Secret Pal 4 questionnaire
7 Feb 2005
1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer high end/natural fibres)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?Well I think that this term is a bit of a misnomer actually. There is no class hierarchy in the knitting field in my book. Knitting is something which we hope is being passed down from generation to generation and should be admired for its simplicity and longevity as an art. Creating something with your own hands and gifting it with love and sincerity is more important than this BS about considering oneself somehow ‘above’ fun fur and ponchos. I’m sure everyone prefers natural fibres and high-end yarns. But not everyone can afford them all of the time. I would never never never call myself a snob. I don’t think being any sort of snob (yarn or otherwise) is something to be proud of.
However, ‘champagne socialist’ ranting aside, my preference is for natural fibres. I don’t buy acrylic yarn. I am not a fan of the fun fur or feathers and mostly like my yarn to have a ‘halo’ provided by the fibre itself and not some man-made bits sticking out.
But then again, I did see a groovy tiny stole in a Rowan R2 leaflet which looked like it had icy white feathers wafting down over the shoulders – it must have been made with one of those novelty yarns I don’t usually like, but this particular pattern was ubercool. I am fascinated by the deconstruction of knitting that R2 has ventured into (R2 is Rowan’s groovy young cousin – check out her webpage)INSERT URL
I think the simple answer to this question for me is: it depends on what the project is, for whom, and what the budget is. I can usually find something to do with almost any yarn really. I never say never.
Would you call me a yarn snob?
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I do crochet. I don’t spin but would love to. We did it at school when I was younger and I loved it so I would like to take it up. I have the perfect room in my new house. I actually like crocheting. I am in the search for the ultimate perfect crochet butterfly. I would like to appliqué this to my successful range of pullovers and cardigans. Should prob work on the range and successfullnes first. (note to self - get successful knitting business off the ground in 2005)
crochet silk shawl
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibres, perfume, etc.)No.4. How long have you been knitting?I have been knitting for about 3 years, but only gotten really addicted this year. Oops I mean last year.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Absolutely not. No way. I didn't even want to do a wedding list when I got married.
6. What’s your favourite scent?
I love the girly floral fragrances: neroli, gardenia, magnolia, rose and the herbs basil, mint, lemongrass, coriander.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Not really. I’m a wine fan so I prefer a good stinky gooey blue brie as an after dinner treat. I do love a sticky wine to go with it though and they’re pretty sweet. I can appreciate Belgian truffles though.
8. What other crafts or DIY things do you like to do?I only have time for fibre creations and the search for the perfect yarn, the perfect pattern and the perfect result. But I am jealous of the perfect scrapbooker and the fabulous mosaic maker and furniture restorer.
PS: And after my appalling attempt at photographing my knitting I wish I was a better photographer.
9. What kind of music do you like?I have looked at some other knitting blogs answer to this question and decided they are all cooler than me. I like suprises, and I like listening to all sorts of music.
10. What is your favourite colour?I am going through a must be either teal/turquoise/peacock green combination or a dusty rose/pale aubergine/soft green combination.
11. What is your domestic situation?
I am married and have two gorgeous urchins, my daughter Blair (4) and my son Louis (6).
12. What are your life dreams?
In my dream life the world is at peace. I am content with what I have and enjoy rich and meaningful relationships with my family, friends and soulmate partner.
In this life I am also six inches taller, too rich, too thin, have a rambling country farmhouse with a vineyard out the back, a live-in chef and housekeeper, a neverending supply of carded silk and alpaca tops, yarn dye and inspirational patterns. I am the editor of a high-end homewares and design magazine and everybody whose anybody delivers their artisanal homewares, furniture, artwork, delicatessen items and fine wine to my door for me to sample. My husband and children are unbelievably good-looking but are so well-bred they are oblivious to it and everyone thinks I am fabulous and gorgeous. I am blissfully unaware of this because I am probably drunk.
13. What are your favourite yarns to knit with?I love silk and wool blends: merino, alpaca or mohair. I don’t like tape yarns. I don’t have much experience with cotton yarns (I found the lack of stretch a bit yuk). I am on an endless quest for the perfect yarn and when I find it I shall stash it secretly away in every nook and cranny of my rambling country farmhouse (see above answer).
14. What fibres do you absolutely not like?See q1 and q13. I try to have an open mind.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsessions?
I love lace knitting at the moment. I like lace knitting in stoles and shrugs and shawls. I love every single Rowan Kidsilk Haze pattern and have an ambition to make all of them.
I am also having a hat thing. Funny looking ones with long braids at the sides and squared off tops. In delicious gelato colour combinations.
16. What is/are your favourite items to knit?
I am very fickle and the answer to this question may be different tomorrow than today. But I still like a lace stole, a good pullover and a groovy hat.
I am too scared to approach a sock or a mitten. Where I come from the mitten is redundant anyway. I have never owned a pair of mittens.
17. What are you knitting right now?
Rowan Eliza – girls pullover. Purple. Gorgeous daughter (who chose colour in first place) says ..“Hate purple”
Karabella shaped shawl – Karabella Lace Mohair. Like a spider web but is a very very slow grower.
Creative Knitting magazine lace stole – need another ball of the turquoise/green mohair to finish it..........
Teal/Turquoise lace stole Deliberately sized small so you can't see the mistakes in it.
This is what the stole is supposed to look like (Creative Knitting Magazine Annual 2004)
18. What do you think about ponchos?
I think they look fantastic teamed with sombreros on Mexican men laying against patina walls having siesta.
I saw one on Jennifer Aniston and she looked great in it.
They look awful on me and they look awful on Jessica Simpson.
The return of the fashionable poncho revolution has been hijacked by the mass-production of very cheap and nasty looking ones. As a result of this, I can’t wear one at all for fear of looking cheap and nasty. Even though they are comfortable to wear.
The do not hide a fat bottom. And if you have big breasts to go with it then they only make you look bigger.
Some chiffon ones look nice over swimsuits. The one I have pictured transcends all prejudice and is in fact a breathtaking garment. The good poncho - sirdar knit pattern photo
The caftan is far superior a garment in both style and wearability.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
No preference, sometimes you need a circular and sometimes straight is the only way to go.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo and plastic. I found aluminium too cold and the yarn I was using ‘stuck’. But I'll knit with anything really, even giving chopsticks a go.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
I have never knitted a sock. Way too scared. Is it worth it? Do two socks ever come out the same size?
22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me to knit and is still alive and delighted that I have taken it up again.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About three years. It is a crochet blanket which at this rate will be just ready in time to be folded at the end of my nursing home bed. I do love it but it takes about 20 minutes to do one row! the unfinished project
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?This question baffles me.
25. What is your favorite holiday?.
I started to answer this question and then realised you mean ‘holiday’ like seasonal event, not ‘holiday’ like vacation. I like Christmas, but baby it’s hot here at that time of year.
26. Is there anything that you collect?I don’t collect anything except memories and emotional baggage. Oh hang on, there is that ever-growing yarn stash that I am in denial about - and those unfinished objects.
However, ‘champagne socialist’ ranting aside, my preference is for natural fibres. I don’t buy acrylic yarn. I am not a fan of the fun fur or feathers and mostly like my yarn to have a ‘halo’ provided by the fibre itself and not some man-made bits sticking out.
But then again, I did see a groovy tiny stole in a Rowan R2 leaflet which looked like it had icy white feathers wafting down over the shoulders – it must have been made with one of those novelty yarns I don’t usually like, but this particular pattern was ubercool. I am fascinated by the deconstruction of knitting that R2 has ventured into (R2 is Rowan’s groovy young cousin – check out her webpage)INSERT URL
I think the simple answer to this question for me is: it depends on what the project is, for whom, and what the budget is. I can usually find something to do with almost any yarn really. I never say never.
Would you call me a yarn snob?
2. Do you spin? Crochet?
I do crochet. I don’t spin but would love to. We did it at school when I was younger and I loved it so I would like to take it up. I have the perfect room in my new house. I actually like crocheting. I am in the search for the ultimate perfect crochet butterfly. I would like to appliqué this to my successful range of pullovers and cardigans. Should prob work on the range and successfullnes first. (note to self - get successful knitting business off the ground in 2005)
crochet silk shawl
3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibres, perfume, etc.)No.4. How long have you been knitting?I have been knitting for about 3 years, but only gotten really addicted this year. Oops I mean last year.
5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Absolutely not. No way. I didn't even want to do a wedding list when I got married.
6. What’s your favourite scent?
I love the girly floral fragrances: neroli, gardenia, magnolia, rose and the herbs basil, mint, lemongrass, coriander.
7. Do you have a sweet tooth?
Not really. I’m a wine fan so I prefer a good stinky gooey blue brie as an after dinner treat. I do love a sticky wine to go with it though and they’re pretty sweet. I can appreciate Belgian truffles though.
8. What other crafts or DIY things do you like to do?I only have time for fibre creations and the search for the perfect yarn, the perfect pattern and the perfect result. But I am jealous of the perfect scrapbooker and the fabulous mosaic maker and furniture restorer.
PS: And after my appalling attempt at photographing my knitting I wish I was a better photographer.
9. What kind of music do you like?I have looked at some other knitting blogs answer to this question and decided they are all cooler than me. I like suprises, and I like listening to all sorts of music.
10. What is your favourite colour?I am going through a must be either teal/turquoise/peacock green combination or a dusty rose/pale aubergine/soft green combination.
11. What is your domestic situation?
I am married and have two gorgeous urchins, my daughter Blair (4) and my son Louis (6).
12. What are your life dreams?
In my dream life the world is at peace. I am content with what I have and enjoy rich and meaningful relationships with my family, friends and soulmate partner.
In this life I am also six inches taller, too rich, too thin, have a rambling country farmhouse with a vineyard out the back, a live-in chef and housekeeper, a neverending supply of carded silk and alpaca tops, yarn dye and inspirational patterns. I am the editor of a high-end homewares and design magazine and everybody whose anybody delivers their artisanal homewares, furniture, artwork, delicatessen items and fine wine to my door for me to sample. My husband and children are unbelievably good-looking but are so well-bred they are oblivious to it and everyone thinks I am fabulous and gorgeous. I am blissfully unaware of this because I am probably drunk.
13. What are your favourite yarns to knit with?I love silk and wool blends: merino, alpaca or mohair. I don’t like tape yarns. I don’t have much experience with cotton yarns (I found the lack of stretch a bit yuk). I am on an endless quest for the perfect yarn and when I find it I shall stash it secretly away in every nook and cranny of my rambling country farmhouse (see above answer).
14. What fibres do you absolutely not like?See q1 and q13. I try to have an open mind.
15. What is/are your current knitting obsessions?
I love lace knitting at the moment. I like lace knitting in stoles and shrugs and shawls. I love every single Rowan Kidsilk Haze pattern and have an ambition to make all of them.
I am also having a hat thing. Funny looking ones with long braids at the sides and squared off tops. In delicious gelato colour combinations.
16. What is/are your favourite items to knit?
I am very fickle and the answer to this question may be different tomorrow than today. But I still like a lace stole, a good pullover and a groovy hat.
I am too scared to approach a sock or a mitten. Where I come from the mitten is redundant anyway. I have never owned a pair of mittens.
17. What are you knitting right now?
Rowan Eliza – girls pullover. Purple. Gorgeous daughter (who chose colour in first place) says ..“Hate purple”
Karabella shaped shawl – Karabella Lace Mohair. Like a spider web but is a very very slow grower.
Creative Knitting magazine lace stole – need another ball of the turquoise/green mohair to finish it..........
Teal/Turquoise lace stole
Deliberately sized small so you can't see the mistakes in it.
This is what the stole is supposed to look like (Creative Knitting Magazine Annual 2004)
18. What do you think about ponchos?
I think they look fantastic teamed with sombreros on Mexican men laying against patina walls having siesta.
I saw one on Jennifer Aniston and she looked great in it.
They look awful on me and they look awful on Jessica Simpson.
The return of the fashionable poncho revolution has been hijacked by the mass-production of very cheap and nasty looking ones. As a result of this, I can’t wear one at all for fear of looking cheap and nasty. Even though they are comfortable to wear.
The do not hide a fat bottom. And if you have big breasts to go with it then they only make you look bigger.
Some chiffon ones look nice over swimsuits. The one I have pictured transcends all prejudice and is in fact a breathtaking garment. The good poncho - sirdar knit pattern photo
The caftan is far superior a garment in both style and wearability.
19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
No preference, sometimes you need a circular and sometimes straight is the only way to go.
20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
Bamboo and plastic. I found aluminium too cold and the yarn I was using ‘stuck’. But I'll knit with anything really, even giving chopsticks a go.
21. Are you a sock knitter?
I have never knitted a sock. Way too scared. Is it worth it? Do two socks ever come out the same size?
22. How did you learn to knit?
My grandmother taught me to knit and is still alive and delighted that I have taken it up again.
23. How old is your oldest UFO?
About three years. It is a crochet blanket which at this rate will be just ready in time to be folded at the end of my nursing home bed. I do love it but it takes about 20 minutes to do one row! the unfinished project
24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?This question baffles me.
25. What is your favorite holiday?.
I started to answer this question and then realised you mean ‘holiday’ like seasonal event, not ‘holiday’ like vacation. I like Christmas, but baby it’s hot here at that time of year.
26. Is there anything that you collect?I don’t collect anything except memories and emotional baggage. Oh hang on, there is that ever-growing yarn stash that I am in denial about - and those unfinished objects.
posted by knitabulous at Monday, February 07, 2005 |
