! Just felt like yesterday when Lyn and I were freezing our butts off in Starbucks.

But I am sure I'll get it done by this this week. That is, if I am not too distracted by, uh, other things.. ;)

Happy Chinese New Year

Will be away at my in laws for a week.
Frantically trying to finish Butterfly by midnight tonight!!
Have fun with family and friends for those who celebrate and don't pig out too much.

Mail box heaven

Look what popped into my mail box on Wednesday!





Yeap it's the Koigu - soft luscious beautiful Koigu.
Except for one thing - that skein of dark green sticks out like a sore thumb.
Take a step back.


Nope still sticking out!


Anyone want to trade for this skein of Koigu Solid? There's a label with this number on it - 1510/9 and it is dark forest green. I'm happy to trade for another skein of Koigu PPM in a lighter green colourway or make me an offer.


Now that I have got my Koigu - I can lay this obsession to rest now - very happy not to make anymore Koigu purchases for at least... oh 2 months.


Meanwhile I also receive a pack of 10 Filatura di Crosa Kid Mohair from Emy in Singapore for a steal! I absolutely love the mohair and it is a fraction of the price of Rowan's Kid Silk Haze. Didn't have the time to take a pic this morning but I have to break it out this weekend and bring it to our meetup for a fondling session.
Planning to do Polly's Kiri shawl with this lot plus other projects from the Lavish Lace books.


As for the Colinette obsession, it still continues although under control. I keep picking out balls of yarn from my stash of odd balls of eyelash/fugly scarf yarn and placing it side by side to see if I could make a nice striping progression. I will keep working on it and see if I can't come up with a pseudo Ab fab throw/ stole by the end of the weekend.


I realise that it's the Ab Fab pattern that I am mad about - although that may change once I receive my first lot of Colinette yarn.



Feeling a little rich today as my Quilt book Dear Jane that I put up on eBay is garnering a lot of interest and is almost at its retail value with another 3 days of bidding left to go.


Now this book isn't out of print - and yes it is signed by the author but it is addressed to me. So I didn't expect it to go for more than half the retail value. Half of me feels like emailing the current higest bidder and saying "Are you sure you want to pay so much for this book?" But then I see bids for Alice Starmore books or for the Proper Stitch going above $100, I think I should just be quiet and get the most out of what I can.


Then the other half of me ( the pack rat half) is thinking, "Why am I selling my precious book?". Why indeed! So I may one day save enough to buy a spinning wheel, that's why!


I have Jane Ellison's Simply Noro up for bid as well as packs of 50 2.5 inch Cotton squares. Do check it out if you are interested.

SP4 Questionaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high- a nd/natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?
Not really fussed - yarn selection here is so dismal that I am sure anything from US/UK/Canada is wonderful.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I want to start spinning but haven't really ordered the basic items yet. I know how to crochet but it isn't my favourite pastime.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Not that I know of.

4. How long have you been knitting?
ohh maybe 20 years or so but I took a break for about 12 years and started again last August.

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

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Lavender and violets

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
prefer savoury

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
Rubber stamping, cross stitch , hardanger, tatting ( also learning)

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like quite a variety ranging from Swing, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, ro marron 5, Linkin Park ( no kidding) and the soundtrack to all the Lord of the Rings movies.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?
I am partial to the purple, lavender and pink, but am trying to get more into blus and greens.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, one 2 year old son and no pets

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
Ohhh - I love handpainted yarn - because I live in a tropical country, the yarns are use and mostly lightweight - cotton or cotton blends. Although I lust for wool , i know it isn't practical.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Not found one yet.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
Ab Fab Colinette Throw, Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk designs.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Lacy Scarves and Cardigans.

17. What are you knitting right now?
err - Noro Butterfly, Japanese Cotton Lacy Top , Lacy Tunic from Rebecca

18. What do you think about ponchos?
don't think I'll ever wear them

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? I can do both

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
no bamboos - for some reason I can handle the squeeking as they rub together

21. Are you a sock knitter? haven't tried although it is in my plans one day.

22. How did you learn to knit?
A teacher in boarding school taught me how to contruct a sweater - before that I just knew the basic rib- purl straight rectangular type of knitting.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?
oh 3 months or so

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
Boo - from Monsters Inc and I like cats

25. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas

26. Is there anything that you collect?
Koigu. Colinette.