Handwork this winter...

I have fabrics to collect for a special project that needs to get started fairly soon. I went to gather the stash I had been building all last year and found I had gleaned a lot more from it than I thought and it was quite depleted.
ooooppps.
So, I will replenish that stash this month and get it moved along to the dear dear friend who is going to help build my plan :-) I'm excited to see the project finish. I have a great picture in my mind, and I know she does awesome work so it will turn out just as I envision!

Now that the bulk of the hat, mitten, scarf and other winter needs are met, I am shifting to new yarn projects as well. I have a great sweater pattern I'd like to try, but selecting the yarn is actually not as easy as I thought it would be. First, I'm cheap. I love good quality yarn, but I don't feel as much affection toward some of the prices. Ouch! And then there's just so many great colorways out there, making decisions next door to impossible. I'm leaning toward Berroco Vintage DK (sweater sample was done in a Cascade, dk/3 weight), but Berroco has so many colors I just love I can't decide. I'm naturally drawn more to the earthy, woodsy shades, but maybe I need to break out of that comfort zone and go for something brighter...there's a pumpkin tone that looks pretty cool. Then again, what if I don't absolutely LOVE that finished sweater in any color other than my normal go-to tones? Decisions, decisions.

                        
In the meantime, while ponder those decisions, I need to start a few more dishcloths here. I may knit a few, I may crochet a few, but either way, I need to replenish the supply here a bit. Dishcloths seem to be my "socks"...they disappear on a regular basis here :-/  Here are some posts with dishcloth patterns I've used before...

Tunisian Arrowhead Stitch Cloth  the pattern link is here:  (scroll thru the sampler for the Arrowhead stitch)

 Various pattern links here I have used and liked

Some links from the Dishcloth Swap I hosted a while back 

These projects, getting us all back to school here (oh boy how I've neglected my herbal course studies for the past couple of months), the start of the Walking Thru Scripture chronological bible study I'm doing, and just the everyday tasks of hearth and home will be more than enough to keep me occupied thru the remainder of winter here.

How about you? Any grand plans and project lists keeping your hands and mind occupied during these long winter days?