UK Swap

Part One: Crafting
Do you knit, crochet, or both? Both. I tend to crochet more than knit these days.


What do you like to make? Small projects (accessories for homes and humans).


Do you have a favourite project? Varies but I have a short attention span.


Do you have a favourite type of fiber or brand of yarn? I love most wool yarns and alpaca. Favourite weights are sock yarn, 4-ply, DK and worsted. I'd love to try cashmere...


Do you have a least favourite type of yarn? Scratchy acrylics. (Some of the very cheap types). And I find that my hands hurt if I use really big needles, so that rules out bulky yarns.


Do you do any other crafts? Yes, but very, very badly... Not at all keen on things that require glue and fiddly bits!


What knitting do you bring ‘on the go’? I find crochet more portable and usually have all sorts of yarn scarps and assorted hooks with me, ready to whip up scarves, hats and corsages. Any knitting "on the go" will be on 4 needles (wristwarmers, socks) or a modular project.


What do you carry your ‘on the go’ knitting in? Do you want something new? An assortment of bags: canvas, plastic, paper... backpack, briefcase, handbag... I'd love a neat little case for my "notions".


Are there any knitting gifts (book, toy, yarn, item, tool) that you have been lusting over? I'd love some yarn from Posh yarns. I work on Sundays so never get to their shop in time...


Part Two: Your Favourites


What is your favourite colour? What is your least favourite colour? I adore greens (except bottle green), berry colours and autumnal colours. Anything you'd see on a walk in the countryside (from bright pink foxgloves to muted mushrooms). No to: neons and icky pastels.



What scents/smells do you like? What don’t you like? Love: fresh lemony/green smells; ginger; woody scents; rose. Hate: anything too sweet/bubblegummy/artificial

How do you like to pamper yourself? (bubble bath, hand creams, massage, manicure) I love wallowing in bubble bath (but it must have a natural scent and be cruelty-free: Faith in nature is my favourite brand and I especially like the Seaweed one). I'm also hooked on Neals Yard cocoa butter body cream. My hands need some tlc!

What goodies to you like to treat your tummy with? (chocolate, biscuits, truffles, etc.) I'll answer this one by telling you that my Mum calls me "the twiglet piglet" (cheers, mum) and adding that I also love dark chocolate, ginger and dried fruit in any combination. (Excluding the twiglets, that is). I try to get organic treats (again, except the twiglets!)


Do you prefer tea or coffee while you knit? Any particular kind? I'm not keen on tea and cannot stand coffee. I enjoy most herb teas but I'm rather fond of water. (And cider. And gin & tonic. But the knitting goes a bit weird, sometimes.)

Favourite mug/cup? That beauty that I found in Oxfam a couple of weeks ago. But that is strictly for display on the sideboard. For everyday I have a fabulous bone china mug with a ginger cat on a burgundy ground (think of a modern version of William Morris).

Do you listen to/watch anything while you knit? (TVshow-Along, movies, music, podcasts) I usually have Radio 3 or CDs in the background (I like classical, medieval, folk and world music). But I'm addicted to the Archers and Heartbeat. (I can't believe that I've just admitted that!)

Part Three: Living & Past-times


Where do you live in the UK? (General idea not address) East Anglia.


Have you always lived here, or did you grow up somewhere else? Born in Liverpool, moved to East Anglia (not the current bit) aged 3. Since leaving school I've had brief forays into Manchester, Worcestershire and Hertfordshire but the last 12 years have seen me moving closer and closer to my youthful stamping grounds.


If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Practically everywhere! So many places that I want to see. Finland and Estonia; Prague and Budapest; Edinburgh. I suppose northern and eastern Europe are top of the list, but would love to go to Japan, Paris, New York...

If you couldn’t go to a knitting group, what other kind of gathering would you go to? (book club, tea party, yoga class, jewelery class, etc.) I'd go to anything where I could also knit/crochet. Think I'd enjoy a book group or tea party. I also like swimming, but that is quite solitary (and incompatible with yarn).

What’s your style? (elegant, traditional, glamourous, girly, natural, sporty, outgoing, etc.)
Eclectic yet understated. (Actually "low maintenance" probably sums it up..) I have to admit that my ideal outfit is a pair of cords or a tweedy skirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt and a stylish knit.... My favourite outfit is a brown 1920s/30s style dress (with a subtle pink/green/orange print) that I wear with a brown shrug and often layer with a long-sleeved t shirt and even a longer skirt underneath. Very versatile.




Final Part:


Any allergies/preferences (fiber-wise or treat-wise)? Mohair makes me sneeze and I have to be careful with anything that goes on skin near my eyes.


Anything we missed that you’d like your partner to know? Just that I'm really looking forward to the swap.

final final part!
Swap rules say that I'm supposed to link to this post from my sidebar. Wish I knew how, as then I'd have spared you all from wading through this! Is there any kind blogger user who can explain how to do this? Thanks!