Meet a firstie: Questionable

This is the first post in a series! As a first year, I thought I'd introduce you to some of my fellow firsties so you can get to know us a bit better! This time, we've got Questionable! 
First, feel free to introduce yourself and say anything you’d like to say about you in real life, or by way of introduction for older Gryffs who haven’t met you yet!
Hi! I’m Patricia, 39 yrs old from Michigan USA. I used to be a college professor, but chronic illness has sent me into early retirement. Knitting has been a huge life-saver for me, because it is something I can do even if I feel really sick.

How long have you been crafting? What crafts do you do? 
I’ve been crafting all of my life, but only seriously for the last 10 years, knitting for about 5 years. I love to make jewelry, embroider, hand-sew, and do general things with paper. Pretty much an all-purpose crafter. I love to make things, and I have always been enamored of hand-made, hand-crafted things. In such a mass-produced world, I find that I really treasure objects that have been made in old-fashioned ways, by hand, and with love.

How did you find the HPKCHC? 
I’ve been involved with the Malabrigo Junkies group since joining Ravelry--Malabrigo has been my drug of choice since learning to knit my very first scarf with it. There are a lot of Mal Junkies who also participate in the HPKCHC, and I finally decided to take the plunge and join in, since everyone seems to have so much fun in the Ravelry Hogwarts Castle!

Did something in particular attract you to roar for Gryffindor? 
Well, from the books I always had a great fondness for Gryffindor, because I appreciate the way Gryffindor cultivated the characters’ ambition while tempering that ambition with honor, heart, and loyalty. When I toured the houses as an NFQY, I felt at home in Gryffindor. Ravenclaw was awesome, and as a former college professor, I enjoyed the brainy and witty repartee there. But when I visited Gryffindor, I knew that I needed a place that felt like home, where I could make good friends and develop the courage I need to cope with the difficult challenges in my life. I can see myself maybe doing a term abroad at Ravenclaw in the future, but my home will be Gryffindor.

Do you have a favorite moment/scene/character/etc in the HP canon? 
Well, I love when Herminone shows up at the Yule Ball with Viktor Krumm :) I also love Neville’s transformation from uber-dorky misfit to awesome hero over the course of the books/movies.

What project or FO are you most proud of?

Probably my favorite project ever was questionable’s Tea Cozy of Glory, a felted tea cosy that I made as a wedding present for a friend. Her wedding was really, REALLY, fancy--ballgowns and black tie fancy, and I couldn’t even remotely begin to afford anything on the registry. But I knew that she would love handmade items, so I made a bunch of things as the wedding gifts--washcloths, a hot water bottle cover, and this tea cosy. She absolutely loved everything, but the cozy is her favorite thing ever, and she wants me to make her a thousand more cozies, even bought me three tea cozy pattern books! I love making items for people who really appreciate them, and I am fortunate to have some really lovely people in my life who do!

What are you looking forward to most this term? 
This term I want to get the hang of the whole HPKCHC scene, explore the castle, go on marauding missions, collect Chocolate Frog cards, and soforth. I really want to structure my knitting goals, and set up a timetable for getting projects completed, so knitting for classes (and house points!) will be perfect.

Do you have a favorite fiber-crafting celebrity? A movie star crush? A secret love for underwater basket weaving? 
I love audiobooks and listen to them like a fiend, and I watch a LOT of tv. I am also a pop-culture buff.