10.7.09

Questionnaire, Secret Pal 14

Just in English this time, questionnaire answers.

What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely not like?

I've knit with many pleasant and unpleasant yarns. I think I like the Hand Maiden and Fleece Artist yarns I've knit with best (Sea Silk, Casbah) and now I'm knitting with Swiss Mountain Cahmere and Silk, pure butter on the needles. And Rowan Calmer is very agreeable to knit with and Lane Borgosesia Merinos Otto was nice too. So maybe we have a theme here? Natural fibers, merino, cashmere, silk. Can't go wrong with those.

Not so nice are those with too high acrylic content. I don't enjoy knitting with ribbon yarns either or ladder or eyelash/fun fur.

What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Options set stays in its binder mostly, then I have a nice wooden box for my circulars and a fabric thingy for my dpns.

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

For ages. I learned in school and knit the obligatory stuff (socks, mittens, fair-isle leg warmers etc) and then promptly ignored knitting until a few years later when I was in high school and had to study for exams. So, many, many years. And I would consider my skill level being advanced.

Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I think I have an Amazon wish list but it is very outdated so no, not really. I've tried to add patterns I like on my Ravelry queue/favourites but I'm not too good in that either.

What’s your favorite scent?

I don't do scents much, not in the perfume sense anyway. I don't like strong scents and if I use a scented product I prefer it to be a scented body lotion. Something fresh, fruity smells. Flowery smells tend to turn into something resembling cat pee on my skin. But the one I've used most is Elizabeth Arden Green Tea.

Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, I like a bit of chocolate now and then. Or salty licourice. Don't care for fruit or hard candies that much.

What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Well, I do the odd Christmas cards but not that much else. Oh, and crochet once in a while. Though my crochet being suitable for bullet proof vests the only things I crochet are stuffed toys and some edgings. Nope, don't spin, trying to stay away from that and jewellery.

What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I used to say that anything else than country but can't say that anymore since I got acquainted with Jace Everett (because of True Blood). But, I have things in my playlist from Mudvayne to Tschaikovski. And yes, my computer/stereo/iPod/phone can play MP3s.

What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?

At the moment I'm quite partial to teal, petrol blue and turquoise/aqua/etc. But I generally prefer cold colours (purples, violets, etc) and don't much care for the warmer ones or basic colours. Not really into yellow.

What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a husband and a cat.

Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Scarves yes, hats only if I have to, mittens - well, my fingers tend to suffer when it's cold so mittens would be nice but then again they let the wind through. So no, no mittens, though felted would be ok. Ponchos no. Don't even want to.

What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters are nice, scarves too (easy to take along), socks are small and handy.

What are you knitting right now?

Ho-hum, I knew you were going to ask this. Ok, I have three short sleaved things on the needles, one fichu and one set of socks at the moment. And crocheting a Hello Kitty. That's all, I think. No, wait, a scarf too.

Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Who wouldn't? Though, I have to give a word of warning here - my neck is very sensitive so nothing scratchier than merino gets close to it. Just can't do it.

Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circular and dpns. Not plastic, anything else is ok. I have the Options set and some Harmony tips. Circulars I have from KnitPicks and Addi.

Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes and yes.

How old is your oldest UFO?

Couple of years.

What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?

I'm not sure if I have a favourite holiday. Most of them are quite ok though I don't do that much decorating etc. I do like to make my own Christmas cards, but haven't been able to do so for a couple of years due to...stuff. But, Christmas maybe.

Is there anything that you collect?

Um....yarn? And books. And possibly shoes. And jewellery - though I get that as presents so it's not all my doing (earrings are nice and handy).

Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Well, I do like Norah Gaughan patterns, and have had my eye on some of her booklets but haven't ordered any (we can't get them here). And Kim Hargreaves came out with a book as well, that would be nice.

I don't currently have any magazine subscriptions for I let them all expire. I ordered VK and IK, I think I have the spring/summer issues from those but that's it. The UK magazine The Knitter has some nice patterns in though.

Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?

Humm...nothing comes to mind. Though, I think I'd like to try magic loop properly at some point but I have a book for that (2-at-a-time socks)

Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes I am. It's size 39 European. Though I rarely bother to knit from any pattern so that would be a nice surprise.

When is your birthday?

July 29th.

Are you on Ravelry? If so, what’s your ID?

Yes, and it's Niina.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hello Pal,
I can't wait to start spoiling you!
Your Secret Pal