Saturday, August 4, 2007

Knit 1 Tea 2 Color Swap Questionnaire


1. Do you like loose tea or bags, or both – something you want to try?
I tend to like bag tea for on the go. I take tea with me to work a lot and it’s just easier that way. But we also have a cast iron kettle that Dave and I will use in the evenings with loose tea.

2. What is your favorite kind of tea (Brand, flavor, variety, etc)?
We just came back from a trip to South Africa so for the moment I’m really into the Rooibos teas. During the hotter months I tend to make a lot of the fruitier teas into iced tea – favorite: orange spice. When visiting my local coffee shop I tend to get a good chai. But I’m open to various kinds of teas and am always looking for a new one to try, although I’m not a fan of the minty teas. I'm dying to try Teavana's rooibos teas like Rooibos Lemon Twist, Rooibos Chai, and Rooibos Caramel Creme and blends like MatéVana (caffeinated) & Rooibos Chai or Raspberry Sangria & Rooibos Lemon .

3. Favorite color in regards to tea or one you would like to try? (black, green, red, and white) (keeping in mind that this is how this swap is set up).
I tend to stick with black and red teas. For me, they have a stronger, more robust taste to them.

4. Would you say you were a tea pot kind of person or just a hot water heater kind?
For most days I’m a hot water heater and take it on the go. In the morning before work I’ll cheat and use the microwave. If I’m home in the afternoon I’ll use the kettle on the stove. When Dave makes me tea in the evening he brews it in the cast iron kettle.

5. What tea accessories would you like but have never purchases for yourself?
I don’t know.

6. How do you prefer to be pampered? (examples: mani/pedi, bubble bath, yummy treat, etc).
I love to treat myself to a manicure/pedicure every now and then. I find it so relaxing and rejuvenating. I also enjoy yummy treats, but I’m following WeightWatchers and so I’ve had to cut back and really consider what I’m treating myself with. But the best pampering is a toss up between a good shopping trip and a back massage.

7. If you were a kind of yarn what would you be and why?
Ohhh.. good question… I’ll have to think a little more about this one. Stop by in a week or so and I promise I’ll have some sort of answer for ya.

8. If you had to knit/crochet baby booties, a fun fur scarf, or a fair isle sweater, which would you choose and why?
Well, I’ve gone through my stage of fun scarves and occasionally will whip one up for a friend and I’ve done my share of baby booties this year. (Was all of Alexandria pregnant this year?! There must be something in the water!) So I might make an attempt in something fair isle for something new. I don’t know about a sweater though… it would have to depend on the pattern. I’m not a big fan of seaming and the tops I’ve knit so far required a lot of seaming which discourages me from ever finishing them.

9. What other event would make you skip a tea party? (A garden party? A book club meeting? A yoga class? Opening night for a new action thriller? etc?)
Possibly a book club meeting if it was a good group of discussers and they had good taste in book selections. My WeightWatchers meetings – can’t miss those! Dinner out with a group of friends. A walking group – if I could ever find one.

10. What treat would you consider essential at your tea party? (Sweet? Salty? Scones? Those petite pastry trays with a couple of all sorts of things? Little crust less sandwiches?)
When hosting a group of people and there is food/snacks involved I always try to provide the three basics: a salty, a sweet, and a healthy. Personally with my tea I prefer the baked goods section: biscotti, scones, muffins, etc.

11. When buying yarn for a project how do you choose - do you buy the one called for or do you substitute?
I’m not very good at substituting yarn on my own. I’ll usually try to go with what the pattern calls for and then I’ll go to a good knitting buddy who is much more in the know about yarns than I am and have her (or the nice people at the yarn store) offer up suggestions on what can be used to substitute without having to make too many adjustments to the pattern.

12. What do you carry your knitting/crocheting in when on the go?
Up until recently I’ve used a tote bag that one of my students made for me a few years back. But I’ve just finished knitting (and felting) the French market bag from Knitty and I’ve been taking that for a spin when knitting on the go.

13. Favorite movie to watch while knitting/crocheting?
Anything that Dave puts on and seems to be enjoying. He’s more of the movie buff than I am. However, I don’t go for the scary/horror flicks. They still give me nightmares!

14. Are you a traditional tea cup kind of person or a mug type of person? Do you care if they match?
I don’t own any official tea cups. We use mugs in our house. And I don’t think we have any that actually match. They are sort of a random collection, most of freebee giveaways and ones that were gifts from my students. Please, no more teacher mugs!

15. Favorite childhood birthday party?
There’s not one in particular that sticks out in my mind, but I always liked the sleep-overs. Even now, I’ll visit an old college roomie and we’ll sleep out on the living room floor and chat into the wee hours of the night, raiding the fridge as we see fit, talking about boys (men), clothes, and hair. Oh, to feel young again!

16. Favorite type of scone and jam?
Scones – something berry-ish, adding that extra little bit of sweetness to it. Jam – love orange marmalade and recently had cherry while in South Africa… loved it! Other wise… they’re all good!!!

17. If you use candles, what is your favorite scent?
Dave likes it best when I light candles that smell like baked goods. But I also enjoy the fruitier ones as well. Vanilla is always a popular one to go with.

18. If you could choose 3 people to have 'tea' with, who would they be and why? (famous or not, living or dead).
Actually I’m going to get a little sentimental here, but I would have tea with my mom (living) and grandmother (deceased). Having tea with my mom in the morning has become a special time for me and I don’t get a chance to do it that often being that we are 4 hours apart. My enjoyment of tea comes from her love of tea and the serenity and enjoyment of the little things she has taught me.

19. You've been invited to a tea party, what 'props' will you wear (formal or casual)?
I tend to be a very casual person. I’d probably just come as is. But I’m all for themed gatherings, and would fully participate if we were asked to “prop it up” with sun hats or whatever. I dig theme based gatherings.


20. Any allergies/preferences you have or are willing to admit to?
I have an intolerance to eating mushrooms and seafood.


Anything we missed that you want your pal to know?
Check out my blog and please leave me comments periodically to let me know you’re out there. Also, I’ve never had anyone knit anything especially for me (so sad).

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just a comment to let you know I'm out here... :)

The tea swap looks neat - I just signed up.

SissySees said...

I'm here too! Reading the questionnaires makes me wish we could all get together in person for a grand ol' tea party.

W said...

Hello fellow Wendy!!! I think this is so exciting to meet other fellow knitters and tea fanatics. maybe we can get to know each other better as fellow Wendy's
look forward to talking to you again
Wendy

Anonymous said...

'Tis I, your lucky swapper person! I will be back often as I can't seem to get your form to print out. It must be fate!

Anonymous said...

So...how would a swapper knit something especially for you UNLESS you share some sizes!?