Christmas - Phase 3 - The Projects

This is the phase that is the hardest. I usually get a wicked bout of startitis when in this phase, but we all have to hold off until we have finalized the list.

First you should have a list of people that are knit worthy, and what you would like to make them.

Now go onto Ravelry and start sorting through the patterns to find something that is just right for each person on your list. It sounds so simple right? Wrong.

Ravelry makes all of us want to cast on every single thing on the site! I usually start with my queue to see if I have already picked out something for someone, then my favourites, and if there is nothing in either I dive into the patterns library and look through hundreds of patterns till I find something just right!

Next list what size to make, needle size, type of yarn and colors you need for each project. Your list should look something like this:

Who	Item	Pattern	Yarn needed	Needle Size	Size	Color
Mom	Silk Mittens	Basic Four Needle Mittens	4 oz Silk Hankies	check gauge, need 8st per 1"	Get	Purple
JM	Silk Mittens	Basic Four Needle Mittens	4 oz Silk Hankies	check gauge, need 8st per 1"	Get	Green
Dad	Gryffindor Socks	Basic Socks	4 oz Dyed Self Striping	check gauge, need 8st per 1"	Get	Red and Gold
Grandma P	Giant's Socks	Basic Socks	4 oz Dyed Self Striping	check gauge, need 8st per 1"	Get	Orange and Black
Grandma Jane	Blanket	Leaves of Grass	4 skeins Fingerling Cream	4US DPN 6US circ	N/A	Natural
Aunt Lee	Blanket	Girasole	3 skeins Fisherman's Wool	10US circs – 2 sets	N/A	Natural
Aunt Bobby	Shawlette	Lazy Daisy Shawlette	300 yds DK	7US circ	N/A	Lt Blue
Aunt Lynn	Shawlette	Lazy Daisy Shawlette	300 yds DK	7US circ	N/A	Sea colors
Stina	Cowl	Hydrangea Neckwarmer	150 yds Sport	3US circ	N/A	Green
Court	Cowl	Botanical Cowl	300 yds Sport	6US circ	N/A	Dark Blue
Jim	Boot Socks	Basic Socks	400 yrds Worsted	check gauge, need 4st per 1"	Men's 8	Black
Jim	Boot Socks	Basic Socks	400 yrds Worsted	check gauge, need 4st per 1"	Men's 8	Black
Anna	Fingerless Mitten	Love at the Opera	900 yds Fingerling	check gauge, need 9st per 1"	Get	Red

Notice I have left the socks with "check gauge, need 8st per 1" " instead of listing a needle size? This is because for any fitted item gauge is important, but because I own so many DPNs I'm not going to do the next step for them.

Now comes the fun messy part!

Your homework tonight after you've made this list is to toss the stash and see what you have the can take care of something on the list!

Go through the stash and needles and put them in a big pile! Sunday I'll show you what to do with the pile!