Woot!
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?
Not too much of a snob. The more I knit, the more I prefer to use something with a natural fibre content, although it depends on the yarn. As long as it knits up soft I don’t mind 🙂
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I’ve just started learning to spin (I’m on my second hank of yarn and am hoping this one will actually be properly usable!), and I have done a little crochet, but it isn’t really my thing.
3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I bought a beautiful felted needle case from the Harrogate show at the end of November, but still need something to hold my fatter needles as they are literally lying around the house right now…
4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I think I’m past beginner now, as I’ve tried a few different techniques, so I’d consider myself intermediate. I can’t design myself, but if I spot an error in a pattern, I’m more willing to try and fix it myself before I ask around now.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I do. Email me to ask how to find it 🙂
6. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla, coffee, honey – the kind of warm, slightly sweet scents that make you think of cosy nights indoord during winter 🙂
7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I do, but I’m trying to lose weight, so perhaps that isn’t such a good idea… 😉 But on the other hand! I am a big fan of high quality dark chocolates. Please note that I don’t eat wheat as it gives me belly ache, so anything biscuity/cookie-ish is out of the question 🙁
8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?
As I mentioned earlier, I’ve just started spinning. I also sew, mostly accessories because of my poor skills, but one day I’ll get good enough to make clothes! And I read lots. Books are good.
9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
This is always a tough one as I have pretty broad tastes. My favourite bands are Stereolab, Elbow and The Pixies, but to be honest I listen to all kinds of genres – bluenote jazz, classical, and I do like a little bit of pop as long as it isn’t Britney type pop 😉
10. What’s your favorite color? Or–do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can’t stand?
I tend to go for quite neutral colours, but when it comes to stuff like socks and scarves I go a little brighter. The silk cami is my first garment in bright colours, but I have news on that one later anyway (and it aint good…). Greens are my fave for knitting bigger items, but I also like muted tones of purple and soft greys. Black, I’m afraid to say, is a staple in my wardrobe. Outside of knitting/clothes, I allow myself a bit more colour, but still seem to stick with the same kinds of colours. Aubergine, dark blue, almond white. I suppose it is cos I’m pale skinned (brown hair, blue eyes) that I end up going with cooler colours.
11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my partner of 10 years, no kids. No pets, but I’m hoping to change that in the next few months and add a kitty cat to the family.
12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I believe that ponchos are the source of all evil in the world. However, scarves, hats and mittens are all ace.
13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?
I love Rowan yarns, Colinette one zero and point five, and Debbie Bliss stuff. I also rather like Alpaca Select, as it is very reasonably priced for alpaca, and goes a long way. Fyberspates is fab too. And Hipknits stuff.
14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I would prefer not to receive ‘fashion’ or novelty yarns, like ladder yarns, super furry/eyelash yarns (although I have been known to use lighter ones with another yarn, but I really can’t use them on their own). And anything really scratchy, naturally. Also, angora makes me wheezy and sneezy, as does anything else really sheddy.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?
I’m trying to be good, but at the mo I have a severe case of my eyes being bigger than my knitting capacity. Right now I have a real desire to make something practical that I can wear easily (like hourglass, or accessories). And I seem to have a thing for silk. Mmmmm.
16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love to knit anything really! I don’t think I’ve completed enough to lean towards one thing, as it depends on my taste and budget what I lean towards, but I do like to see things a little different. Things I like in free patterns seem to suddenly start appearing in the shops not too long after. Anyway, I like the staple things such as scarves and socks, cardis and sweaters. But I’d rather they have something to define them a little, like the yarn used (such as in Angelica and hourglass), or a little extra something in design (Lace leaf’s lace pattern and construction). I’m sorry – this is a bit vague!
17. What are you knitting right now?
I have on the needles:
Clapotis in Karaoke
Jaywalkers in Fyberspates sock yarn
Angelica in Hipknits silk
a Noro scarf in 2 different colourways striped up together
and a scarf in Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk (left over from the club gift) (Liesel off the top of my head)
18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course! Any time spent on something for me is appreciated.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Depends what I’m knitting. I like not having to seam, but I also like the feel of bamboo needles in my hands (I have a set of Denise needles, so don’t often buy circs in other materials as I don’t need to so much).
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Oops, kind of answered that above. I’m happy for any material, but I prefer bamboo and wooden needles. They aren’t always practical though for the project I need or for my pocket, so I use whatever kind necessary.
21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I have my mum’s old winder, but no swift. The chair back currently acts as a very bad swift…
22. How did you learn to knit?
When I was little, to make blankets full of holes (which I thought were purls) for my Sindy horse and My Little Pony stuff (ahhhh, Stardancer, how I loved you). I came back to it just over a year ago now, and don’t think I’ll look back again. Thank goodness my mum doesn’t machine knit snoods and jumpers with rows of cricketers on in lemon and white (for my uncle) anymore…
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
I’m doing better at this now – I tend to frog if I don’t touch it for too long (if I haven’t worked on it for that long, I clearly don’t need or want it very much). Currently I have Blackberry from Knitty (by xtreme Jen) sitting on the needles (so it hasn’t been waiting THAT long), because I’m not convinced I’ll look right in it, and kept making mistakes on the second sleeve. I’ll have another look when I’ve finished knitting some other stuff and have put some needles away.
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?
I love Miffy and Hello Kitty, plus the Simpsons and Futurama, Family guy etc. Cats are my big love.
25. What is your favorite holiday?
Well, I haven’t really travelled much, but a piece of my heart remains in Prague. Another piece is waiting to discover Japan. Any place with culture and history, but a sense of modern lifestyle and, strangely, somewhere I’d like to live.
26. Is there anything that you collect?
Does yarn count? Or books? Or dvds? My partner seems to collect computers. I don’t have the space to collect anything else…
27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any subs – I can’t sub to US magazines as I don’t have a credit card, and the UK mags are far too unreliable in content to bother with it. This month’s Knitting mag is absolutely appalling (the man’s jumper is like some kind of 80s nightmare). Yet I still buy it in the hope it will get better. Fool. I subscribe to Rowan and Debbie Bliss clubs though…
28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?
For brit patterns, I love Amelia Raitte’s Jemima. I’m also intrigued by Glampyre’s Orangina and Tubular Camisole, but I’m not sure how I’d look in them.
29. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
I want to get better at spinning, and learn how to dye as well. I’d also love to learn enough to design what I want, but armhole and neck shaping and decreases for arms throw me off at the moment. It can’t be too long from here?
30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
I’m a UK size 4 – I’ll work out the size later.
31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
25th of May. Not during this SP.
Sorry if it seems rushed now. Had some bad news just before I finished. Gotta go now.