Cutting it Close

Bluebell Rib Socks

Pattern: Bluebell Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Schurch
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - May Rockin' Sock Club - Fairgrounds - Medium Weight
Needles: Size 1 bamboo (7 stitches per inch)
Start Date: June 1, 2006
Finish Date: June 6, 2006
Notes: Before we head out at way-too-early o'clock tomorrow morning to start our vacation, I wanted to finish the Bluebell Rib Socks. And I did! Having a weekend at home (our first in 5 weeks) was a real boost to my sock knitting time. This yarn was a delight - the colors and the texture were fabulous. I couldn't help but think of tropical Skittles the whole time I was knitting these. The bluebell rib was a very easy stitch pattern to do, however the pattern comes out upside down from what is pictured in the book. Oh well, I'll have upside bluebells:) These socks were a close call in two ways - timewise and yarn amount. For the first time in my sock-knitting career, I almost ran out of yarn! I was pretty nervous throughout the toe-decreases, but I had just enough. Granted I have size 10 feet and I made the cuff almost 8 inches. The length will be something that I will keep in mind for future Socks that Rock socks.

The second Diagonal Rib sock is halfway done and it will just have to wait until I get back from the islands. Here's a picture of the unfinished sock lounging on my vacation reading: The Stolen Child by Donohue, In the Heart of the Sea by Philbrick, and Rendezvous with Rama by Clark. I am so excited about this vacation. It will be the third time I've gone sailing in the British Virgin Islands with Matt and his family. The way this trip works is that Matt's dad rents a sailboat and we stay on it for a week - just us, no professional crew. We sail around various islands and spend our time snorkling, drinking, and relaxing. This time a couple other families we know are renting boats too so we'll have a small armada (2 mono-hulls and 1 catamaran) and I'm sure there will be some serious racing. I am not taking any knitting since sunscreen and salt water do not mix well with yarn, but there will be plenty of rum punch and Jimmy Buffet:)