Startitis at Pittsworth

We're suffering from a nasty case of Startitis over here at Pittsworth Manor these days. Look! I have proof:It's a new mitten! Well, it's a mitten knit (so far) up to the thumb, at any rate. It's a cute, quick little pattern that I've taken to calling Psychic Hearts. I think it might be safe to say that it's the first (and only) knitting pattern named for a Thurston Moore song.

Yes, I have Thurston on the brain, having just seen Sonic Youth this past Monday night. Oh, it was an amazing show! It took my right ear until Wednesday to fully recover. I haven't had that sort of painful fun at a show since I saw Spiritualized last September. I'm seriously considering wearing earplugs at concerts from now on.

In any event, I hope to polish this mitten off soon (maybe tomorrow?) and release the pattern shortly thereafter. Maybe I'll even do some kind of crazy sale on the new pattern, in celebration of those of us who love knitting our mittens, even if it is July. We'll see.

Hey -- it's not a mitten!

It's my birthday today! Here, look at a tam!Moreover, it's a tam that has two things going for it -- it went up in two days and allowed me to cull the Noro Kureyon population in my stash. That yarn -- of a long-forgotten and indeterminate colourway, and if you know which one it is I'd be happy to hear it -- had been hanging around for ages. The contrast colour is good old Elann Peruvian Highland Wool in Golden Bark. I love how the warm tone of the Golden Bark adds richness to the otherwise too-saccharine-for-its-own-good Noro. If I was getting married next week I would go with the bright blue and bronze colour combination that's happening on the underside of the tam. I'd also have peacock feathers everywhere (and actual peacocks since we are currently operating in the realm of fantasy,) but that's beside the point.

I did the tam in this morning while (ostensibly reading) and obviously listening to Andrew Bird's new record Noble Beast. Mr. Bird is almost ridiculously talented! I have tickets to see him this spring, and oh my crap, the show can not be two full months away, can it? Yes, it can -- I have no choice but to endure. This is helping immeasurably:



I've cast on for a new sock today as well. Pictures will happen later when there is more sock to see. But yes, it's another of my own designs.

The best part about today being my birthday is that in a matter of hours I'm going to be staring down the loaded barrel of a table covered in Korean BBQ (and bi bim bap. Can't forget the bibimbap.) If only every Friday could be so lovely!

More info about my gift to all y'all...

Progress continues on the new, free mitten pattern:At this point, she just needs a thumb. Did I mention that the pattern is going to feature instructions on how to make these as a pair of fingerless mittens? The gifting potential just increased tenfold! Oh, and her name is Heather, after (unsurprisingly,) Heather. Look for the pattern on Saturday, 25 October 2008. It would be finished tomorrow night if I wasn't going to a DAVID BYRNE show.
Viva Señor Byrne!

Don't forget to swing by here (or on Ravelry) on Saturday for that new pattern!

Sleepy! Ringing! New Yarn!

Work on Willistead's mate (Ravelry link) continues, albeit slowly. I cast on for him yesterday and started the cuff, but I had a show to attend, so I had to put him down for the evening. Said show was just about the loudest one I've ever seen and I did not leave unscathed. My poor ears are still ringing slightly now -- I should also mention that I was at the back of the venue. So between being sleepy and ringing, today was a particularly unproductive knitting day, as is evidenced here: I barely made it into the colourwork portion of the cuff. Rest assured, though, when this mitten starts going up it'll go up fast and be over before I know it. Round about that time (if not sooner) the pattern will be released and then anyone and everyone can make their very own pair of Willisteads (fingers crossed that this day is not too far off.)

Oh, and look what came in the mail today, courtesy of the effervescent Bertha:Right to left, that's Yarntini sock yarn in Gimlet and precious, precious Sock Hop in Magic Carpet Ride. The latter might be the only yarn I have ever encountered that I honestly do not want to knit. I mean, I will, eventually, I'm sure of it. But for now I'm leaving it be. Thanks so much, Bertha!

Bertha and I recently we did a swap where I traded her one completely knit Dream Twister sock and the rest of the yarn required to knit the mate in exchange for sock yarn. You've already met my new yarn, so Here's her new sock: This is one intense sock, and I was happy to only have to knit one of them. I think Bertha will be pleased to only have to knit one of them, too! Enjoy your sock, lady!

¡Yo la tengo!

oh yes, i (finally) got it!

and i don't really know why short row heels have eluded me for so long, because it was so easy! no more heel flaps for me (unless i suddenly snap and decide i miss them or something. that, as they say, ain't likely.)

also, Yo La Tengo!

i (finally) got to see them this past Wednesday night. they were so good it hurt--literally (and this is coming from someone who's been at many a Sonic Youth and Nihilist Spasm Band show.) ah, so noisy and LOUD and amazing! "Sugarcube" live was downright transcendental. haven't had a moment like that in a long time.

and because it's easily one of the funniest (if not the funniest) videos i've ever seen, here's "Sugarcube." you need to see this.