Don't Send Out a Search Party!

I haven't gone anywhere.

But I think I've been overwhelmed by the huge push to achieve in the Knitting Olympics.

I have knit very little this week. I worked a little on Helsinki (not enough to show you) and a bit on my Ishbel:

Oh! You should see Ruinwen's Ishbel! Go look, I'll wait.

Isn't it lovely?

I toyed with colors for a Selbu Modern hat (Ravelry link) but haven't gotten much further than the initial cast on...not sure I love the colors so...(sigh)

This week I've spent a couple of nights in yoga class, a morning just about losing it with a doctor who insists that yoga forward bends will destroy my back (which just blows my mind...aren't we further ahead that this?), and of course, there's been work and all the normal stuff I do.

But tonight, Sis-in-law and I took ourselves out for dinner at Olive Garden. I can happily eat their soup (Pasta e Fagioli), salad (with reduced fat dressing on the side), 1.5 breadsticks and a glass of Merlot for 10 points and be satisfied as can be!

I also had a gift certificate from Christmas to spend at Bed Bath & Beyond, so there were a few new kitchen things to bring home.

But then I went completely nuts at Marshalls. Three new tops, yoga togs, a yoga mat, and this:

I desperately needed a new coldish weather jacket - my winter parka is 15 years old and suitable for a 1X plus-sized lady. It has served me well, but I'm a medium now.

I loved this jacket and the price was more than right. It's not heavy enough for true winter gales (it's microfiber), but it's great for mid-range temps.

I have a serious dilemma tho'.

What pattern is tailored and elegant enough to make up for a scarf, a hat, and gloves? And what yarn? I love the taupe in this, but...have you seen any taupe yarn? Probably fingering eh? Cables? Lace?

I am madly in love with Cherry Tree Hill's Supersocke Select in Birches (all the Vermont influence notwithstanding). I'd love to see the yarn in person, tho' because I'm not sure if it's black, beige, greys and taupes, or if there's some olive mixed in...? It might be a bit busy, too.

In my stash, tho', I have this:

(It's Claudia sock yarn in the colorway Leopard. I have only 350 yards. But there's still some available, so I could probably get more. What do you think of a Chevron Scarf with an ivory/beige/taupe mixed in with this?)

Or should I just scrap it and find something in one color? Taupe? Black?

Suggestions? Tell me to hush and forget it, handknits just won't work? (Ok...no one who seriously reads this blog and knits will tell me that, right? RIGHT?)
lolol