Weekly Goal List

I'm way overdue for a Weekly Goal List. Better late than never, right?
My goals for this week are:

• Finish the last tatted balls
• Trip to the LYS to find a pattern for my Sister's birthday present
• Knit at least 8 rows on my Easy Triangle Shawl

My current progress on the tatted balls: 50% done with the first one. I'll probably finish it tomorrow. Then the question is 'will one motif be enough or should I do two?'
I just started the triangle shawl - I'm 12 rows into it - right where the pattern starts repeating. I'm using homespun yarn, and the color is called 'gothic' - it's a gorgeous variegated purple.
As for the knitting pattern, I have not found anything I like on the internet, so I hope the yarn store can help me out.
~Sarah

Yarn Shop Visit

Spirit Work knitting and designs is one of my favorite LYS. My other two favorites are Knit-n-Purl, and The Village Yarn & Fiber Shop. I went to Spirit Work on Thursday, and got some help with my sister's poncho, and some advice about a project for one of my cousins. They were so nice and helpful. I'll probably go again in January (when I have some money to spend) and buy some yarn for a shawl.

My current list of items to knit before Christmas is:
1: My Sister's poncho
2: Stuffed animal for a Cousin
3: Gift for my Dad. (hint: it takes dpns)

Here are some gauge swatches of 2 yarns I'm considering using:

I've been trying to sort my Christmas projects so that the ones that need to be mailed will get done first. So far it hasn't been very easy, and I'm only sending 3 boxes. That'll be my Sunday afternoon project - figure out who's getting what, and make a plan for how to get it done. The deadline for sending them parcel post (and having them arrive before Christmas) is Dec. 15'th.

I'd better get stitching!
~Sarah