Finished three socks!

Since I last had a regular post, I've finished one pair of socks, and the first one in a pair! The finished socks are the Gördes socks that I've made for my mom:

I am very pleased with them! They are made with Shibui Sock yarn (100 % superwash merino), in the colourway Periwinkle, and they are very soft and cushy on the feet. We're going home for a visit this weekend, so mom will get them then.

The third sock, from the half-finished pair, is the Spaced Checks socks that I'm making from the Mad Color Fiber Arts Doctor Who yarn:

I've made these toe-up, to use up as much of the yarn as possible, and they are practically knee socks. I have pretty small feet, so I usually don't use more than around 60 grams for a pair of socks. But I really like these, even though I'm getting a bit bored with the pattern by now. I've just gone past the heel on the second sock, so I have a bit longer to go, but I'm mostly working on them at work. So they are going a bit slow right now, but I'll probably finish them quickly once vacation comes around.

These past few days though I've actually picked up my lace shawl again. Remember, I was working on the Mandala II shawl? It's been very neglected for a long while, but now it's coming along again. I have almost 600 stitches already, so it's taking a long time for each row, but I've done about half of chart C. Then it's chart D and the edging left. If I have enough yarn left after chart D, I might make another repeat of that chart before the edging though. I haven't got any new photos of it, since it's so scrunched up on the needles. You'll get to see it when it's done! I'm making it with Madelinetosh Tosh Lace yarn (100 % merino), in the colourway Rose. It's very pretty!

And speaking of vacation: I only have one more work day left before I get three weeks off! Yay! We have nothing special planned, other than doing stuff with the house, so I'm looking forward to some relaxing days. First we're going home to our parents for a while, since Thomas' brother is turning 35 on Saturday.

Then on Sunday I got a tip about a wool and fleece marketplace, so I'm trying to convince my mother to join me. She's going to ask my godmother and her daughter to join us to, so it could be a real outing! 

Oh, and finally: There are still three winners that haven't sent me their adresses! Crouchingcheese, Lakchi and Ashleah, please send me an email (jenny(dot)m(dot)clifford(@)gmail(dot)com) or PM on Ravelry (I'm jench24) with your adresses, so I can get you your prizes. I haven't had a chance to get to the post office this week yet, so I'll go at the beginning of next week. 

Ok, I think that might be enough rambling for today. I feel a bit scatterbrained, but that will probably get better once I get some down time to rest up! See you all again some time next week.

/ Jenny

Winners!

It's time to draw some winners! I'm doing this very early today, as we're having some people over for swimming and barbecue around lunch. Thank you all so much for commenting on my last post! It's been so much fun reading through all of them and getting some nice recommendations for new things to read and watch. But out of the 20 commenters, only seven of you get to win. I first lined up all the participants, with extra posts for those who follow my blog and for those who told other people about the give-away. All in all I got 30 posts, and then I used random.org to generate seven winners. And they are as follows:

1) Number 22, which is Crouchingcheese. She recommended any book by Orson Scott Card,  and I have to admit that I actually listened to my very first OSC book this spring (The Lost Boys). It was amazing, and I'm definitely going to read more from him! Crouchingcheese wished for the Jitterbug yarn, so that's what he/she'll get!.

2) Number 7, which is Victoria. She recommended the TV show Hannibal, which I haven't seen, so I'll check that one out. Victoria wished for the Nancy Bush book, so that will be coming her way.

3) Number 3, which is Sarah (The Student Knitter). She recommended the Game of Thrones books and TV-show, which I've of course read and seen, but it's a fabulous recommendation. She wished for any of the prizes, so she'll get the Cascade 220 superwash yarn.

4) Number 11, which is Chelsea W. She recommended Burn Notice, which I've seen some of and always thought I would continue with some day. She wished for the Rowan Silk Wool, so that will be going to her.

5) Number 19, which is Lakchi. She also recommends Game of Thrones (a lot of people did, and I completely understand why. It's a great book and a great TV show). She wished for the Jitterbug, but as that's already taken she will get a random prize, which will be the Addi needles.

6) Number 16, which is Sarah. She recommends Arrested Development, which we are actually currently watching through. She wished for the Jitterbug yarn or the ChiaoGoo Needles, so she'll get one pair of needles (as the Jitterbug yarn is already taken).

7) Number 13, which is Ashleah. She recommended the books Mists of Avalon, which I love too, the podcast Yarnivore, which I've yet to listen to, and the TV-series Defiance, which I've only seen one episode from and kind of like so far. She wished for the Rowan yarn first, which is already gone, so she'll get her second choice which was a pair of ChiaoGoo needles.

Ok, I would like all of the winners to contact me, either on Ravelry (I'm jench24 there) or via email (jenny(dot)m(dot)clifford(@)gmail(dot)com), with your names and adresses, and I'll get the prizes sent out as soon as I can. I'll try to get them all out this coming week. 

Well this was a lot of fun! I'll probably host another contest once I reach 500 posts, and definitely another one when I get to celebrate my fifth anniversary next year. I don't see myself quitting the blog any time soon!

I'll be back some time this week with a post with actual knitting contents too (I've finished a pair of socks!), but right now I need to get some stuff done before our guests arrive. See  you soon!

/ Jenny