Pay it forward gift(s)

I'm so excited! I've just had a spark of an idea which has led me to plan what I'm going to be making as my pay it forward gift(s). I'm itching to make a start on it/them but I've got Christmas knitting still to finish so will have to make myself wait for the new year.

I'm not giving any clues as to what I'm going to be making :o)

So far I only have one of my 3 PIF slots filled (thanks Crafty librarian!). That means there are two still open. Any takers??

Christmas knitting - revised priority list

I've been trying to stop myself aimlessly browsing the web (ravelry) and actually get some knitting done! Because of this, I am actually making some progress. It's taken me a while to work out what to make for some gifts but things are finally coming together. This is my new priority list and progress so far (more for me than for anyone reading this...)

1. Cable comfort throw. I got a call from Yarn last week to say that the rest of the yarn I needed had finally arrived. I got straight to work and have finished a second strip, just one more to go! Although...I have, due to my scrappy notes and a lack of checking) managed to make the two I've already done different lengths (d'oh) so am trying to decide whether I'm going to frog a bit of one, or add extra to the other. I'll decide when the third strip is at the critical point - I'm sure this will help me to see the potential size finished throw, and whether or not it needs the extra length. [60% done]
   
   
2. Sweater bag. Christmas gift for one of my nieces. It's coming along nicely and I'm enjoying the pattern and the Cashmerino yarn I'm using for it. The size 6.5mm needles are getting a little tiresome, but mainly because I have a few projects on the go on that size. Not sure how that happened. [25% done]
   
   
3. You Don't Know Our Women Hat and Cabled Fingerless Mitts for my other niece. I ummed and arred about making a bag, but couldn't find anything I thought she'd like. I've decided on a safe bet for now and will make something more interesting for her in the future (and I'm better at knitting). The hat's done! Only took a few evenings to do, and I'm about to make a start on the mitts). [30% done]
   
   
4. Skull Illusion Scarf [x2] and matching hats (not found suitable pattern yet, may improvise). I saw the skull illusion scarf and knew instantly I had to make it!! We've decided to give my boyfriends kids their hats for Christmas, together with the matching scarf. I really can't wait to see these develop. I'll have to get the yarn sorted out first though. [0% done]
5. Santa hat. I want to make myself a santa hat for Christmas morning. Hopefully this will be a quick knit, but if I don't get time for it, so be it.
6. Three Pay It Forward (PIF) gifts. I have one PIFer, need two more! I have lots of ideas, and an itch to get going, but I'm not going to make a start until Christmas is over.
   
7. My poncho has been relegated all the way down here. I pick it up now and then. It'll get there.

There are sooooo many other things I want to make too! (...and sooo many things to finish that aren't on that list).Ravelry has not helped, it just fills my head to bursting point with new idea's and favourite patterns. It seems to be taking me forever to finish things! ...although, that said, I'm really chuffed with the progress I've made - both finished item-wise, and knitting technique-wise.

Priorities

There's so much I want to do knitting-wise, I thought I should make some kind of list to make sure I don't forget anything! So...this is what I'm doing...and the order that I'm doing it in...

1. Poncho for me! Our house is rubbish (rented) and although it's got double glazing, there is absolutely *no* insulation in the roof. In the winter we seem to heat the sky as no heat seems to stay in the house at all! My knitting habit will have to help me keep warm. This is the pattern I'm using: Bear Cub Poncho.
2. Pink girlie leg warmers to match the pink girlie hat I made. I need to get these finished as they are supposed to be a gift (a belated birthday pressie). I'm having a bit of a crap time using the cotton yarn on bamboo double pointed needles - I might post about this at some point soon. I've ordered some Brittany birch needles which I'm hoping will be better (I'm very fond of wood).
3. Hat and scarf for me. I have the pattern and the yarn...just need the time. I'm going to use Sirdar Bigga so it won't take long! This is another priority project as it's been a chilly week, very autumnal.
4. Two boys hats. My boyfriends kids have requested a hat each, and I feel I should get these done as I put them both through the trauma of trying on the pink girlie hat to make sure I'd made it about the right size!
5. A Christmas gift for my two nieces - not sure what this will be yet, may a bag or a hat. I don't want them to be massive projects. I might make my sister-in-law something too for her birthday in December).
6. Three Pay It Forward (PIF) gifts. I'll be posting about this soon, but I signed up for this on Sarah's All Fingers and Thumbs blog. I'm really excited about taking part - it's just a shame its number 6 on my list :o( I have idea's about the kind of things I'd like to make too!
7. Poor orange jumper, last on the list (at least, on the list I'm admitting to). I'm not sure about the colour anymore, and I'm beginning to wish I'd chosen a machine washable yarn. My hands don't like hand washing. I try and avoid it. My other half managed to dye a whole wash purple today because he unintentionally washed a purple dress that's been at the bottom of the laundry basket for months, waiting to be hand washed...it had been there since we got back from Glastonbury! I'm going to finish the jumper though! I'm more than half way through it.

All this and ravelry too! What a fabulous website! I've worked out how to get around - just not had time to add everything to it. I think I'll just have to chip away and add stuff when I can. It's probably for the best (she says, trying desperately not to become completely obsessed with it).