Well, I can say one good thing about spending so much time on my tush in tin cans this weekend. It helps me bypass second sock/sleeve syndrome pretty easily.

(Two sleeves for my friend Neil’s birthday sweater, one completed Sidewinder, one in-progress. Boo yah.)
The Sidewinder pattern didn’t exactly make the STR behave. It still pooled and streaked a bit. But, as it turns out, that sort of thing looks a whole heck of a lot better when it happens vertically on the foot instead of around. So I formally declare the Pebble Beach hank saved, and I’ll look forward to wearing these socks for years. The sock fits very well, and the construction is so very interesting. I should have the pair done in a day or so.
Until then, obviously, we’ll just have to have some fun with the first sock.

The weekend went well, overall. It was the first time Jacob and I had been apart overnight before, and I have to say he seems to have handled it a whole lot better than I did. I did get used to it, though, and now my last worry about Rhinebeck is totally gone, and I can’t wait for October.
By the way, this is the pattern I’m using for Neil’s sweater:

It’s modified drop sleeve, which is so weird to me since I don’t think I’ve ever done anything but set-in. I like the way it’s looking so far, and the cotton isn’t hurting my hands too badly. I hope I can finish the rest of the sweater quickly, because I’m all excited about my holiday knitting. I can’t believe it’s almost September!