For my Secret Pal

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

Well, I do like natural fibers better and since I live in a very cold climate, any yarn with a high percentage of wool is great. However a few of my friends are allergic to wool so I buy acrylic yarn whenever I'm knitting something for them.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I'd love to learn how to spin but i wouldn't know where to start. I also used to crochet when I was a kid and then I abandoned it but I'd like to try again.

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

I have a small bag that came with a lot of needles.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned how to knit and purl when I was 10 or so, then dropped it and finally picked it up again about a year and a half ago so I would say I'm still a beginner.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I have an Amazon wish list, a ThinkGeek wish list in the "wanting" section on my blog.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I like vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, chocolate and coconut scents.
i also like indian incense sticks, my favorites are nag-champa, chandan and darshan.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Definitely. I love dark chocolate, jellies, hard candy, everything XD

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

I'm learning how to sew, and I do needle-felting, clay modeling, bookbinding, painting. I also just started a course in Japanese printing.


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

I can listen to pretty much anything but scream and disco music. No problem with music formats either, I can play anything.

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 absolutely dislike pink and i'm not fond of pastels either. I love warm colors like cherry, wine, mauve, chocolate and so on. I also knit a lot in black, military green and hues of blue for my friends.

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

I have three gorgeous cats.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I absolutely love scarves, hats and mittens. You cannot have too many! But i think ponchos are out of fashion.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I don't have a favorite brand, but I love merino wool, 100% wool and wool blends with a high percentage of, you bet, wool :D

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

The eyelash and "novelty" yarns. Fun fur is the spawn of satan ;)

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Socks, socks, socks. I'm not very good at knitting them, but I love them!

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

Hats and shrugs and socks but mostly hats. They're always a big hit with friends.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Grandma's socks for a girlfriend, more socks and a hat for a boyfriend and a bag

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

You bet! There's something special about handmade gifts that makes me treasure them.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I like circular needles better but I use dpns for socks and since last summer I have inherited a giant bag of needles from my stepmother.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I own only a pair of straight 6mm bamboo needles. They're rather old and worn with use, but I love them. I mostly knit with aluminum needles (i have a lot!) or with ginormous wooden needles in sizes above 10mm. I'm not fond of plastic needles, they irk me for some reason.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Nope, I do all the winding by hand.

22. How did you learn to knit?

It was at school. They gave us a sweater to knit but didn't provide many explanations so I asked my mother for help and she showed me how to knit and purl. Needless to say, I didn't sew it very well but it was warm and I used it for years.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

Hm, a pair of socks which are about 2 months old. They're nothing special, but I made a few mistakes and I can't be bother to rip them yet.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Garfield! he's simply the coolest cat in the world. I love cats.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

None in particular.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Buttons, bookmarks, small old keys and... stamps *shrugs*

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

None

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Bamboo circulars, I love the lonely pair of straight bamboo needles I have, it would be fun to try circulars :)

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Spinning! whenever I see all those beautiful handspinned yarns I go nuts but I wouldn't know where to start.

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

I do knit socks but they're fairly simple patterns. My foot is a size 6 US, 37 EU

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

It's on December 2nd