It's almost Christmas!

I really meant to write on Tuesday this week, but I had completely forgotten that I had made plans that evening after work! I went to a craft night with my friends Klara and Karin, at a local flower shop. I made a Christmas flower arrangement, candle holders, and a wreath to hang on the door. 

It was so much fun! We got to choose among lots and lots of supplies in the flower shop, and got lots of help from the shop owner and her mom. It really made us get into the Christmas spirit!

Then on Thursday I had also planned to write, and record a new podcast, but then Thomas called and said he wouldn't be at band practice that evening and came home. I haven't told him yet that I have started recording, because I've talked so much about his Christmas present! I know that he doesn't read the blog, but if I told him I had recorded I think he would be curious and have a listen. So I can only record when he isn't at home :)

But tonight he is a t a concert in Linköping, so I have a couple of hours to myself. I have just finished recording, and I was wondering if any of you know where one can edit the video files? I have Windows Live Movie Maker, but that program just saves the files as something that I can't post online. I want to be able to save it as an mp4 or wmv file, so I can put them up online. Anyone have any tips?

Anywho, I had really hoped that I would be able to show you a finished Omelet shawl by now. I don't remember if I told you the last time, but I was afraid that I would run out of yarn, and I did. I had about 10 rows left, and I really didn't want to buy another skein. I'm not very fond of knitting with this yarn (Färgkraft Pälsblend), and it's quite expensive, so I tried to match it with other stuff in my stash. I tried it with some green Madelinetosh, some green Chili Gredelin yarn, some green Kampes wool, but nothing worked. 

I then went online to Garnkorgen, and ordered another skein of Kampes lace one-ply wool yarn, in colourway Green 215. It arrived on Thursday, and it really, really didn't work at all!

I have no idea what to make with this skein! It's 600 m of lace weight wool, and it's also quite scratchy (I only ordered it because it's cheap). I'm thinking of raffling it off here on the blog, but I don't know if anyone would be interested? I feel like I'm not really promoting this yarn...

So, when no yarns worked, yesterday I finally decided to rip the shawl back. I had made 6 repeats of chart B, and I ripped back until I only had 4. That was 90 rows! That really, really sucked, because I'm so tired of knitting on this one! I just want it off the needles, and now I have to make all of charts D and E all over again (I've knit chart C today). Hopefully it will get done next week.

I'm also itching to cast on for new stuff! I want to make socks so bad! I'm going to cast on for the Ill Met by Moonlight as soon as I've finished the shawl and the Christmas Balls (remember, I'm doing the Crazy KAL where I'm knitting to zero). I also want to use some of my multicoloured Regia sock yarn I bought a while back, but I haven't decided on a pattern yet. I know I said I wanted to make a pair of Carousels, but I have some other options as well.

When I ordered the green skein of Kampes, I also got one skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted yarn, in colourway Berry:

I'm going to use this to make a For Good hat, and this one I want to make as soon as possible too. It's a really pretty pattern, and the proceeds go to charity. Plus, I want to support Megan of the Stockinette Zombies too.

Finally, I want to make me some sweaters! I have some Wollmeise DK in sweater quantity, and I also have the Madelinetosh Pashmina yarn, so I haven't decided which one I'm going to start with. I have several patterns lined up, and today I've also rearranged my queue on Ravelry. I just have to finish my projects first!

Ok, now I'm going to enjoy the rest of the evening alone (I'm going to pick Thomas up at the train station later tonight, so I need to stay awake). I'm sending lots of love and sympathy to all the grieving families in Connecticut today too, it's just too horrible to take in.

/ Jenny

I just can't stop buying yarn!

Yes, more yarn arrived in the mail today! I got my Black Friday order from EatSleepKnit, and I'm very happy with it. I got one skein of Dream in Color Smooshy, in colourway Melon Bomb:

It's 100 % superwash merino, and really nice and squishy. It feels a little bit similar to Colinette Jitterbug to me, I think it's plied in the same way, so I think it will hold up very nicely for socks. I think I'm not a hard wearer on socks, as I still haven't had to darn any of my pairs, so this yarn should be fine as well.

I also got one skein of Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere, in colourway Cinnamon Girl:

This is 70 % superwash merino/20 % cashmere/10 % nylon, and it is just sooooo soft! I only have one pair of socks with cashmere in them, those were made with the Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! yarn, and this yarn feels pretty much as soft as those socks do. I'm really looking forward to more cashmere socks!

Finally I ordered four skeins (yes, sweater quantity) of Madelinetosh Pashmina yarn, in colourway Dried Rose:

This is 75 % merino/15 % silk/10 % cashmere, and I get why people love this yarn. It is really soft and squishy, and the silk gives it a nice sheen as well. I'm planning on knitting some kind of cardigan or sweater with it eventually.

Other than that I'm still knitting away on the Omelet shawl. I've finished almost six repeats of chart B now, I should finish it tonight if I pick it up at all (I have a killer headache, so I don't know if I have the energy to knit at all). But it seems like it's taking me forever!

Finally, I have a new podcast episode for you! 

Please, leave me some comments on it! I really want to hear how you like it!

/ Jenny

Working on the CRAZY KAL

I decided to join the Stockinette Zombies in their Crazy KAL, so right now I'm trying to knit to zero. That is, I'm going to finish all of my projects before I cast on for something new! I'm really itching to cast on for some socks though, so we'll see how that goes.

I'm right now knitting on the button band on the Serina Cardigan. I've finished both sleeves, so I think I might get the whole thing done tonight or tomorrow!

I really really like it, and I'm really looking forward to wearing it! I decided to not make a shawl collar on it like I planned to, I think it will look best with the simpler, ribbed flat version.

I've also seamed most of the Companion Cube together, right now I'm just waiting for the foam filling to arrive in the mail. Then I'll sew the two remaining seams, and then that one is done as well!

Once both of those are done, I'll try to get the Omelet shawl done as well. And then I just have the Christmas ball ornaments to do. But as I think I have made my increases too tight on that one, I think I'll just frog it and call it done. Then I'll be at zero, and allowed to cast on for something new (socks). Yay!

Ok, I have something new to show you. I have been watching podcasts like crazy these past few weeks, and I finally decided to try it out myself! I haven't got a name for the podcast yet, as I still don't know if I'll do it ever again. Please let me know what you think!

I know the quality isn't very good, as I'm using the built-in webcam on the computer. But as this is the first time I didn't want to splurge on a new one until I know if anyone is watching. Also, who knows what Santa might bring!

And please be a little bit gentle and do not mock my accent! I have also found the button for mirroring the image, so next time you'll be able to read book titles and stuff like that too :)

I think most of the stuff I talk about are linked above in the blog post. If not, feel free to leave a comment to remind me, and I'll add it later. I just couldn't bear to watch it one more time!

/ Jenny