SP5 questionaire

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

Not at all. I use both natural and synthetic. I've found that some acrylic (even 100% acrylic) can be quite nice, very soft and easy to work with. And you can't beat the price and low maintenance (i.e. I can give someone a knitted gift and not worry about seeing them walk around in an accidentally-felted scarf!). On the other hand, I'd never turn down natural fibers, which are so beautiful and comforting.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I don't spin. It looks very intimidating, what with the moving parts and all. This is completely irrational, but when I think of spinning, I remember the fairy tale with the enchanted spinning needle that knocked sleeping beauty out cold. Don't laugh! Ok, maybe laugh a little. I think I do want to learn to crochet, though. I've seen some patterns that I want to try. And I heard it's easier than knitting. True, I wonder?

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

No allergies, though I'm kind of sensitive to fragrances. It's kind of hard to explain. For example, I like the smell of roses, but only when it's coming from a rose, and not from somewhere it shouldn't. Ditto for food smells too (mmm...food...*drool*). Lemons smell lovely to me, but lemon-scented cleaners make me want to gag.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I learned to knit about ten years ago, though I didn't really get into it until last year. Now, of course, I'm practically obsessed!!

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

Yes, I do have an Amazon list. It's full of random nonknitting-related books so dunno if that would be of interest

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

(see number 3)

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes!!! Love love love chocolate! I like to bake and I get a lot of satisfaction sharing what I make. Not a fan of cherries, mint or marzipan, though, so I guess I'll never be a pastry chef (*sigh*).

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

I've dabbled a little in decoupage. It's messy, but kind of therapeutic, in a grade-school art class, tiny bits of paper, and very sticky fingers sort of way.

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

I like lots of different kinds of music. "Eclectic" might be the right word to describe my taste. I like some of what I think is classified as Modern Rock (Barenaked Ladies, Ben Folds Five, Radiohead),folkish/indie things (Patty Griffin, Ben Harper, Billy Bragg) and classical choral works (Rutter, Brahms). My computer does play MP3s and I love mixes.

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 really love green, though since I really started knitting again, I've gained an appreciation for many different colors. They's kind of grown on me.

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

I live with my parents, a dog and a bird. The latter two shed periodically, but I love them all anyway.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

- Surviving all my future choir auditions. (I have a problem performing solo. I get tense, dizzy and nauseated, which doesn't really help with the singing)
- Not having to see another grant application - ever (this is definitely not going to happen, considering I work at a university, but these are dreams, right?)

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

Debbie Bliss merino aran is nice. It's soft and machine washable too.

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

I have issues with ribbon yarn. I like the way they look but it seems to take a lot of effort to keep them from getting all twisted. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?

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

Scarves, since they're fast and fairly easy.

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

I do a lot of scarves, mostly because I'm impatient and they don't take too long.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Scarves (do you see a pattern forming??) and an endless afghan, though I'm hoping to expand my repertoire.

18. What do you think about ponchos?

They're nice, though I prefer wraps.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Circular all the way! I find them to be really versatile. More importantly, they're compact and reduce the risk of injury (along with any possible lawsuits) while knitting on the subway.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I've never used wooden needles before. Of the needles I've knitted with, I prefer aluminum to plastic.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

Um, technically, yes. I've knitted one sock - not one pair, one sock. I cast on for the other sock and have left the whole bundle, needles and all, in my stash (oh for shame!)

22. How did you learn to knit?

The first time around, I taught myself from a book. This was in the early days of the internet and I wasn't particularly computer savvy, so I didn't have many other resources at hand. The second time around, I now have a cable modem, plenty of techie experience and a knitting group at work to rely on. Ain't life grand?

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

The endless afghan is about three months old. So there may be hope for it yet...

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

I like turtles (Go Terps!!).

25. What is your favorite holiday?

The entire stretch between Thanksgiving and New Year's is my favorite time of the year. I'm not at all religious, but the end of the year is so full of nice things, like family, friends, food and time off from work.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

I have an embarrassingly large collection of turtle-ware: figurines, stickers, books, keychains, turtle-shaped things of mysterious origin and unknown function, etc. I may get around to documenting them some day.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I don't have any subscriptions, though I'm tempted by interweave and rebecca.

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Loop d Loop looks really cool.