I know, I know I have been ignoring my blog. I am still looking for a real job and it gets me distracted. It also eats up a lot of your time. Writing letters, going on interviews, waiting for the call (in which they say you are, too smart, ambitious, not experienced enough etc..)It’s tiring. I signed up for SP10, but never heard anything about it, until today with a mail from my Secret Pal (Hi there!) and my own match. So first of all, the questions (or actually the answers to the questions). And later this week the knitting, because I have been knitting.
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I don’t really like manmade fibers, acrylics or stuff like that. I don’t mind blends that have acrylics or manmade. I am quality over quantity person I guess. If I buy acrilycs I usually end up not using it! I love alpaca since it is so soft and warm what I find most important however is the feel and the texture…let’s say I like soft.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I made a needlecase (which you can see a few posts back), but they are usually “stored” in the couch, my yarnbasket/trunk or in unfinished or barely started projects. I have also proven to be to lazy to make a double pointed needle case which I actually do need because you have five instead of two needles which means that there is more to lose.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have been knitting fo almost three years. I have treid a lot of techniques at least once. I think I am of intermediate level even though I am able to do advanced stuff and at the same time making beginners mistakes from time to time.
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
No.
5. What’s your favorite scent?
I like oriental scents like amber, sandalwood, patchouli the heavy stuff. I don’t like vanilla or very flowery scents.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I don’t really have a sweet tooth except for licorice and anything that combines the flavours chocolate and mint. I don’t like raisins or fruit in chocolate and If I eat chocolate it is always of the dark and bitter variety.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew…sort of… But I have to say I don’t like anything crafty as much as knitting. Tried crochet, did not like it. Sewing is o.k. but I need a better machine and some time to learn it.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like a lot of music and have a very eclectic taste. It varies from classical to rap and from jazz to pop. Lately I have been listening a lot to Amy Whinehouse whose nightconcert I went to about a month ago in paradiso (Amsterdam) and to Jarvis of former Pulp fame (also went to that concert). With classical music I prefer piano over violin, dislike anything with an organ and love opera. I also like very kitschy music of the Shirley bassey, Barry manilow variety (if you know what I mean). And I am a total song person. I usually don’t listen to albums, but like certain songs (I always put my iTunes on shuffle).
9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
Nothing to unnatural, anything neon I dislike as I do really harsh colours. I do like bright colours, but not too bright, they have to be slightly muted. I also don’t particularly like purple. I always tend to buy pink yarn while I don’t even like wearing pink. favorites are green, raspberry red, royal blue, olive green and quite natural muted tones. I don’t like lightblue.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with my boyfriend and my cat Lola in an appartment in Amsterdam.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes,yes, yes, no. I am a very good scarf wearer, but I’ve never knitted a nice one for myself. I think they are quite tedious to knit.I also like hats as long as they are a bit girly or retro (like a beret).
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
Sweaters and cardigans without a doubt. I haven’t knitted much of either lately, but I love to have a large item that you can actually wear as finished object.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Carolyn a retro striped cardigan form Spring Knitty, Ivy a wrap cardigan from a previous Knitty (swallowtail…although I haven;t knitted on that for a loooooooong time), the boyfriend sweater that I am never ever finishing, a scarf for my dad and Teva Durhams Tutleneck shrug.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Prefer bamboo or other wood (Which I don’t own but would like to own) and prefer circular when they are Addi’s, otherwise straight is fine.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
A year and a half..the dreaded boyfriend sweater.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
I am a city girl and city trips are my favorite. I’ve already been to a lot of European city’s and once in New York. This year I hope to go to the Biennale in Venice, otherwise Paris (again). Cities that I still want to visit are: St. Petersburg, Tokyo, Rome, San Francisco and many more.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really…yarn? (and books)
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don’t have any subscriptions but love Interweave Knits. Bookwise I am really looking forward to Stephanie Japel’s Fitted Knits.
21. Are there any new techniques you’d like to learn?
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
23. When is your birthday?
