Secret Pal 5 answers

I will post this only in English, I don't feel like translating this into my mother-tongue.

SP5 Questions/Answers

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

Of course I prefer higher quality, and mostly natural fibers. But I don't think of myself as a yarn snob. And as my budget is somewhat tight, I cannot be a snob. I have knitted with acrylic and found it satisfying (it was a good acrylic). I discovered some time ago that I don't usually like ribbon yarns, and I don't like splitty yarns either. Other than that, I have a slight skin problem. I cannot wear scratchy yarns, or my skin will get red and itchy. Please see the entry on allergies.

I also usually prefer yarns that knit with needles 3mm to 8 mm.
But still, I'm not picky. The most important thing is that the yarn shouldn't be rough on the skin. All the rest is secondary.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I crochet. I have one big crocheting project in hands. I don't usually crochet with wool, though. And I don't usually crochet clothes.

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

I don't like the smell of smoke, but I'm not allergic to it. I have a skin problem (a mild one). So I cannot wear fibers which are not smooth. And I should prefer natural fibers, but I have found (trial and error) that some artificial fibers work great for me. The important thing is: they should be soft. Oh, and I remembered: they should not have a high percentage of angora. I have a sweater with 10% angora, and I can wear it with no problem, but a 50% angora yarn might be troublesome to me.

4. How long have you been knitting?

I don't know. I learned when I was a child, but soon lost my interest. I got interested again more or less 5 years ago, I think.

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

No.

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

Because of my skin problem, I must be careful with things I use on my skin. (If you wish to send me a bath product, choose it like it was to a baby sensitive skin). Anyway, I like vanilla, cinnamon, almond, apple, mint (but please no mint-smelling bath products: potentially aggressive to my skin), pine, lavender, frankincense, rosemary... I don't usually like strong, heady scents (oriental-like).

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes. In chocolate realm, I LOVE dark chocolate (the darker and the more bitter the better) and hate white chocolate. I like bittersweet and sour candy, also. I don't like excessively sweet things.

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

Cross-stitch, half cross-stitch, Arraiolos rug making (I have made 1 and a half small rugs... I wish I had more free time!).

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

Yes, my computer can play MP3. I don't own a stereo. My radio/CD player cannot play MP3, though.

I like classical music, especially choral. I love sacred music (ancient, medieval, gregorian chant, baroque...), and also some profane music from the same periods. I don't like the pop gregorian phenomena (sp?) though. I'm curious for byzantine and orthodox sacred music. I also like heavy metal, and rock. Some examples: I own all Metallica CDs prior to 1994 (I don't like their new style). I like the newest Rammstein albums (Mutter and Reise, Reise), but not the older ones. I LOVE Queen, every single album of them. But the safest bet is sacred choral music.

And I'm starting to like soundtracks of movies (the orchestral ones, like LOTR or Star Wars).

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer?

I usually prefer secondary, complex colors. But I also have some primary colors clothes. An example: I don't usually like orange, but I love rust color. And I have one orange T-shirt.

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

Single (and available ;) ), sharing a house with 3 other girls (I would prefer living alone, but my budget does not allow it). I don't have pets, and will not have them until I can afford living alone.

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

Being happy. Building a family with someone that brings out the best of me, and bringing out the best of him. Finding a job that allows me not to share a house (the other girls are nice, but...) unless I choose to do that, and that I can wake up every day looking forward to another day at work. Making people happy around me. Being a better person, and a better Christian.

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

Yarns that knit with 2.5 mm to 5 mm needles. Really, I prefer finer yarns!
But I still like yarns up to 8 mm needles... I don't usually like ribbon yarns, but once I knit a sample of a ribbon yarn I liked.

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

Scratchy fibers. Splitty yarns.

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

I don't think I have any.

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

Don't know. I'm knitting scarves now, because I'm very busy and not having time for bigger projects, but I like sweaters and cardigans as well. And I have plans to design and knit a simple top soon...

17. What are you knitting right now?
Scarves (2). And also Yarn of the Month samples and Elann samples :)

18. What do you think about ponchos? (this is really a curiousity question for us)

I cannot understand them. Nobody wears ponchos here since the 70s, anyway.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

I have never knitted with circular needles yet. Because I don't own any and in the special kind of needles I use they are harder to find.
See below.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer aluminum coated with a greyish enamel. They are called INOX, I believe it's the brand name.
But I use an unusual kind of knitting needles: needles with a hook.
I knit the way everybody else does, but I use this kind of needles. I could not find a picture of straight knitting needles with hook, so I will illustrate with double pointed needles and a picture of the hook.

My mother and my grandmother, and all my family knit with needles like these, and I cannot knit well with other kinds of needles. My mother owns DPN and circular ones, all with hooks in the ends.
So, please do not send me needles unless they have a hook like the ones above.

21. Are you a sock knitter?

No. My mother can knit socks, though, and as soon as I can, I will buy DPN (with hooks) to try.

22. How did you learn to knit?

My mother taught me, and I keep learning by reading online references.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

3 years old, I think.

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

Favorite animal: cat. Favorite mythological animal: dragon. Favorite animated character: I don't know. Favorite movie character: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. I love his duality. I also love the Star Wars universe...

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Easter (I'm Christian!). But also Christmas Eve, a strong holiday in my country.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Coins. But I believe sending money in mail is forbidden. Illustrated postcards, written and unwritten.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
None. (Tight budget...)

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?
Some good knitting reference books (any suggestions welcome!). The Star Wars books, also. Hard-core theology books, especially the ones from John Paul II/Karol Wojtyla (I know I'm weird...). I can read fluently in English.

I am looking forward to contacting my SP and also my SP match (the person I will be sending gifts), but I haven't been contacted yet...