Swap Questionnaires

Here are my Swap Questionnaires--If you like, you can read them all because they each have slightly different info.  Happy Swapping!

#1: Saucy Knitters' Swap

Hot Sauce:

1. What kind of sauces do you like? I have different tastes at different times--sometimes I'm in the mood for something tongue-searing, and sometimes for something sweeter with a bit of heat.  

2. Any sauces you don't like? So far, I haven't tasted any I didn't like.

3. What do you like your hot sauce on? My most favorite thing to put hot sauce on is eggs--scrambled, or a feta cheese and onion omelet.

4. What kinds of recipes do you put hot sauce in? So far, I've just thrown it on things already prepared, but I'd love to try a recipe with hot sauce.  I'm game if my partner wants to share a recipe with me, because I do enjoy cooking!

5. Any allergies? Nope.

6. Recipe you'd like to share? I don't have one, but would love someone to share one with me!!!

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet? I do both, and enjoy them equally.

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? I love a nice cotton (like Rowan cotton glace) for making colorful granny squares.  I really enjoy whipping up a washcloth or two with Peaches n' Creme in bright colors.  And I love silk blends and cashmere blends (like Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino).  Also sock-weight yarn.

3. What's on your needles? Still too many projects to name, including at least five afghans, myriad socks, and scarves.  I love having a lot of projects going at once, so I can dip into things when I feel like it...

4. favorite colors? Any you wouldn't want? I love colorful colors, and am open to anything.  I've been surprised and delighted in recent swaps by what people have chosen for me.  I'm easy to please. Oh, and regarding hot colors--I love the idea of getting something "hot" like hot sauce! I love reds, yellows, and oranges of all shades!

5. any preference in hooks/needles? I love different materials for different projects, but I favor aluminum and polished wood.  I really like the crochet hooks with ergonomic handles.

6. Notions? I can always use measuring tapes; I only have one raggedy one, and it was my granny's, so I don't like to carry it around with me lest I lose it.  I love getting stitch markers, so if my partner likes to make them, I'd enjoy getting some! I also love little scissors, for some reason.  One can never have too many little scissors.

7. Any fiber allergies? I've always said no to this before, but I've come to realize that mohair makes my nose kind of itchy, so that may be an allergy after all.

Stuff

1. Are you snacky? Do you like candy? Oh, I'm a consummate snacker.  I love sweet and savory treats of all sorts.  I've rarely met a snack I didn't like.

2. Are you into recipe magazines? Knitting Mags? What kind of quick, stash-it-in-your knitting bag reading do you like to have on hand? I like recipe mags, knitting and crochet mags, very much.  I almost always have a knitting catalogue or notions catalogue stashed in my knitting bag.  I also like puzzle books, of the sort of silly word seek variety.  And fun thrillers for a quick read.  

3. What cheers you up? Well, color really cheers me.  I like to look at my stash when I'm gloomy.  And I love getting a letter, email, or comment on my blog when I'm feeling down.  Reading words written especially for me is comforting and cheering.  And hugging my dog until he grunts.  He doesn't really mind, though.  And watching sitcoms on DVD.  Pretty much any sitcoms.

4. Do you collect anything other than yarn? vintage knitting and crochet patterns, blank notebooks, beads, stationery, little stash bags, bath products like scented soaps and lotions, stickers.

5. Do you have pets? A dear old dog, a hamster, and a fish.  I love and adore and worship animals.  My dream is to have a dachsund and a small bird of some sort to add to the menagerie.

6. Any other allergies? Nope.

7. Are you a swap newbie, or have you done this before? Any good advice for newbies you'd like to share? I've been in quite a number of swaps.  Here's my advice: Have a ton of fun, because swapping is after all only for fun.  Keep an open mind about what you receive--it's neat to see what someone else, usually someone who doesn't know you very well, chooses for you.  And I always like to take time with the presentation--wrapping the items, and packing them up.  Also, make sure to write a friendly note to include in your package! And to thank your spoiler immediately and publicly.  Okay, that was probably too much advice...

Previous Swaps:

#1: Knitters' Scavenger Hunt Swap

1) Do you knit, crochet or both? How long have you been doing it?

I've been crocheting since childhood--my grandma taught me. I've been knitting since high school (just lopsided scarves back then.)

2) What is on your needles/hook right now?

Too many things to mention. But some highlights: several ripple afghans, a Charlotte's Web shawl, my second Baby Surprise Jacket.

3) What is the most frequently used tool in your knitting bag?

Probably my scissors.

4) What are your 3 favorite yarns (fiber type or brand)? What are your 3 least favorite?

My three faves are: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Rowan Cotton Glace, and Koigu premium merino. My least faves are Lion Brand Homespun. Gosh, how I hate that stuff. It looks perfectly nice, but ooo the feel is like dusty potatoes.

5) What is your favorite color?

I just like color--saturated color

6) If you had a 5 minute shopping spree in your LYS, how would you plan your attack?

I'd go to my three faves and get multiples of every single color.

7) What is your favorite FO and why? 

My first Baby Surprise Jacket, and the three pairs of Koigu socks I've made.

8) What are your favorite things to knit/crochet?

Probably crocheted ripple afghans; they're so relaxing.

9) Do you collect anything?

I collect ribbon; yarn (!); old horror and romance comics; vintage textiles; cookbooks.

10) What are your five favorite things (not necessarily knitting related)?

I won't mention my family, because that's the sine qua non. Instead, coffee, music, knitting, Brooklyn, the Adirondacks.

11) Are you on Ravelry? What is your ID?

My ID is leahsimone

12) Do you drink tea/coffee/cocoa?

Java, java, rah rah java

13) Favorite Sweets?

chocky.

14) Any allergies?

nope.

15) Do you have pets? kids?

dear little girl, dear dog, and hammy and a fish.

Swap #2: Longing for Spring

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

see above

2) Favorite yarns? Least favorite?

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Rowan Cotton Glace, Noro Silk Garden.  Least Favorite: I tend to like natural fibers, although the exception is Vanna's Choice.  I like the colors very much, and it's really very nice for acrylic.

3) Favorite colors? Least favorites?

Favorites--saturated colors.  Garnet, teal, orange.  I love color.

4) Warm weather project I'm looking forward to:

Finally finishing my Charlotte's Web Shawl in Koigu, and making lots of amigurumi for my daughter and whoever else takes a shine to the little creatures.

5) Favorite scents? Least favorite?

I love unusual scents that you don't smell coming and going.  I'm addicted to several of the Fresh scents, like Fig Apricot and Pink Jasmine.  I like woodsy scents, and fruity scents (pear and orange especially).  And almond.   I'm a total perfume and scented soap/lotion junky.

I'm always up for trying a new scent, so I won't say I have a least favorite.  I'd love to experience a swap pal's favorite scent.

6) What is your favorite flower?

Oh, gosh, do I love flowers.  Geraniums, daffodils, tulips, Gerbera daisies, regular "sunny side up" daisies, carnations, roses, tiger and lemon lilies, lily of the valley, hydrangea...I'll stop now.  those are some of my faves.  I can't narrow it down.

7) What are your favorite springtime hobbies/activities?

Walking around my Brooklyn neighborhood, enjoying the surprising amount of lovely greenery--trees in bud and bloom, tulips, forsythia everywhere.  I also like to revel in the longer days, leave the kitchen windows open while I cook dinner, and take my daughter to the playground with friends.  Boy, I cannot wait for Spring...

8) No garden.  How sad.  I'm thinking of growing some herbs in a window box, however...

9) Favorite sweets:

Chocolate covered fruit (like orange peel, cherries, ginger, etc.) is my fave.  I also loooove cake of all sorts.  I'm always up for a cake recipe!!!

10) Do you collect anything?

See questionnaire above, and I'm adding: yarn, knitting needles, pretty blank journals, stickers, amigurumi patterns, perfume, beads.

11) Allergies? Nope

12) Pets? Dog, hamster, fish