Other trivial pursuits

I am still working on Xmas gifts, but I managed to get a little distracted with projects for myself.

I decided that I wanted to use the multidirectional scarf pattern for a scarf out of the yarn that Chris got me for my birthday...I've gotten a bit further since I took this picture.

And I also found a mitt pattern online that I couldn't resist. Here is the progress so far...I'm pretty proud of this one. It involves the use of a cable needle and reading a chart, which are both new skills for me. And I've had this yarn around for awhile, since the after-fire sale at Hill Top.