Blue Garter hasn’t had a blog roll in a long time. Mostly that’s because there’s a wee issue somewhere in the code that causes my posts to appear below the sidebar in certain browsers, which makes me nuts. And I’m not clever enough to add a new tab at the top instead. (The power to address these issues does, of course, sleep on the other side of my bed, but asking for tech support is like poking a caged bear with a sharp stick, so I choose to live with bloggy imperfections.) But I do read a lot of knitting blogs, and several kind folks have recently given me the nod for the You Make My Day tag that’s sweeping the internets. I feel the need to pass along the niceness, and the opportunity for readers to discover something fresh and new the way I have in following others’ links. So herewith a handful of the knitterly blogs I especially appreciate.

Knitting Kninja

Kristen is the best friend I’ve never met: we bonded over our love of Lloyd Alexander’s books and only later discovered we both kept knitting blogs. Not only does she produce beautiful knits and offer her own clever patterns; she also writes formidably well and with passionate spirit. Plus she has three of the cutest kids on the planet.

Elliphantom Knits

Gorgeous knits with perfect finishing, beautiful photography, great patterns, humor – she has it all. And her little ghosty knitting elephant banner triggers my cuteness reflex every time. I want my blog to look like hers when it grows up. 

Domesticrafts

Enviable photography, Red Sox love that makes me pine for Boston even though I’ve never quite lived there, squeezable cats, and knits that inspire me because she always thinks of color combinations or unexpected details that I wouldn’t. You must see her Rambling Rose cardigan in progress.

Cranky is Good

Daphne is an excellent knitter, but there’s so much else I love about her blog – cycling, Jane Austen Masterpiece series coverage (and Jane-inspired patterns!), thoughtful commentary on the world beyond the sticks and string, mad sewing skills, and more.

The Knitting Philistine

Megan can crank out perfect handknits like nobody’s business. She also makes awesome soap that really does wake me up during my morning shower, and she’s an archaeologist, and she’s a talented photographer.

Rndnrnd We Knit

I’d like to be able to knit like this someday. Sigga Sif is always knitting exciting patterns I haven’t seen before, too. And she can take a mean photograph. Check out her galleries of finished knits.

And this is totally cheating, but Ravelry makes my day, too. Some of the best knitters I know don’t keep blogs, so it’s fabulous to have this internet agora for the craft. Long live Jess and Casey.

In other news, I’m still twiddling my thumbs waiting for some decent winter weather. Could we get just one snowfall on the east side of Portland? I’m thinking of going skiing this weekend just so I can feel the squeak and crunch of snow under my boots in the parking lot, let alone the exhilirating hiss of it under skis. I haven’t skiied on Mt. Hood since I was on the racing team in high school, and that’s a terrible state of affairs. I’m off to rummage in the basement to see if I can’t dig up all the necessary equipment.