livejournal link

Before I started mariknits I shared a lot about my knitting on my livejournal account. It goes back a couple years, but it has always been friends only. Anyway, I am currently in the process of going through all those old knitting posts and making them public. Now all of my older finished objects on Ravelry will be linked to this post which includes a link to my LJ. This should make it a little easier for me or for anyone else who wishes to read them.

Mari's LiveJournal

uneven socks finished

Socks are finally finished.

They aren't exactly perfect, though. I don't know what it is with socks, but I can never get them to be the same size. I measure, I really do. I put them on and check their length, but I never fail to make one bigger than the other.

I need to learn how to knit two socks at the same time. That would solve all my problems with socks. There must be a tutorial on that somewhere, right?

I am very tempted to frog the small one and reknit it to its proper size for mom. She says they are fine. She doesn't mind their uneven-ness. I mind though. It is a bit noticeable. She can wait another month or two before getting them.

first mountain stage

The Tour has made it into the Alps. Riders are getting dropped at every mile. Looks like Levi is still in the main group and not losing time but alot of those that are supposed to stay with him, including Hincapie is gone.

I am still working on my sock. On the gusset now. I should have it all done by the end of the weekend while watching the Tour.

I found a KAL that would have been perfect for me. Tour de France KAL
Wish I would have found that before the tour started. Oh well. I will have to remember it next summer.

the tour begins

Ravelry is so awesome! I am absolutely loving it right now. I have opened a Flickr account and uploaded some projects. Still waiting for time to get my stash yarns uploaded. I am already very addicted after only a couple days of actually getting on.

It's only dad here right now, so I have had a bit of knitting time available. I managed to make some progress on my socks. I am a little under half way through the heel flap. I was able to eyeball length of leg pretty well, since I didn't have my tape measure with me. They look about even. Even with a tape measure, though, I tend to be off a bit so no worries.

The Tour de France is on now, I have to get back upstairs to finish watching today's stage. This year's favorite for me is Levi Leipheimer. Tomorrow is his turn to shine, hopefully. To the ALps they go.

ravelry

Yay! I received my invite today.

If the fam wasn't coming into town I would be down in the dungeon, chained to the computer getting everything entered onto ravelry. Unfortunately, that probably won't be happening until they are all on their way home.

Next week! My stash and projects will all be downstairs with me. This is going to be too much fun. This site looks so great!

If you are already on as well, I have used mariknits as my username. See you all there!

family visit

The family is on their way. The first of the four arrives tonight by airplane. Parents tomorrow by car and the final one by plane tomorrow afternoon. Suffice it to say, not much knitting has been happening due to the cleaning that was much needed. It is all done now, ready for them to get here.

I was going to get back to work on my second sock, but realized that I have a short sleeve cardigan, knit from the top down, that needs its loose ends all tucked away so I can finally give it to my sister. It is another one of those ufo's that only needs finishing but I can't ever seem to get to it.

This is a really bad picture of it. It's black, so it it's hard to see the details or stitches. Anyway, I think I tucked up the loose ends so they wouldn't show, but they are there. Gosh, that really is a terrible picture.

another ufo

This is my Booga Bag I finished ages ago. It was part of a felting KAL. As you can see, I have yet to felt it. One problem is that I have a front loading washer.

Not a good choice for felting, right?

So, what to do?

I have never felted before so I am a little hesitant to ask a friend to borrow their washer. I would probably do something terribly wrong and make a mess of it.

What other options do I have?

This may be one item that sits unfinished indefinitely. Urg.

back from vacation

I had a great time visiting the family in CA this past week. I spent most of my time in the pool either at my parents' or my sisters'. However, we did go North of SF for a few days where the weather was cool enough to wear my Sesame cardigan. It ended up working well. It fit, did its job nicely, kept me warm enough. It got lots of compliments from my MIL and other family members, which was nice.
I took my socks and sweater with me, but was only able to work on the socks. I managed to cast on the second sock and work past the cuff a bit. With no pattern to stare at needed it was much easier to work on while socializing with the fam.
My neck is a bit stiff after all the traveling on airplanes and differnt beds and pillows so I am taking a bit of a break from knitting. Not for too long, though. I am determined to finish the sock and the Ruffled Suplice by the time I have to go back to work in August.

all buttoned up

I went to JoAnns afterall and found myself some large wooden buttons and then figured out how to sew them on. So, yay!, the cardigan is finally finished. One problem. The button hole band gets all wavy when it is buttoned up. I am thinking it is because of me. I may have made it a bit snug aaround the chest. Oops. Oh well, one button buttoned at the top will probably be okay.
No pic yet, but will post as soon as I get one taken.

getting back into the knit of things

I am trying anyway. Back and neck are doing okay. Had a bit of a stomach problem for the last couple weeks but that is getting better as well. My hands have been itching for something to do. What I really want to finish is my Sesame Cardigan from Magknits.com that has been sitting in my closet for quite awhile with no buttons. That is all that it is missing! Where to get buttons?

I checked out my lys a while back but they didn't have buttons the right size. A new JoAnns opened, much bigger than the old one so I think I will go and check out what they have today.

I really want to have this sweater finished so it can come with me to CA next week. We will be on the coast for a few days and it would be perfect to stay warm in.