I don’t have a great deal of progress to show on my real WIPs this week, though I spent an extraordinary amount of time knitting this week. It’s because I’ve already FINISHED the project that I began on Saturday morning! You’ll see that on Friday.

In the meantime, I’ve made a bit more progress on my Hermione socks. I’ve just started the 13th pattern repeat for the leg, thanks to sitting on the subway and managing the check-in table at my CSA last night.

I’ve also been really focused on my stash and pattern selection over the last week – almost to the point of obsession. I’ve had several responses to my stash in the last six months: paralysis at the choices, anxiety over yarns or colorways I don’t much care for, dissatisfaction at my yarn and pattern pairings – apart from my current delight with the matches for the socks, my Georgiana Shawl, and the project I just finished, the negative impressions have outweighed the positives.

So, on Friday, I asked some lovely knitters whose aesthetics and general opinions I respect greatly to have a go at my stash, suggesting what to do with it. As a result, I bagged up a number of inexpensive/free skeins and my project leftovers to be used as stuffing for toys. I recategorized the yarns I love, deleted “project ideas I like” from my queue (adding them to favorites, instead), and added a vintage pattern into the Ravelry library to organize my next sweater project. I don’t have specific patterns noted for anything yet, but am generally feeling much happier.

And on top of that, I answered a plea for help from a fellow Raveler, purchasing some lovely yarns from her stash on Saturday morning. I chose based on color, weight, and yardage – along the guidelines that Saffron so helpfully provided for me. One lot is perhaps destined for this jacket, another for a hope chest baby blanket, and given the incredible color of the third, it’s being held in reserve for Karie’s new collection. The Berroco Glacé was a surprise addition that has stymied me for the moment, though I’m sure someone will have ideas for me!

Also this week, I made my plan for the soon-to-be-renamed Ravelympics: I’ve decided that, come hell or high water or a repeat of last Year’s Hurricane, I will bind off the Doctor Who Scarf before the Olympic Torch is extinguished. I make no promises about fringe or blocking (I don’t think my apartment is large enough to stretch 18 feet of wet wool), but the actual knitting will be done.

And lastly, at 10:15 last night I decided that it was time to cast on for another one-skein project. I pulled the remnant of bright pink malabrigo worsted (left over from making the hat and mittens for my sister) and cast on for the Straightforward Cowl. I’m using moss stitch instead of garter, and loving every bit of it. Why I’m comforted by knitting with plump, aran-weight wools in the middle of June is beyond me, but I’m not going to argue.

That’s what I’ve been up to in fiver-land this week. For more work-in-progress delights, head on over to Tami’s Amis and see what my friends are working on.