I don't think this is fixable. Oh well, it's not like I wore them much anyway, but still.

***

Grumperina has put a meme on her blog, so I've decided to take a crack at it.

Ten Knittery Things You Don't Know About Me

1. My mother taught me to knit when I was 11, but she only taught me the knit stitch. I eventually figured out casting on by myself (and many years later discovered that what I was doing was the Backward Loop Cast-On, which I still use for most things). I learned how to bind off from the instructions on my Cherry Pie Knitter, using its crochet hook; I didn't figure out how to bind off without a hook until years later. The purl stitch I eventually learned from a book, along with most of the other techniques I can do.

2. My first project was a yellow acrylic garter stitch rectangle, which I folded in half, embroidered features on, and stuffed to make a cat pillow. It was a gift for my best friend at the time.

3. I have only taken one knitting class (so far). I took Annie Modesitt's lace class when she was here in town a couple of years ago, and learned how to do different increases and decreases and how to read charts.

4. I never tried knitting anything from a pattern until a few years ago; when I was first learning, my mother insisted that patterns were too hard to read and that I shoudn't even try. Unfortunately, I believed her. As a result, I came up with a lot of unorthodox ways to do things, some of which actually worked pretty well.

5. I knit my first sweater when I was 14; it was for our cat. It was just a tube with a couple of holes for her front legs. I only put it on her when she was going outside in the snow; she really didn't seem to mind it too much.

6. I have still not managed to knit a sweater for myself. I've started several, but I always either get bored or frustrated and end up unraveling it. I did complete a Shapely Tank Top, but my gauge was off and it was way too big. I didn't bother unraveling it since I didn't like the yarn all that much anyway.

7. I love knitting with tiny needles. Size 0 Addi-Turbos are my friend.

8. Since I learned how to do Magic Loop, I use it for just about everything. I couldn't even tell you where my DPNs are.

9. I almost never knit a pattern without changing something. I usually follow it most of the way through, but there is always some little thing I feel compelled to change. For instance, on my Dainty Bess scarf, I'm doing seed stitch borders instead of garter stitch.

10. There are more knitting podcasts on my iPod than there is music.

The pattern is actually written as a beaded hat, but since this is for a chemo cap I thought it would be better without beads. But I did go buy some beads today since I will definitely be making one of these for myself. I've never done beaded knitting, but I think this will be a great project to try it. The instructions say to thread 150 beads onto the yarn before knitting, but I think I'm going to try the method Lily Chin demonstrated on another episode of Knitty Gritty, where you use a tiny crochet hook and place the beads as you need them.

Time to go get ready - Stitch & Bitch tonight, hooray!

I might have more money; then again, if I couldn't knit I'm sure I'd find an equally expensive hobby. But I'm sure another hobby wouldn't be as fulfilling.

4. If money were no object, what one yarn, and what one tool or gadget would you run out and buy first?

The gadget question is easy - I'd buy a kickass knitting machine, because then I might actually make things like afghans or sweaters for myself. As for the yarn, that's a lot tougher... maybe enough Ambrosia to make a huge blanket.

5. What knitting technique or project type are you most afraid of (if any)? What, specifically, do you fear will happen when you try it?

The obvious answer is steeking, because OH MY GOD I HAVE TO CUT DOWN THE CENTER OF MY KNITTING WITH SCISSORS WHAT WAS I THINKING? But I guess I'm not actually afraid of this, because when I do decide to try it, I certainly won't be making my first attempt on anything I've spent weeks working on. So I suppose my real fear would be felting a large project. I've felted bags, but that's fine because the end result doesn't have to fit anybody. I did partially felt a hat once, and it was scary because I was worried that it would overfelt and not fit the recipient, but if that had happened it wouldn't have taken me long to knit her another hat. But if I had to felt, say, a coat that I had spent months making, that would give me the shakes.

6. Who is/are your knitting hero(es), and why?

Elizabeth Zimmermann, for taking a lot of the fear and mystery out of knitting and making it more accessible to everyone. Debbie Stoller, for helping make knitting relevant to a new generation. The Yarn Harlot, for her humor and insight.

7. Do you consider knitting, for you personally, a mostly social activity, or a mostly solitary activity?

While I do most of my knitting alone, I really like doing it in a social setting. Since I'm mostly self-taught, I learn a lot from hanging out with other knitters - they show me things that never would have occurred to me.

8. Is there a particular regional tradition in knitting that you feel strongly drawn toward (e.g., Fair Isle, Scandinavian, Celtic, Orenburg lace)? Any theories as to why it calls to you?

I go through phases of being drawn to different traditions at different times. Right now I'm completely in love with the Estonian knitting in Nancy Bush's books, but in a month I might decide that I absolutely must do Fair Isle and learn everything about its history. I'm fickle.

9. If you were a yarn, which yarn would you be?

Well, according to the "What kind of yarn would you be?" quiz, I would be Shetland Wool. I've taken this quiz three times with varying answers, and each time that's the answer I get. But I'd like to think I'd be something a little softer, like merino - still traditional and good for lots of things, but less scratchy.

10. Some statistics:

(a) How many years have passed since you FIRST learned to knit?

26.

(b) How many total years have you been actively, regularly knitting (i.e., they don't have to have been in a row)?

Probably around 8; the last 4 have been in a row.

(c) how many people have you taught to knit?

I've attempted to teach one, but it didn't take. I have, however, taught new techniques to many people who already knew the basics. I just taught my co-worker how to knit socks.

(d) Roughly what percentage of your FOs do you give away (to anyone besides yourself, i.e., including your immediate family)?

11. How often do you KIP (knit in public)? i.e., once a week, once a month, etc. Where do you do it?

I KIP whenever I can. I'm known as That Girl Who Knits at certain venues around town (like at Drinking Liberally meetings). I am often introduced to people who suddenly remember me once I take out the knitting. A lot of my projects are not very portable, so I try to keep a pair of socks or a simple hat on the needles at all times so that I can take it with me. Plus, I enjoy the odd looks I sometimes get from strangers when I knit in an unusual setting. Sometimes people will come up to me and ask me about it, and I'm sure I've convinced at least one or two to sign up for knitting classes.

12. If a genie granted you one hour to stitch-n-bitch with any one knitter, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

Elizabeth Zimmermann. Not only could I learn an incredible amount just from watching her, but I think I'd really enjoy hearing her talk.

13. What aspect or task in knitting makes you most impatient?

Picking up stitches. I hate it with a passion. My picked-up stitches never look good, so I'm constantly trying to find ways to avoid doing it. (Provisional cast-ons, short row heels, etc.) I realize I should practice doing it so that I will be good at it, but dang it, life is short.

14. What is it about knitting that never lets you get bored with it?

15. Describe how and where you most often do your knitting - where do you sit, what is going on around you, what tools do you use and how are they (dis)organized?

Usually I'm on the living room couch, with my Bagsmith project bag at my feet and tools spread across the coffee table. I sit leaning against the right arm of the couch against a couple of pillows while my husband sits on the left side and works on his laptop. We are planning to buy a new couch and an armchair, and when we go shopping the first thing I do is sit in the chair and see if it's conducive to knitting. If the arms are the wrong height, I won't even consider buying it.

16. Which one person is the recipient of more of your knitting than any other?

Myself. I do knit a lot for others, but many of my friends and family really don't appreciate it ("Why did she bother? I could have bought one at the Gap.") so they don't get a lot of stuff. The person who appreciates it the most is my mother-in-law, so she has received the most other than myself. (Time to start working on her Christmas shawl!)

17. What's the oddest thing about your knitting, or yourself as a knitter?

18. What do you see yourself knitting - if anything - twenty years from now?

I'm hoping to be knitting complicated sweaters of my own design. And of course socks.

19. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could have only ONE SKEIN of yarn, which yarn would it be and what would you do with it?

20. If you were allowed to own only one knitting-related book, which would it be? (you'd be free to browse others, but you couldn't keep them)

The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I refer to this book more than any other book I own (and I own a lot). It's not perfect, but it has really helped me learn about the structures of knitted things.

21. Is knitting the new yoga? Why or why not?

No. It's not the "new" anything. While both may be good for reducing stress, I just don't see any other similarities.

EDIT: This last question added by Caroline:

22. What important thing are you trying to put off doing whenever you knit?

Cleaning my house! It's my eternal struggle.