How many items are currently on the needles?
I don’t like too many WiPs. It stresses me out. I try to keep it to a sock project and a “big” project. Right now, my mother has me working on an Einstein Coat for her (I know, you’re thinking – wait, didn’t she teach you to knit? Can’t she do that herself? Osteoarthritis has prevented her from knitting anymore. But she can still crochet!). I’m also working on a scarf and two socks (one of which is hibernating until I’m done with the Christmas knitting. At least, that’s my excuse.)
 
Favorite knitting project or technique?
I love making socks. I love lace too! It’s so hard to choose but I just finished a fair isle tam and had the best time with it. My summer was full of lace but I think my winter will be all about color work. Of course, that could be because I’m in beige garter-stitch hell right now.

What was the inspiration for your “Red Dwarf” Wick socks? (featured free pattern here, detail photo above)
I'd purchased the yarn with my sister in mind. She's a runner, and growing up I'd always teased her about her stinky feet. Particularly her shoes. While it's not necessarily true any more, that doesn't mean I can't pick on her for it still. I'd heard of the moisture wicking qualities of the yarn and thought it would be perfect for her. I wanted to make the most of the yarn, and knew the yardage would not allow for very tall socks for her size 9 foot. So I decided to go toe-up. I wanted a lacey pattern to further extend the yardage, so I flipped through a few stitch dictionaries, found a pattern called "Fishscale Lace" and chose a different, complimentary one called "Fishtale Lace" to put on the back of ankle. I wanted the pattern to be versatile for any foot size easily, so I chose a random ribbing to separate the two lace panels, that the knitter could easily change to add or subtract the stitches needed to fit their particular foot. So gauge be damned! Increase the toe of the foot until it fits, center the lace panel on the top, turn the heel on half the stitches (I have a short row heel wrap generator on my free-patterns page to help calculate the wraps needed for different stitch counts and row gauges) and add the extra stitches in between the lace panels on the leg. Be creative!

Other crafty endeavors?
I also spin, and do beadwork. I sell stitchmarkers and pattern row counters and sock blockers in my etsy shop – turtlegirl76.etsy.com. My dad and I have teamed forces to make Turtle Daddy Sock Blockers. They’re a little different than regular blockers. They’re made with the gift knitter in mind. I’ve placed inch marks all along the foot, on one it’s for the cuff down knitter and on the other, the toe-up knitter. That way, if you don’t have the recipient’s foot handy, you can tell when you need to start the toe or the heel

I also really enjoy taking pictures of my FOs and especially, yarn. I started Yarn Pr0n Friday (we use Pr0n to trick the perverts on Google) and I share a different yarn from my well-stocked stash every Friday. I’ve gotten lots of other bloggers to join me in this effort and it’s great to surf the ring every Friday and see all the different yarns out there. I love a well-taken fiber photo.  
 
Any parting words or anything to share?
Don’t ever say “That’s too hard for me” in regards to a pattern. It’s just knitting, not rocket science. Be fearless with your knitting. If you see a project you would love to make, do it! The knitting community is all over the place on line for you to seek help if you should get stuck. We learn from each other. Want to make socks but all you’ve done so far is garter stitch scarves? Take a class if you’re really apprehensive! Learn to read a pattern. That ability alone will get you through the vast majority of patterns. Join a guild or start a knitting group. You are never alone when you’re a knitter.