SP11 Questionnaire

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

I'm a very simple person, I like simple things. Anything goes, as long as it's natural. My absolute favorite fiber is wool, I knit wool the most. I also love mercerized cotton, linen, silk, alpaca... Any natural fibers then. :) Blends are fine, as long as the artificial fiber content is not too high. What I absolutely hate are all acrylic yarns and "novelty yarns" (eyelash or other fuzzy, furry, glittery yarns). I'm also not very fond of very thick yarns, I prefer fingering weight yarns.

I have some favorite yarns. I'm fond of all KnitPicks yarns, I've knitted them a lot and I like them all. I also like Opal and Regia sock yarns. My favorite alpaca yarn is Drops Alpaca. I must admit I'm very picky when it comes to yarn, and I don't try new things easily, so I haven't really tried any of the more expensive yarns out there, since I've been so happy with KnitPicks.

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

I have a needlecase for my DPN's, which is actually an old paint brush holder. It is a very simple black roll, and very ugly. I've been meaning to sew a new needlecase, in which I could put both my DPN's and my circulars (I don't really have any straight ones), but somehow I don't seem to get to it :) I have a large plastic box for my circ's and my knitting notions.

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

I've been knitting ever since my Grandma taught me, I must've been around 10 at the time. For the past 2,5 years I've knitted regularly and it has become a passion. I'd say I'm somewhere between intermediate and advanced, since every day I realize how much I still have to learn about knitting.

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

I do have one in Amazon. I'm not sure if this link works, but you might find my wishlist here. Or, just search for it using my email address (tuuliasalmela @ yahoo dot com).

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love the scent of orchids and roses (and jasmin!). In fact, I love all fresh scents, I'm not a big fan of musk or very umm.. heavy scents. I do not like pumpkin or gingerbread cookie (unless I baked them!) scent, or Christmas scents in general since they tend to be too much on the heavy side.

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

I wouldn't say I like sweets. I do enjoy fudge occasionally, or blueberry muffins, but as for sweets in general, I can't say that I am very fond of them. I like Ghirardelli chocolate and most Swiss and Belgian chocolates, and Harry and David chocolate covered fruits, but I'd say if I want something sweet, I prefer real fruit.

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

I'd love to learn spinning and weaving! So far, I haven't had the time to learn, but someday I will. I make my own stitchmarkers, but am not really interested in beading in general. I also cross-stitch passionately, and paint and sew (e.g. quilts) occasionally, but I don't seem to have enough time for them.

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

I have a Metallica tattoo, and I've been a fan for 15 years, so Metallica is my absolute favorite :) I don't really listen to music that much, but if I do, it's usually Metallica or Rammstein or something like that. So I'm a heavy metal gal, but I enjoy classical music and jazz, too. My computer plays MP3s, as does my car ;)

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I don't really have a favorite color, I like almost all of them. I can't really wear any bright yellow or very bright green, but I don't have any colors that I can't stand. I don't like extremely bright colors, I prefer muted and heathered colors. My favorites are greens (like moss green), browns, blues (especially teal) and natural greys and natural white. I have a lot of white yarn in my stash and I wear white a lot (although I am messy so it won't stay white for a long time :D). I am not a big fan of variegated yarns, especially if the colors are very bright or have a strong contrast. Slight changes in tones are very pretty, though.

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

I live with my husband, we don't have any kids. We only have a betta and a bigger fish tank, but we're looking for a collie puppy.

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

I don't really wear scarves or hats or ponchos. I love shawls and mittens, though!

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

I knit a lot of sweaters, socks, mittens (and gloves) and shawls.

13. What are you knitting right now?

I'm knitting a shorter and simpler version of Louhi (my own pattern).

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Absolutely!

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

I prefer circular needles. I like bamboo needles if they're size #1 or bigger (smaller needles tend to bend too much), but my absolute favorite needles are KnitPicks Options.

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

I have both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Emm... Well, it must be a mohair sweater that I started in January. Mohair is really not my favorite type of wool, because some mohair yarns shed a lot, and my sweater, although a nice simple pattern, is pain to knit because I'm covered in hairs everytime I pick it up!

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, definitely. I love the food, I love the spirit (although I'm not religious at all), and I just love everything about Christmas.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I'm a history junkie, so I'm interested in everything old, especially books. I also love Lord of the Rings, the book and the movies (and have seen them quite a few times). I collect LOTR stuff (books, pictures, calenders, everything!), especially Alan Lee's pictures. I try to restrict myself when it comes to buying trinkets, but I can't say no to anything Tolkien ;)

I also realized I collect tincans (like old cookie cans, metal tincans for tea, candy tincans...) and all sorts of needlework memorabilia. I try to avoid any sort of unnecessary trinkets, but I can't say no to any vintage items, or tincans, or pretty crochet hooks or cute sheep brooches or... I also collect (I realized this only a few months ago) pincushions, mostly because my pincushions are vile and cunning creatures and thus never at hand when I need them.

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 subscribe to any magazines, I buy an issue if I happen to like it. I do like Interweave Knits, and sometimes find something nice in Vogue Knitting too. I don't really have any patterns that I would want, since I knit mostly my own designs. My wishlist on amazon.com is filled with books I'd like to have, and I update it every time I buy books. I would really love to get Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns (parts 3 and 4).

As far as needles go, I love KnitPicks Options and will probably toss my old ones (or most of them anyway) and replace them with Options. I don't have any yarn that I'd really, absolutely want. As I said, I'm always open to new things, and will try anything, even if I'm lazy to find out about new things myself. :)

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

Oh, there are so many! I still haven't knitted any major entrelac or mosaic projects, I've only knitted a swatch or a pair of mittens or so. I want to play with domino knitting, and right now I'm experimenting with a seamless set-in sleeve (like raglan sleeves knitted simultaneously with the body, only the sleeve is a set-in sleeve).

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

I do knit a lot of socks. My shoe size is roughly US 10 or 40-41 European. My foot is about 10 1/4" (26 cm) heel to toe, the foot circumference is 9,5" (24 cm) and leg circumference is roughly 9,5" just above the heel. I love socks that have a longer leg, at least 5 inches.

23. When is your birthday?

September 24th.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

Still on queue. :)

Edit: I added some info after reviewing my stash and my bookshelves. The added bits are in bold. I hope this is useful :)