I was tagged (again! Yay!)

I finally finished (sort of) the massive project I was working on at work, so I finally am done working 10 hour days (hopefully) although I will miss the nice overtime paychecks.

Which means, I finally have time/energy to post again. However, I don't have any knitting/crafting pics to post.

I was tagged by Steph at craftoholic and I've been trying to get around to answering... so, here goes:

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?
Um, well, I don't know! I haven't knit with any of the really great yarns that I drool over, since I am a bit of a cheap-skate and tend to talk myself out of splurging on yarn (when the yarn I want to use is priced at $17 for a skein). I have made a few projects with LionBrand Wool-Ease (I know! I'm sorry! It's cheap! and washable!) which I have enjoyed, but I think it's a case of not having used better yarns so I don't know any better. I have used Alafoss Lopi for a number of felting projects, which I love and would like to use for something more significant and not felted, but haven't attempted yet. I have developed a bit of an addiction to sock yarns, but haven't settled on a favorite yet.

Your favorite needles?
I knit almost everything on circular needles, so those. I have one pair of bamboo needles that I really enjoyed. I like the way they feel and they seemed to grip the yarn just enough so I wasn't fighting to keep stitches in place, but the yarn slid nicely on them too. Don't know how that happens. I have a set of Denise Interchangeables which I enjoy, but at the moment EVERY SINGLE CORD** is in use. How did that happen?

**with the exception of one which at the moment has caused me great heartache and I'll tell you about it later when I have a pic to post

The worst thing you've ever knit?
Um... Back when I was first getting back into knitting, I wasn't really paying any attention to appropriate yarn for the project and/or gauge and I knit (and frogged quickly thereafter) a monsterous sweater out of some sort of cotton. The gauge was WAY WAY WAY off and it was gigantic, and really fugly. (also, the yarn may not have been all of one dye lot. noticeably so)

That or the poncho (what was I thinking) that I made myself. On some people I can see the poncho working, but how did I get sucked into the craze? I live in CALGARY for crying out loud. There are approximately 2.3 days a year where a poncho would be a useful garment. Plus, this one was fuzzy (not fun-furry, just strangely fuzzy) and just wrong. I haven't frogged it, because, frankly, it's impossible to frog. I have only ever worn it in the apartment when I was cold but didn't want to bother with an afghan. I guess it has its uses.

Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it but it was the most fun to knit)
Hmm... I don't know if I can choose just one...
The hourglass sweater, ChicKnits Ribbi Cardis (as evidenced by the multiple examples I own), the intarsia duck and giraffe sweaters I made my friend's kids, the Booga bag ... um... socks...

Most valuable knitting technique?
Short row toes and heels for socks (learned from wendy's toe-up sock pattern and grafting and spit splicing (an explanation with pictures is here: which is not where I learned it from, but it explains it pretty well)

Best book or magazine?
I have a slight addiction to knitting magazines, (Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Family Circle Easy Knitting etc) and I love my Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I love the craziness and possibilities of Loop-d-Loop, but I haven't really made anything from it (yet).

Your favorite knit-along?
I've never done one.

Your favorite knit-blogs?
Um... I don't know where to start here. I hate making lists like this, b/c I always forget someone or the second I post I'll think of another one. Can I cop out on this one? Please? (I will try to make a list someday...)

Your favorite knitwear designer?
Um, I don't know... I never pay that much attention to who the designer is... um... Teva Durham is really interesting, even though a lot of her stuff is a little, um, out-there and possibly unwearable (for me anyway). I like some of the patterns Veronik Avery has had in Interweave Knits. Um...

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it?)
Probably one of my Ribbi Cardis (you've seen the pics of these), or, now that it's winter, my bright turquoise mittens (from a recycled sweater) (no pic of them at the moment) or my socks...

I'll try to think of who's next... Right now, it's an accomplishment that my brain functioned long enough for this. I have the day off today and I'm NOT GOING TO WORK TOMORROW (I've worked the last couple of Saturdays). I'm trying to talk myself into cleaning today so tomorrow will be a relaxing Saturday. Possiblity of that happening (the cleaning)? Slim to nil.