"Defeat the Winter Doldrums" Dishcloth Swap

1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both?
Both, but for dishcloths - just knitting. I have been crocheting since I was in high school and use both yarn and thread. I have only been knitting for the past few years.

2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?
I have only used straight needles - both aluminum and wood. But I tend to use the aluminum ones more often.

3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try?
I have used Sugar'n Cream, Peaches & Cream, Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, Bernat Organic Natural Cotton, and Lion Brand Cotton. I have yet to try Lion Brand Cotton-Ease but am thinking about giving it a try. Also, I have two balls of Knit Picks CotLin that I need to use. I am not too picky and would be happy with any cotton.

4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?
The kitchen is painted merlot (a deep red) and has Ancient Egyption decor. There are two and a half baths. The half bath is painted a sage green and will be in the Asian theme. The kids bathroom is painted yellow with sailboats as a theme. The master bath doesn't really have a theme. But I am thinking of going with a French theme to match the bedroom.

5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite?
My favorite colors include blues, greens, red, purple, black. The least favorite would be bright neon colors.

6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends?
Right now I am just waiting for the "rainy season" here in Oregon to end.

7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?
That would be play time with my two little boys. They are both so full of energy. I just wish I had a tiny portion of that just so I can keep up with them.

8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps?
That would be gummy worms.

9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa?
I drink all three. For coffee, I drink it fully loaded with flavored cream. I just had a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks today and it may be my new favorite drink from there. The teas I drink are chamomile and green teas.

10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?
I would love to go to Egypt and learn as much about its history as I can.

11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of?
No, I don't have any allergies but my husband is allergic to cats.

Hot Cocoa Swap Questionnaire

Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug?
I have had store bought cocoa and home made cocoa - always in a big mug. My favorite cocoa was prepared with milk and had crushed peppermint candies mixed in with a peppermint candy cane and whipped cream to garnish.

2. Marshmallows or whipped cream?
Whipped Cream

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors?
That would be sock yarn (Socks that Rock, Lisa Souza, Lorna's Laces) in any colors except bright neon ones. I also like wool, alpaca, cotton. But then, I have also used acrylic like Caron Simply Soft, some of the Bernat yarns, and the softer Red Heart. As you can see, I pretty much use a wide variety of yarn. No yarn snobbery here.

2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)?
Both, but I crochet faster as I have been doing that alot longer than knitting.

3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new?
So far I have used the Knit Picks nickel plated DPNs and the Options set. I have been thinking about trying the Knit Picks Harmony Wood DPNs.

4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions?
That all depends on how you define a "healthy supply of notions". There are some items I can always have more - like measuring tapes, darning needles, stitch markers or anything really cute and handy to have. I am still looking for something to put my straight needles in.

5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)?
Locking stitch markers or WPI Tool and Knit-Kard or something to hold my DPNs together when I am not working on the current sock project.

6. What is your favorite 'quick knit/crochet' pattern (quick gratification)
That would include dishcloths, socks, mittens, baby items.

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter?
Sitting by the fireplace reading a good book or watching a movie.

2. What is your favorite animal?
Black cats

3. Do you get the 'winter blahs'?
Yes, winter here in Oregon is the "rainy season".

4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs?
Watching a movie with the boys, knitting or crocheting while curled up under a lapghan.

5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring?
The daffodils blooming as they are my favorite flower.

6. What are your favorite treat?
Chocolate, cheesecake, fudge, maple syrup candy from Vermont, gummy worms. Yes, I have a sweet tooth.

7. What is your favorite board game?
Monopoly

8. Do you have any children (furry or human)?
I have two small boys - Nathan (5 years old) and Nicholas (2 years old).

9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about?
I don't have any allergies but the husband is allergic to cats (which is why we don't have any).

Scavenger Hunt Swap Questionnaire

1) How long have you been knitting?
About 3 years if you don't count the garter stitch scarf I did way back in college (the late 80s-early 90s). Then I stopped and didn't pick up the needles till about 2005.

2) What are you knitting right now?
Socks, dishcloths, Ravenclaw scarf

3) What is the most frequently used tool in your knitting bag?
That would be the Chibi Jumbo Darning Needle Set.

4) What are your 3 favorite yarns (fiber type or brand)? What are your 3 least favorite?
That would be Socks that Rock, Lisa Souza, Noro, and Lorna's Laces as my favorites. I have been eyeing some Lorn's Laces Bullfrogs & Butterflies in the Black Purl colorway. My least favorite would be the sparkly novelty yarns.

5) What is your favorite color?
blue, black, purple, camouflage

6) If you had a 5 minute shopping spree in your LYS, how would you plan your attack?
I would aim for the sock yarn, than the Cascade yarn, than books and needles.

7) What is your favorite FO and why? (post a pic if you have it!)

This dolphin doily was made for my mother one year for her wedding anniversary. It is crocheted with size 20 crochet cotton on a size 8 hook. The official name is "Marine Merry-Go-Round" and can be found in Decorative Crochet Number 104. It took me a little longer as I had to rip back twice toward the end due to missing stitches. But she loved it so it was well worth the extra time.

8) What are your favorite things to knit?
Socks and dishcloths. They go by quickly and are portable knits.

9) Do you collect anything?
Does sock yarn count? Other than that, I would say faeries, wizards, dragons, pegasus, and anything to do with Ancient Egypt.

10) What are your five favorite things (not necessarily knitting related)?
Reading, watching Nascar (my favorite driver is Jeff Burton- check out his picture in the right sidebar), playing Tomb Raider on the Playstation 2, sewing, and doing bead work.

11) Are you on Ravelry? What is your ID?
Yes I am. The ID is AngelaMarie.

12) Do you drink tea/coffee/cocoa?
Yes, yes, and yes. I drink all three. I prefer the coffee fully loaded.

13) Favorite Sweets?
Anything with chocolate, lemondrops, maple syrup candy from Vermont, gummy worms, fudge, and cheesecake.

14) Any allergies?
I don't have any allergies but the husband is allergic to cats.

15) Do you have pets? kids?
We have no pets but we have two small boys - a 5 year old and a 2 year old.