No, I haven't given up on my blog yet.  I have thought about it since my job has become so time consuming and since Ravelry gives me the chance to talk knitting in a more interactive way (and takes up so much of my time as well). 

I've decided to keep at it because I know that many of you do actually find my discoveries interesting and useful.  I'll stop when I realize that I am just talking to myself ...

I've been quiet recently because I have been ill for a couple weeks, and before that I was trying to get off my butt and get outside to do a little gardening.  I am playing around with growing herbs from seed and have been fantasizing about a raised herb bed around the giant palm tree next to my patio. 

I have also been knitting quite a bit.  I finished the Diamond Patch Sweater by Jill Vosburg of just one more row, and I have fallen in love with that pattern.  Here it is, unblocked:




The colors are a bit blah, but the fit is amazing and it is knit from Laurel mercerized cotton from Schaefer, which is my favorite summer yarn. 

There are a lot of things that I really like about this pattern:

It is very easy to adjust for a different gauge yarn.  Since it is composed of diamond modules, all you have to do is figure out how many stitches you need to get the right sized diamond, and then the rest of the pattern falls into place.

The instructions for adjusting for a larger size are also very easy to follow.

The stitch pattern really shows off handpainted colors to their best advantage.  You don't get horizontal stripes, which I hate because I am wide enough as it is.  The diamond miters create beautiful colorplay, especially with bolder colors  (which is what I am going to use next time).

The sleeves are really clever.  You pick up stitches around the armhole and use short rows to shape the sleeves at the shoulder.  If you have never done short rows and think that that sounds complicated, this is a good place to learn because the instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

Since you are knitting the sleeves from the top down, you can make them just the right length by trying them on before you bind off.

just one more row has many great looking patterns that I want to try, but I think that this is one that I will knit over and over again.

Those clever sleeves also solved my problem with my Terracotta Cool Stuff diagonal jacket.   That has been sitting pieces for over a year because I couldn't figure out how I wanted to do the sleeves.  I have now completed the sleeves and am working on the crochet border.  Here's a picture, but it looks a lot messier than it really is:



Obviously, this needs some serious blocking.

I have tried and tried, and I just cannot seem to get a picture that does justice to how gorgeous the colors and texture are in the Terracotta Cool Stuff.  They are more intense than they appear in the photo, and the golds and greens that are are thrown in for "pop" are just delicious.  I had the pieces all packed away in the closet, and when I pulled it out again I was truly amazed at the beauty of the colors.   It is such a shame that it is so difficult to find samples of the Prism colors in local yarn shops, because none of the pictures on the internet really do justice to some of them.

SALE NEWS!  Hanks is clearing out a lot of the handpaint lines that they will not be carrying anymore and they have some gorgeous colors of Blue Heron Confetti on sale for $10.  Right now you can find them on the main page of their new web site.   (Edited to update the link.  The Judi & Co is now on the main page at insanely low prices, while it lasts!)

They also have Lorna's Laces Angel Angora on sale for $5 per skein, along with lots of other goodies, in their Clearance Section.