No Good Reason for This

New Soldiers

This Sunday was a special time at The Steel Valley Corps and for the Clown Brigade. Two of the Soldiers in the Brigade were recognised at new Soilders. Bobby was enlisted as a Soildier. He is the one to the left getting his rank insignia. My wife and I were the flag bears in the ceremony. Bobby has been working on this for several months and I was proud to see him receive his rank insignia.

The thing that he is holding is the Articles of war. These are the rules that Soldiers and Officers promise to follow. At the moment I believe that makes every clown in the Brigade a Jr. or Sr. Soldier. Also over the the right is Jasmine. She was also recognised for enlisting. She became a Jr. Soldier a couple months ago.

The Junior and Senior soldier thing is about their age. Kids are Jr. Soldier and Sr. Soldiers are adults.

On knitting type fronts I have been experimenting with dish cloths. On Ravelry there has been a conversation on a local group about gray dish cloths. This got me thinking about what sort of yarn I would use for such a thing. Well we have a couple cotton yarns at the shop that would do. The most expensive if Cotton Classic that does come in gray. Being the cheapskate I am I went with Aracunya Cotton. This is a nice little yarn that has a great hand for a cotton.

Those who know me know I am all about the acrylic yarn. Still the one down fall of the Dinosaur yarn is that it is not very adsorbent. Well cotton is good for that. Anyway I am rambling about this. This is a picture of the work in progress. I know it is not that exciting but it is what I am working on.

I am knitting it on my newly beloved square needles made from palm tree. I have been collecting a set of these for six months now. There is only one shop in the area that carried them and they sold them at a decent click and it has taken me a while to build up a set. The shop I work at special ordered me the nine millimeter needles that I have been having a hard time getting. they are the perfect size for the Prayer Shawls I have been working on. Aren't they pretty?

Any way that is all I have for the moment. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Random Cat Thing

Roving Roving Roving

Roving Roving roving. Alright so it is not all technically roving. Still, the word roving fits better into the song going through my head. Any way i have been experimenting with the drop spindle type thing.

Well this picture is the unspun fiber rack at Natural Stitches. We just got a spinning teacher on board. We also have the best selection of fiber that i have seen in a knitting store. I suppose I really have no choice but to make this habit even deeper and stranger.

For many years I have resisted the possibility of spinning my own yarn. For goodness sake I have every knitting needle known to man and a huge selection of yarn in basement.

I suppose I should just be grateful that I am at a good place to learn such forbidden things. I have been secretly thinking about a secret supper acrylic yarn. I have wondered what would happen is more fiber was joined with my beloved Red Heart.

I have no idea what would happen. I know that you can ply yarns. I suppose I will have the chance to find out what will happen. I will keep you posted on what happens.

For the cat loving people out there this is my cat Mariska. I personally think that she is by far the most attractive of our pets. She is your basic black cat with big gold eyes. If you happen to be traveling through my house at night she does tend to scare the day lights out of you if you are not paying attention.

regular Readers of this blog may have noted that there are more pictures on the blog these days. Since I started this blog I have counted on the kindness of stranger to take pictures and email them to me. And I have had some great pictures sent to me.

Anyway Walk gave me a spare camera. So thanks Walt. I will take lots of pictures and annoy people with stories about my cats. But now they will be illustrated.

Well I think that is it for this evening. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Cat things

Fun was had Knitting. Deffending the Girls

a good time knitting was had at the shop today. I worked a little on a clown hat.
Perhaps I will even take pictures of it.

I would like to note some correction that have come to my attention. Long time reader will note that I am a poor typist. Number one I misspelled Walt's name and could not spell the word oMother. Also I had several comments about my pet's and my dog's cat Mariska. They were all very kind. They were all very kind.

I would like to note that someone suggested that I am copying their cats by having two cats that are black. Number one my cats are not named for beverages and are sisters. They came as I set. I only wanted one but I got two. And I bet Coke and Dr. Pepper don't nurse on a dog.

I have no idea why that was relevant or even matter in the slightest. I suppose I just don't like being called a copy cat. Yes that was a lame joke and I put you through way to much to tell it.

Anyway respect the freaky cats. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

The Critters

This is the Sally Dog. She does not like the camera. I working under the assumption that she is a rather large squirrel. My wife is still convinced that she is a dog. I am not buying it.

Yes the dog has nothing to do with the entire knitting thing. No I will not be spinning my dog's hair into yarn. Although she has very pretty fur. I could brush her but I do not have that kind of attention span. And my wife assures me that she will kill me if I shave the dog.

So there will be no dog hair sweater in the Zeeppo household. Oh Well.


The cat is abigail. She is the one eyed cat that has many health problems. You cannot tell she has one eye because her eyes are closed. She is on top of the little house that was built for her. She loves her house and the rubber mouse on a bit of metal.

By the way I am not allow to shave the cat either. We have another cat name Mariska who I was not able to find for a picture. She is Abigail's sister and is black. So they look a lot alike. Although Mariska has both eyes and no health problems.

To the best of my knowledge there is nothing else living in my house besides us. I don't know knitting people are always showing pictures of their animals. Maybe I should take some pictures of other animals. It would sort of be like an urban safari.

A couple Great Evening of Knitting.

It has been a couple of great evenings of knitting here in Pittsburgh. Hive Knitting at Joseph Beths was lots of fun. Most of the gang was there. We did some cranking on the Marley and I worked on some socks.

Walk finished the hat that he is knitting for his moths. He did very well. He has been working on for a week and it was supposed to be a surprise so i could not talk about it till now. The hat was made from purple Malabrigo. The hat was done in less than a couple weeks. Not bad for a first project.

The second night of knitting was the Ravelry Knit Together at Natural Stitches. We had a new person who is really excited about the Ravelry and Natural Sittches. Apparently she really likes yarn and friendly service. Some people have high standards i suppose.

With the way the holidays work we will not be having programs or Clown practice. . So that mean I will have Wednesday off. since I have the time I will pick a group to go to. I am not sure which one it will be. The Hurricane Knitters were fun. I also suspect that they were missing half their people so it might be nice to see them at full strength.

I haven't figure out where to get yet. I will be working on it though.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Knitting Stuff with Pictures - Dave & Dave

Last Friday was the first meeting of the Men's Night at Natural Stitches. As luck would have it Dave and Dave from WQED's OnQ and Dave and Dave's Excellent Adventure wanted to learn about knitting. Fortunately, being a yarn shop we were able to oblige. Both Daves got a lesson in casting on and the knit stitch. Dave Rhodes {pictured here center} took very well to the knitting. He appeared to enjoy himself and got a couple of rows done in the time we had. For the Canadians reading this blog he is a fan. He can been seen wearing a Leafs jersey on his show. Dave Rhodes is a also a director for several local shows and has written for radio.

I am to the left and Walt, a new knitter is to the right. Dave Rhodes is in the middle. Look he is knitting, an action knitting shot on my blog.

Dave Hallewell is pictured left with their intern Katie. Dave is a producer for WQED {The local public television station} he is the one that called us to do the piece.

Not pictured is Frank their Cameraman and field director. If Frank wants to learn to knit he can come by the shop and we will show him.

Thankfully they did not give us much notice or we might have figured out that we should have been nervous. Oh and we are working on the hand made milkshakes. We had to give it up for the moment because Walt's fingers are getting cold. Still, we will figured out how to make a milkshake by hand. The only problem is Walt and I have very hairy hands. For those that were not there The Daves were debating what was better handmade Milk shakes or fast food milk shakes. I just wanted them to know that we are working on that in our spare time.

This sort of thing is one of the reason like I like this region. I am sure other places in the United States and Canada have local television. I have traveled around quite a bit and this sort of thing tends to get over done in many places. I have been to towns and cities where a local reported can not do a story on a dog with out someone jumping in the shot.

Here four people showed up with a camera did some filming and that was it. No injuries, no one mobbed the store. Still, there is enough stuff going on around here to keep one from getting bored.

Well that's it for now. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Small Knits

As I may have mentioned earlier there is a memeber of the Hive Knitting Group that knits cloths for dolls. Anyway DDancer sent me some links to some sites that have .

http://www.bugknits.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/knitpurr/sets/72157594242831187/

The as yet unnamed expandable fez cap was large enough to be tried on the clown it is being knit for. And it looks as if Lucy Dolittle will have a new hat for her costume.

Cool stuff

Clown Knitting

Life has begun to settle down around the Zeeppo Homestead. With the shop open and going well it has found it's stride. I am still loosing my mind over the various books that I am working on. And I may get to that craziness later.

On the clown knitting front great things are happening. The Knitting For War book is still plugging along. I am not exactly sure when it will be done. Progress is made every week. Still, knitting books are complicated things. I would like this to be able to do justice to the charity knitting scene. As it stand there will almost have to be a sequel. There are simply too many important knitting projects going on for them all to be put in one book. Heck I don't think I have been able to cover just what is going on in my own denomination.

The clown stuff that you see popping up on this blog are patterns that will probably show up in the book. Being that it is being written by a clown clown knitting has a warn and fuzzy place in my heart. That could also be the Lopi I ate for breakfast but I digress.

I am still looking for hats, mittens, sweaters. I would especially like a couple hat scarf mitten sets. I had to fit that in somewhere I am not sure that was the best place. Still, there it is.

Any way it has been very rewarding working on this knitting book. I have been on teams that have put together text books before. And I wrote a good deal of the copy for these books. Still, the best part , oddly, has been writing as the Brigadier.

Clowns do not get the chance to write books as their clown selves. And unlike an actor, clowns like to think that their clown persona is within them and comes out when needed. Yes, I know this sounds like a need therapy or Sigorney Weaver should be involved. Still, with everything in The Army I have been told alot about what I cannot do. Clowns ask Why not?

Perhaps that is why clowns run into so much trouble. Hmmmmmmmm, deep thoughts as a clown. Somewhere there is a shrink hoping to write a paper on this, but I digress.

Alright back to the subject. The Brigadier character is new for me. It is like an older less sane version of the clown persona that I have used for years. Perhaps being older I am less sane {Yes I picked up on that, thank you very much}.

Clown knitting continues and perhaps one day clowns will have the own knitting book {Everyone else appears to}. At Hive Knitting at Joseph Beths the clowns and I will be cranking on The Marley some more. With my hand injury we will not be able to use the scarf in the way we intended until at least the summer. That means Marley will not make it into our Spring Shows. Between the knitting book and several new clowns we have decided to concentrate on house cleaning things in the Brigade. Winter is the traditional time for getting things in order. Well at least it is among the clowns.

On the upside we have started looking at other clown knitting projects for the spring shows. We are going to work on long armed cardigans and hats that pull out to absurd lengths. We think the clown chemo cap will make it into the book, probably not the shows though. Although there will be a hat with a ribbed bottom instead of curled stockinette bottom.

Well that is it for the moment. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Radio Cat Says

Clown Chemo Cap in Red Heart

It is always fun to finish a project. It is one has been the most fun that I have had in a while.

One of the folks from the Charity Knitting group on Sundays is being treated for Cancer. I am sure I rambled on about all of this in the last post. What I did not have in the last post was a finished object.

This is clown style chemo cap. You have the traditional chemo cap edge on the bottom. Of course it is made of the traditional clown fiber Red Heart Mexicana. We then have the pointy elfin clown top with a pom pom type thing.

No for those of you that are saying Red Heart is harsh you are partly correct. This hat has been treated with the secret clown knitting trick.

You run it through the washer several times with a bunch of gold balls. Alright so it is not really a secret otherwise I would not have told you.

Still ,it really cool for all of you Red Heart Haters out there. You know who you are. And by the way you are on the Clown Naughty List. And you do not want to be on the clown naughty list. How do you think we pick who gets pied?

Anyway onto other subjects. I mentioned the tree at the shop a while ago. We decided To put the Aslan trends in it. By the way it is a great yarn at a reasonable price. Well enough pedaling yarn. Still, it is a really cool thing.

Well I may be bias in my opinion since I built the thing.

Charity knitting was good today. I got to see several people that I have not seen in a while. It is nice to go an hang out a group you have no responsibility for.

Well have a good evening everyone. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Another Strange Bus Ride

IO was riding the bus as I often do. Today I also happened to be wearing my kilt. While on the bus someone asked me if i was wearing it for Haunika.

I am not Rabbi or an authority on Jewish holidays. Stilll, I am fairly certain that the kilt has nothing to with any Jewish holiday. If i am wrong I hope someone with let me know.

Any way i am knitting more as my hand feels better. I finished a special clown chemo cap made from the left over of the Judy Scarf. It is for a very naughtly little girl.

Someday I will get some pictures of it. I think it will be in the book. I am working on the pattern as we speak.

Yarn Rep

In the yarn world there are people that roam the country side with large amounts of yarn in their cars. These people represent yarn companies. One of the benefits of working in a yarn store is that I get to meet these people.

A very nice lady named Rivka came by Natural Stitches today. She had suitcases full of yarn that she shared with everyone. I have no idea what we bought. Still, I am sure it was wonderful stuff.

My cat is not letting me type...\
[obouln nvcgvjh

Charity Knitting at Knit 1 & Roving Roving Roving

Between the new shop and Christmas I have not had a chance to get over to Knit 1 for Charity Knitting. I was a bit nervous considering all of the sleepsong silliness from a couple weeks ago.

Fortunately there was no drama. Flo, Vivian, Anne and her daughter were all there just like a couple of months ago when I last attended. As it was before a fun afternoon of knitting was had by all. I am not sure why there was a fight in the first place. Still, it was nice to see that it has not translated to the Charity knitting group.

On another slightly related from Flo it being treated for Cancer. Everything is going well at the moment. Still, prayer is required. So if all of you out there in blog land would not mind, please keep her in your prayers and thoughts.

Today I did not get much knitting done. Although this is the first time that I have built something since the operation. I built myself a drop spindle. It is currently hanging up and drying. Most of the ones that I have seen are bare wood. I covered mine with some spar varnish just because.

I will bring it in on Wednesday. Fortunately the shop I work at sells roving. So I suppose I am going to try and make my own yarn. It was only a matter of time as I descend into the madness that is knitting. Now I am going to have to buy a spinning wheel. Then I am going to have to figure out how many sheep can live in my back yard. I suppose I will have to repair the fence before I move in the sheep. I should probably ask my wife if i can have sheep before I buy them

You see it is never ending cycle. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

More Knitting More Red Heart

I have been at the knitting more since I have been working at Natural Stitches. As I have been working on several project. A sample scarf for the shop, two prayer shawls for the book, a long scarf for the book, mittens for the book, socks for the book. All and all these are the most projects that I have had going at once.

I don't think I have ever had more than three projects going at once. I suppose this is what all of those other knitters are talking about. Well, I know when to draw the line though. I will not keep making up more project though. At least I hope I will not. I may be becoming one of those knitters.

Oh and I forgot the long hat. It is a clown prop a sort of thrity foot long stalking cap. That will also be going into the book. the good people at coats and clark will be getting some clown money this month.

Well I just wanted to check in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Another Great Day of Knitting

I was another great day of knitting here in Pittsburgh. I picked up some Cascade 220 in black and gold to make a Steelers scarf as a model for my class.

I am almost finished with prayer shawl that I have been working on. The one made out of the alpaca silk blend. If I like it will be one of the patterns in the Knitting For War Book.

The Ravelry has been taking up a bit of my time as well. The Natural Stitches group is up to 75 members and still growing. It is nice to see the response the store is receiving. We have been receiving really good feed back. I truly impressed at the Ravelry thing.

In the same vein of the Ravelry thing being cool There is a Ravelry Holiday coming up in April, Bobmas. That is the Birthday of the Ravelry and will be celebrated by getting together and sharing out knitting. It does not get better than that.

I have already volunteered to host for Pittsburgh. DDancer will allow us to use Natural Stitches. So it will be a party at the largest Yarn shop in Pittsburgh. It doesn't get much better than that.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

First Meeting at Joseph Beth

The Joseph Beth was everything we hoped for. We met on the second floor around a fire place. We have a couch and padded arm chairs. This is compared to a used kitchen table and chair that have been salvaged from the garbage of the South Side.

I still love the Bee Hive. And it do not like the idea of going to a big chain. Still Scott and Steve {the owners of the Bee Hive} so not stress customer service in any way. I suppose it is easy to say that rude is cool. I looked at the Starbucks across the street and several other cafes in the area. The bottom line is that the chain store is willing to treat us well.

I like the sort of Independence that the Hive represents. Still, there is a line when people just need to be treated right.

On other fronts the class schedule for December is up on the web site. We are also working on January. Hopefully I will get it up on this blog soon.

Well I hope to see you all at Hive Knitting. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Moving Hive Knitting

Well it appears that Hive Knitting will be moving to the Joseph Beth Book store on the South Side. I spoke to a manger at JoBeth's today and they will be getting back to me on Monday.

When we do move we are going to be moving the group up to 6:00PM because they close a bit earlier than the Bee Hive.

It sad to have to be moving the group. Still, we have had to bend over backwards to do the group. We bring our own lights are frequently the subject of rude people. I don't know. We should have given up on them months ago. Still, it used to be the cool place to hung out.

Poetry readings, musicians and all sorts of artists used to call it home. Now it is dungeons and dragons and people playing cards games with monsters. I suppose that officially makes it not the place the cool people are hanging out at.

I never claimed to be a cool person. I suppose cool people are people that others aspire to be. I have never really aspired to be anything other than the best me that i could be. Maybe that make me cool. Probably not, still, it is nice thought.

Well that leads us to the next question. I suppose we can no longer call it Hive Knitting. I suppose I will put it to the group. If anyone out there has a good name let me know.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Happy Thanksgiving

Of all the holidays that we celebrate this is the one that has the most meaning. I know that some may think settling America was a terrible thing. Still, I had ancestors on that ship. And I was lucky that mine survived to have the children. They were the first democracy in the new world. And quite frankly I don't believe the world would be the place that it is today if it were not for their cultural contributions.

We take so much for granted these days. Still, the society that allows some one to aimlessly ramble about anything they want is a result of their suffering. The danger in the world is not just evil or intolerance. There are so many cultures that desire stagnation. Even within our own culture there are so many that are so afraid of anything that is different.

There are so many places that a kilt wearing knitting clown would be put death. Fortunately the United States is not one of them. And as I sit here remembering my lovely sushi diner I am thankful. I would not have done well in a country run by the Taliban.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Oh Christmas Tree & Visit to the Hurricane Knitters

Good times at the shop yesterday. One of the fun parts of my job is that I get to build things out of these black grid things. Well here is my latest creation. Just in time for black Friday a Christmas tree.

The gross commercialization of our Lord's birth is still alive and well. I have to admit that I have not really respected Christmas since I was twelve. When I have kids we will not be doing the Christmas thing like everyone else. If we are going to celebrate Christ's birthday we are going to do it right.

And being a clown I know how to celebrate a birthday. We are going to have a cake and I will hire a pony and a clown. Sure there will be a tree to decorate and presents for the kids. I am a progressive not a sadist that hates kids.

Also for the true spirit of giving we will work in a homeless shelter or hospital. I remember something about giving to others. It was in a book type thing they make us read at church.

Anyway back to Black Friday. As you might imagine the shop will be open on Friday. Stop by there will be fun and yarn for everyone. We also filled the tree with some fun things from the good people at Aslan Trends.

Being the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we did not have activities at the Corps. So I have a chance to head out to a knitting group that I rarely go to. Wednesday is busy day for knitting group here in Western Pa. So I went out to visit the Hurricane Knitters In Fox Chapel. I figured it would be a slow day because it was close to thanksgiving. It was a bit slow, still great fun was had by all.

There were five people and fun was had by all. This group meets at the Barnes and Nobles in the Waterworks shopping complex. Like most Barnes and Nobles they have a well lit and fairly comfortable cafe. The staff was incredibly friendly. the manage even gave up the table he was doing paper work at for the group. This is always a good sign.

I would imagine that the group usually has more members. Still, the people that were there were very friendly and were working on a variety of projects. I was working on a fairly simple prayer shawl. A seamless sweater was finished and there was even some yarn from Righnbeck.

All and all if you have the time this is a definite place that a knitter should stop by. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

A great day at Natural Stitches

Great fun was had at the Natural Stitches today. I got to build a Christmas tree shaped shelving unit for our December display. I just need to put up some Christmas lights and a few decorations. When I am done I will try and get someone with a camera to take a picture of it.

I must admit that I am liking selling yarn more than I thought I would. You get to meet people and hang around with yarn all the time.

On other front we are organising a Men's knitting night for December 14th. There will be a ten percent discount for men attending. It is nice to be doing something like this at the shop. I have consoled myself with the fact that there is not much a local male knitting community. Still, with events like this one we may be able to nurture one over time.

As I am working on the Knitting for War book I am thinking of other knitting books that I might want to write. I would like to write a real knitting book for men. Not something with a silly title and little content. But a real book aimed at at men that does not insult their intelligent. Yes I know it would not sell. Still a clown can dream can't he.

By the way I am still looking for pattern for the Knitting for War Book. I am going to put something on the side bar with a list of the patterns I still need. I continue to be bogged down on the how to knit section. I think I will have something that people can look at in another week or so. I may be overcritical on this section. I had not really thought about doing it when I started working on the book. I figured that I would concentrate on the who charity knitting thing and little else. Still enough people thought it was improtant that it should be included.

I am still kicking around the books about Brigadier Mason and Admiral Jefferson and his wife. I have found the old old short story that was about John Jefferson's first fleet command. I never did publish it. I have been working on it a bit. I will polish it up and send it to the Navy for approval. If they like it I will put it on the blog. Also it will be a relatively painless way to see if the plot and characters are up to snuff.

The main character in these book represent a couple organization that I care greatly about. Mason represents The Salvation Army which is my church. Even if I am not respected by them I still respect them. The other is the Navy. And quite frankly their daring during world war II may be the only reason that we are still here. When we look back at it now we tend to think it was foregone conclusion. The reality was there were several places that things could have gone the other way.

My grandfather served in Halsey's fleet during the war. He did not talk about it much. Still, it was apparent that the Navy made him much of the man that he was. I do hope to represent both of these organizations well.

On other knitting subjects. The Bee Hive Knitting Group is still up in the air. If I do not hear from them by noon Wednesday then I am calling Joe Beths. Knitting is supposed to be fun. Arguing with people over tables is not fun. And I am not going to do it any longer. Life is just too short. I will let people know via the Hive Knitting Yahoo thing if we change locations.

Well read me here and or see me at Natural Starches. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Happy Me - The Last Hive Knitting Maybe

I have had several people say that my clown picture is not happy enough. This is one of the cartoon type pictures that we have been working on for the Brigade. I am thinking about going with a half bald blue wig. At the moment I am still coloring my hair white which turns to an interesting color. It also has me in my Salvation Army Uniform.

Any way if you like it better than the actual picture of me let me know. I am thinking of using it on the Ravelry as well.

Hive Knitting was a Disaster this evening. At the Bee Hive there is only one table that we can use. We have an agreement that we get this table. In order to make it better we bring our own lights. Well our table was taken over by Dr. Who game players. They refused to move even tough there were other table available. The staff claimed they could not honor their agreement with us because they were not aware of it.

If they do not call be tomorrow with an apology and a promise that will not happen again we will be moving the group elsewhere. I am think about Joseph Beth Book at the South Side Works. I do not want to go to Starbucks even though they are willing to host us.

I don't think the Joseph Beth's has a coffee shop. Still, they probably have better light and no smoking section. I know they would put us in their newsletter as well.

Anyway it is one of those things. If anyone knows if there is place on the South Side let me know.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Sunday Knitting

It has been a busy Sunday. In addition to church I have been working on various writing projects. The fun part is switching from writing as the Brigadier to writing about Admiral Jefferson and Kate Mason. It is a bit odd. Still, it has been fun.

Not much has been happening as far as actual knitting. I have been working on a prayer shawl. I am tempted by the huge number of new yarns at the shop. i should be a good knitter and make some samples for my upcoming classes. Making a living at this yarn stuff could be fun.

Well I just wanted to check in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Ravelry - Coffee Feinds Heaven

This is Bob. He is the mascot of the Ravelry I think. He is a cute dog. I don't know what he is. Still, he is a cute dog. I am not a big dog person. This one appears to have character though.

My wife's dog Sally is a cute dog with character. She just will not let people take pictures of her. And I don't have a camera anyway so that is the end of that. I must admit the Ravelry thing is addictive. I think I can also put it in the category of things that are going to turn the knitting trend into a full blown knitting as part of the culture thing.

I once mussed that I thought knitting would be something that will go up and down. And that it would need some sort of catalyst to keep it going. I think this way me the beginning of that catalyst. I still think we need something like the knitwiki and a few other things. Still, it very promising.

In that vein I have started three Ravelry groups.


http://www.ravelry.com/groups/mid-atlantic-knitters
Well this if fairly self explanatory. This a group for people that live in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It also happens to be the area that live in.



http://www.ravelry.com/groups/natural-stitches
This is the group for Natural Stitches the most awesomest knitting store ever. Alright I may be bias. This is the shop that work at. Hey it gives me a chance to wear my ties that are not blue. Now if i could only find my Veggie Tales Tie.

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitting-for-war
This is the group of people that are interested in my book. There have been some super friendly people sending patterns.


This evening I spent some time at the Museum of Modern Failure. It is a project of some kids From Carnegie Mellon University. I showed off The Judy, The Barry, played the accordion (badly) and told some circus stories. Tommy Amoeba was there and fun was had by all.

By the way this place it across from the South Side Works and has six cent cups of coffee. If you are into coffee than this is the place to visit. It am told it is great coffee. They are some sort of cheap coffee selling it for what ever it really costs. Hopefully this will take out Starbucks or at least know them down a couple pegs. I am not a coffee person if you cannot tell.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

The Ugly Side of Knitting

This is one of those time in knitting where I truly feel uncomfortable and do not like how things are going. In clowning there was a certain line that competing clowns did not cross. The same is not true in knitting.

Firstly I would like to state that I have a warm place in my heart for both Knit 1 and Natural Stitches. Both have helped The Army with donations and a place to hold Charity knitting events for our local shelter. Stacey and Knit 1 have been very supportive to us and I grateful to Knit 1 for that.

I have friends on both sides of this and it is painful to see the drama.

The sad thing is that horrible things are being said in the name of Knit 1. Quite Frankly they are lies. The person who is spreading them is not an employee of either shop. And it appears that she has started this only to be busy body.

Bellow in italics is the message:

So... The long and short of it is that Martha (the owner of Natural Stitches) had her best friend Carla teach classes at Knit One so that she (Martha) could gather as much information as possible into how Stacey ran her business and how to undermine it as best as possible.

Also, Carla built up a loyal client base there so that, when Natural Stitches open, she could bring them over to the new store and away from Knit One.

If you ask me, that's a really ****** thing to do. From what I have heard, Martha (who is one of those people it's just really, really hard to feel comfortable around) has long been one to employ whatever tactics she deemed necessary to be on top, no matter how immoral or down-right *******-ish. Either way, I'm not setting foot in that place.

On the plus side, because of her shadyness, her last business went under, and the same will probably happen with this one as well.

This email was sent in seceret to people who requested it. I have removed the profanity. It was said that this had to be sent in private because they could be sued for liable.

The only way to deal with things said in secret is to bring them into the light and show them for what they are. So here goes.

Carla worked for Knit 1 for two years. Starting the yarn restarting the yarn shop has only been an idea for six months. I know I was there when it was hatched. Carla has not brought a single email or scarp of information from Knit 1. She is working at Natural Stitches because she wants to not as a reward for spying.

And Carla has built up a Loyal Following. She is nice Lady that is a talented knitter that is just what happens. It was not intentional. I mean the Loyal Following was not intention I think the nice lady that is talented was intentional. Well the nice talented thing might have been unintentional. I will have to remeber to ask her the niext time I see her, but I digress.

And as for this being a ******* thing to do. Well telling lie behind someone's back is a ******** thing to do.

And for the personal attacks on Martha that is just silly. Martha is also a nice Lady. And from what i understand does not really know the person that made these accusations.

And as for the closing of her last shop it did not have to do with underhanded tactics. The bottom line is Martha wanted to do it all on her own back then. She just didn't want to do it any more. Nothing shady involved.

I have known many grifters and underhanded people in my travels. And people that are trying to pull one over on people do keep the same name. They change the name of their company on a regular basis and move from city to city. It you are going to pull one over on people Martha is going about it the wrong way.

As for it failing you should drop by and see the shop for yourself. I have not witness one unsatisfied customer yet.

The only failing Martha had with the original show is she tried to do everything and got burned out. This time she is going at it with a helpful staff. What is not to like.

And with the current popularity of knitter there is room for a yarn shop on every corner. I find it hard to believe that either shop will take away from the other. And I thought we were at this to have fun and share our craft.

Well that is all I have to say. This really tweeked my gears and I had to say something.

Be Safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Oh and I am not saying this because they let me lay in the yarn. Nope being allowed to roll around in the Cascade 220 has nothing to do with it. Just remeber your yarn has been slept in by a Master Clown. How many people can say that? Life is Good.

I GOT IT - I GOT IT - Youz Peplz is Yarnz Snobz

I am not going to spend a great deal of time on this. Still, I love Red Heart. It is a great yarn and perfect for clown knitting. If you have a problem with that then you are probably a mime or some kind of communist.

There I said it if you do not love Red Heart then you are some form of evil. Not Nazi evil, but evil enough.

And by the way I made up my own picture just to show that I have a sense of humor about this cat talking thing. I even use real words. Because I taught my cat the proper way to speak. When kind of sicko teaches their cat the wrong way to talk?

The thing that bothers me is that I have gotten this picture about the Acrylic hating cat, again. I get it you all don't like the Red Heart. Well fine, e that way. I have received this picture at least 20 times. Here I am sticking it on the blog you can stop sending it to me.

Any by the way the yarn that cat it hating on it Red Heart Mexicana. The absolute favorite yarn of clowns. You people are threatening my clowing heritage. It is like smashing clown figurines with a steam roller. Like calling a kilt a skirt. Just you wait. One day you are going to be sitting at your knitting group taking shots at acrylic yarn. And out of no where I clown will fly out of rafters and take you down a notch. You will be pied by a a flying clown from the sky. You just wait.

Any way these are some cat pictures that I thought were funny.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Why is This Funny

People have been sending me stuff like this recently. Why is funny about the bad spelling. I spend hours trying not to spell thing wrong. And even then it does little good.

The sad thing is that this dog really lives in that bottle. Nothing sadder than homeless puppies. Fortunately he live along the shore in San Francisco. Oh Heck

Sunday Again

Another Sunday draws to a close. I have been writing various stuff.

I found an old short Story with then Captain John Jefferson and his wife Evangeline. It was the story about when Jefferson freed a Crel Slave Planet. I didn't remember finishing it, apparently I did. It is not edited but it was the first story with Jefferson and Evangeline in it. In my free time I might edit it and put it on the blog or something.

I am probably going to spend most of my time at the shop this week. It is not every days that you get to be involved with opening of a new yarn shop. If all goes well well the shop should be open this week. Still, I am not in charge so do not quote me. i will post the minute I know when we will be opening. I put the link to the shop on this blog under knitting sites. I will also be teaching knitting classes there. So if you are interested the link is over there as well.

I started a group Mid Atlantic knitters on the Ravelry. I also started one for the shop. I can see how one would become adicted to the Ravelry thing. I am not there yet. The computer still scares me. So I will probably not become addicted. So if you are interested in either subject drop by.

Well I am going to make myself some cool aid and get back to writing. I think it will be science fiction this evening. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Changing Stuff

good grief. Well I changed some things to up date them. Apparently my banner was also off. No one tells me these things. Someone should have told me my banner looked silly. Well i mean looked like it was wrong. It is supposed to look like it is silly.

If anyone sees something else that need fixed let me know. And if your blog links here let me know I will put up a link.

I Need a Nap

It has been a strange and busy couple of days. Fortunately everyone made it through and there was only property damage. My wife was in the hospital for most of the week with minor stuff. She is home.

The odd thing was the pick up truck in the back yard. Too bad I have not received the pictures yet. Someone drove the wrong way down Manton and then drove through my neighbor's yard landing in mine. That was annoying. Besides the place where he tried to back out we lost our fence.

All and all not a big deal. Still, it is all fun and games till someone looses a fence.

I have been working at Natural Stitches putting yarn places building tables all great fun.

Blazing Saddles is on AMC so this is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Also a light at the end of the tunnel is the Clown Brigade. I had to miss practice this week for various reasons. So the Brigade's Music Sergeant was able to take over the Brigade and run the practice without me. The rest of the Army may ignore this little group. Still, the Lord is using them and when they are ready they will be a force to reckoned with.

I really need to do some updates to this blog. I will get to it someday.

I have been playing around on Ravelry. The most popular topic on male knitters is are there more gay male knitters than strait knitters. Apparently I am in the Minority. Odd a white male knitter in the United States is the minority. Somewhere there is a joke in that.

Be safe out there and keep you stick on the ice.

Good Morning

Well it is off to the shop this morning. My retail yarn adventure continues. It is not the circus or private practice clowning still, it is interesting in it's own way.

We had a good time at the Hive Knitting last night. We are hovering around half a dozen folks now and it is an interesting little group. I have noted that there are very few people that go from one group to another. There are folks that have a couple knit together that they go to. Still, there are not people that visit random knit togethers.

In clowning when a clown goes to a new town they would always visit the local clown club if they were meeting at the time they are in town. Perhaps clowns are just friendlier than knitters. Maybe it has something to do with excessive amounts of makeup, but I digress.

I do need to update the blog. Put up a new class schedule and add some links. I must remember to take some time to do that. You all have a good day out there and keep your stick on the ice.

More Ramblings

The gizmo is not letting me post picture so no Save Chicken for the moment. Anyway it is monday morning and it is off to the shop. It is odd working in a retail enviroment. True the shop has not opened. Still, I am used to having my clowning skills being the thing that is being sold. Now something else will be the object os my sales skills. It is not bad just different.


I am not in charge so I will not say when the shop is opening. I will say that it is coming together rather quickly. Everytime we leave we are amazed at the amount of stuff that is done. True we have a good crew. And there are several folks working at this enterprise. And many hands and all of that stuff.

Between the shop and the book I have not had much time to get to all of the knitting groups that i usually ghet to. I have not been to either of the two groups that I attend sporatically at Knit 1 for a couple weeks. I do need get back there.

The book is plugging along. I am working on a section on The Army's History of knitting. By the way if any of the Army Knitters out there know some are knitting sotries I would like to hear them. I know the Red Corss had a knitting kit that they gave to soilders in hospital. I am wondering if we did the same thing. i have not found any evidence of a kit as such. I will keep looking though. It does appear that the majority of our historical records we have are in Alexandria Virginia. And I do not have time to go down there before I would like to publish this thing.

Well I need tobe heading off to East Liberty. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice. And see you at the Bee Hive if your a Hive Knitter.

Insainly Busy

I was so tired that I had to take a nap on this pile of every color of Cascade 220. Natural Stitches order every single color of Cascade 220. I had to help move all of the yarn into the space. So I was tired.

All of this yarn is now on hooks on the wall. So when I am not helping at the shop i am practicing my accordion clowning or writing the knitting book.

Well I am looking forward to my extra hour of sleep. It will help me catch up.

On other subject I am still looking for pattern for Knitting For War. The Brigade is plugging along and we are working on new routines.

We have settled into a schedule much like a circus. We work on new material routines and props in the winder and perform the rest of the time. It is odd how that centuries old time table emerges. It must mean we are doing things the right way if we are falling into time tested patterns.

Well I have typing and reading to do. be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Prayer Shawl - Army Folks Check in

Ahhhh another day blogging with the yahoo radio. The only radio that is crazy enough to play all the songs that I like. They come in randomly just like in my head on a crowded bus. Right now it is Betty Davis Eyes, Before that was Bach preceded by Weird Al. Who is next Bob Marley, Devo who knows. Good Times

I have been making a concerted effort to work on my juggling. My bad hand only has so much fine motor skill in before it hurts. So I have been working on the clown stuff and neglected knitting, except for a couple shop sample swatches. Today at Water Front knitting I will be starting a prayer shawl for a knitter. Since it is for a knitter I can use some of the cool yarn that was donated to us from Yarns Unlimited.

By the Way Yarns Unlimited is a shop on Beaver Ave. in Sewyckley They have a friendly staff. If they were a wee bit closer to were I live I would visit them more. Still, if you are in the North Hills it is worth the trip.

Anyway I am thinking Alpaca with a eyelet pattern. I have not done eyelets for some time. This will also be one of the ones that it going into the book. I have not named it though. So if you have a good name for an eyelet prayer shawl let me know. I am always open to suggestions.

We had a block party at the Corps for Halloween so I did not get home till super late. I have also been working on the booth at every chance I get. So the blog suffers. Be reminded that I am always thinking of both of my loyal reader no matter what I am doing.

By the way is you are from The Salvation Army and reading this drivel. Leave a post. I know knitters read this thing. I was just wondering how many Army people are reading this thing.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Knocking About

I have been working on the knitting book and playing around on Ravelry. I have not really knit anything in the last couple days. Still. I have been playing around with some pattern ideas.

I continue to be struck with the Revelry and what the people in it do. There is another person out there writing a charity knitting book. I am glad to see that happening. It makes me think that I am not that crazy.

It strikes me that I have not talked about the new knitting shop in Pittsburgh. I have been working to help them put together the stock on display units. When the shop opens I will be working there and teaching classes. I will post the classes when the schedule is put on their site.

Even more fun is the yarn. With the exception of Red Heart we have stocked most of the yarns that I like. And the ones that I have not use or heard of are yarns that I now like. I would go into more detail but I do not know if it is secret or not.

The space is coming together nicely. they have a great crew working on it. They put in a sprinkler system and drop ceiling in once day.

Well just wanted to put in a post. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

I digress.......

It is Saturday and I am heading out to look for an MP3 player. My old CD player is on it's last legs and I should probably get with the new technology. Even though I use a computer I tend to update things slowly. Most of what I use the computer for is to write books and post in this blog.

Last week I got my first flicker account because that appears to be the only way to post pictures to Ravelry. I must say that i am pleased with the Ravelry. I am not sure i am as excited as some. Still, it is a neat idea and I think it's time has come.

I did start a group for the book. I may have mentioned that. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitting-for-war

You would think I would remember the contents of this blog. Still, I do not really read this blog. Which is odd. Perhaps there would be fewer misspelling and grammer problems if I read the blog. But I digress.

Anyway I have gotten a few patterns from people from The Knit List and Ravelry. A few more patters and I think i will have a book.

I did ask what people thought about having a how to knit section in the book. Half the people that emailed me were for it and the other half were against. So i ask some friends. And I should not have asked an even number of people. Half were for and half were against.

So it is back to the drawing board. I am going to write a chapter on how to knit. At this point none of the patterns in the book have crochet. So there will be none of that. I will probably put a link to a site that has a good how to crochet section.

It is truly odd how things progress. When this blog was started it was a way to post about odd things and to find other male knitter. The finding other male knitters in my area has not worked out that well. I have posted about a lot of odd stuff.

Now it is a tool in writing a book. Yes it is very odd how things progress.

On other fronts there has been some movement on the Army thing. I am told that I was asked to do something before I could be considered as a candidate for training. This was a surprise because i had never been asked to do that thing. It has been several weeks since this revelation and no other movement has been made.

I do not mind being the black sheep. I have found that many circus clowns do not respect organised Christian religion. Historically good Christians have been against Circus folk as messengers of sin. Then again many silly thing have been said by good Christians over the years.

Personally I see organised religion as the only way to deal with the really big problems. So it is not fair for those that have been hurt by the church to say it is a bad thing. You cannot complain about hunger, suggering and poverty and then say there is nothing you can do about it because you don't like the church. That is a bigger cop out then the church not liking different people.

That was the main reason I felt called to the Army. The scriptures talk of unconditional love and helping people. And when I was on the road I was with one exception always welcome at a Salvation Army Corps. This was not true of my home church which was about fifty fifty. And the reality of that is more a small town suspicion of different things.

There was no vast church conspiracy to keep out the Circus Folk. Just a group of people trying to protect their daughters from the heathen hordes of jugglers, tumblers and mimes. By the way you simply cannot trust those mimes. Everything they say about them is true, but I digress.

So I continue to wait for a resolution to this problem that does not appear to exist from my vantage point. I will keep you posted.

If you have any pattern ideas for the book email me. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Silly Christians

Today I had a meeting with some people so I was in uniform. So I was on the bus in unform heading home after dark. So I had a guy sit down next to me. He then began to ask me what I thought about certain "Sinners".

I mentioned something about it not being my job to decide who waws going to hell. This was not the answer that he wanted to hear. So I was not a good Christian.

It is days like this that I wonder if the Pastapharian are right.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Book Mussings

As I continue to work on the knitting book I am struck by the diversity in knitting books out there. I must have nearly every book about clowning that has been published. Virtually all of them are text about various clowning skills. There are a few biographies of notable clowns and there is a bit of fiction out there about clowns.

No where is there a book of a clown talking about their experiences with juggling, or puppetry. Now there are several books about knitters talking about their life's experience with knitting. It is odd that such a specific thing as knitting has so many different views.

Anyway that was just something that I was thinking about. The main point of writing the book is to make some money for the Clown Brigade. Still, it is interesting to think that I will be adding something to this body of knowledge that so many have before me.

Moving along there is a a Revelry group for the book. This is it: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/knitting-for-war

As I get chunks of the book worked out I am sure I will be having some local folks look them over to make sure I am not doing anything terribly strange. All and all I expect to have the text together for the book by the end of December. I imagine there will also be sample knitting and that sort of thing. By the end of January everything should be in once piece.

Well I will be getting back to typing stuff in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Knitting Should Save the World - Do I Need Knitting Instruction?

I am heading out for some good old fashion door to door, pavement pounding, War Cry deliverin stuff. With the hole in my schedule I am going to visit some of the Sunday School and Cub Scout Kids' parents today. As the ad people might say face time is an important thing.

I may not have stated this but my Corps is on the smallish size. At our Christmas and Easter services we have thirty or so. One thing my officer has noted is that people do not visit each other. So a couple of the solders are going to try and reverse that trend.

It is interesting to note that in my life the only people that I visit with are knitters and fire fighters. I really do not have a concept of a time when people would go over to the neighbor's house and do stuff. As a kid I player with the neighbor children. I don;t know if it was a dangerous neighborhood or what. Still people did not hang out on their front porch or trade pound cakes back and forth.

My wife is constantly sending me out the door with baked good for people. Perhaps people from Rock Island are friendlier than everyone else. I have noted that people are constantly swapping things back and forth in knitting groups.

As I am working on this book I am struck by the fact that it is a knitting book. I have never thought of writing a book about clowns trying to save the world. I have never even though about writting a book about The Salvation Army trying to save the world
(even though they are). I am fascinated by the power of the knit article.

If you knit someone something that is fairly nice (not lime green) it can steel the show from expensive electronics at a birthday party. I may have noticed an extra boost in this when they find out the chromosome make up of the person that knit it, but I digress.

Whether it is a Prayer Shawl or a Chemo Cap the person on the other end of the giving people usually feel the love of the item once it is given.

On another subject entirely as I am typing stuff in for "Knitting For War" I am wondering if I need a how to knit section (Wow product placement on my blog. I have hit the biog time of annoying). So many books are teaching people how to knit. Do I need the throw in my two cents in? Or is this something that is expected of knitting books? As always I want to hear your two cents so let me know what you think.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Who is using the Brittish System?

As I am thinking about writing my book I would like to make it available to the majority of English speaking sections of The Salvation Army. Of course Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom use the English System. As I think about it logic would dictate the The United States is the only group that uses the US system of Knitting Needles.

This may sound like a dah moment. What is the best way to make an international book. Should I make two versions or put all of the international measurements in the books.

By the way you can thank Metal and Knit for getting me thinking about this. She said that she wanted a copy of the book. I understand that people alter things slightly to suit their needs. What are the pitfall that must be avoided to make a good international pattern. Personally I tend to think of all knitting needle in metric terms. This probably has something to do with my learning to knit from French Canadians.In my needle stash are 7.5 and 7.75 mm knitting needles. Personally I think of these as the all purpose needle for worsted yarn. I suppose most American tend to think of 5.5(9US) to 6.5 (10.5US) as the general needles for that type of yarn. I also tend to knit tightly on occasion.

So my beloved Seven millimeter needles are out for the book. What other pit fall am I not thinking of? Post if you can think of something.

By the way I am on Ravelry as Zeeppo just plain Zeeppo. There is a group for this book that currently has three members. I will have all the text done by the end of this month. There is still some work to do on pattern and I have added a couple section on the advice of others.

Well this is turning out to be a fun thing. I am still working on the scifi book. It is a novel though and a ton of editing will be going into it. The knitting book will have considerably less work to get it ready to be published.

Since I am self publishing both I imagine the knitting book will be done first.

Well be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

I have name my Knitting Book

For those of you that have been following this blog you now that I am writing a knitting book.

Now before I reveal the name I want to explain the book. First there is a famous quote from the founder of The Salvation Army, William Booth.

William Booth entering the Royal Albert Hall - 09 May 1912 to give his last public address - accompanied by Colonel Theo H Kitching.


While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!

Anyway that has basically been my attitude about the Army since I joined it several years ago. The bottom line is that The Salvation Army is fighting against every kind of suffering. Now as a clown there is an extra imperative to fight against things that are not funny. That is one the principal reason clowns hate mimes, but I digress.

Besides you did not really want me to make a list of things that I do not think are funny. I am looking at you Carrot Top. Moving along, moving along.


Now what might this important quote have to do with naming a knitting book. Firstly I would like to state that this title came to me and someone else pointed out the irony.


I have decided to name the book KNITTING FOR WAR.

Once again I would like to state that is not a dig at the book knitting for peace. Although I am certain that I will not have a pink cover on the book.


I do have a list of the types of patterns that will be in this book. They are as follows:


Knitting for the Troops : Wolly Bully and Heavy Socks

Knitting for Primeies: Primy Cap, Booties, Small Baby Blanket

Knitting for the Homeless: Watch Cap, ribbed scarf hat combo, scarf, gloves, unisex sweater

Knitting for Cancer: Chemo Cap Basic, Chemo Cap Fancy, lay blanket

Prayer Shawls: Heinz 57 Shawl, Steel City Clown Brigade Shawl, Brigadier's Personal Shawl, Steel Valley Corps Shawl

Knitting for Clowns: The Judy Scarf, Tandem Sweater, Really Sleepy Hat


By the way as always I am looking for suggestions. And if anyone has a really cool pattern that matches in this section I would like to use it. It must be available to be published.


I do have to have samples knit for many of these things And I have to write eight of the patterns. The clown stuff and the shawls are done. As you can tell many of the projects are fairly simple.


I do hope to have most of the text typed in in a couple weeks. I will be harassing local people to read it and check the patterns. By the first of the year I hope to have the book completely finished.


Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

The Most Terrifying Thing Ever

Have you ever wondered what the most horrible thing that could ever happen would be. Well the answer to that question is me in a band. And to make matter worse I am playing an accordion in the band. The band has three member Karen on the Piano, myself on the accordion and an eight year old name Jasmine is our front man so to speak.

We were able to play a song this evening that sounded like the song. I must admit that I am the weak member of the band. Granted I have only been at the accordion for a while. Most Corps have a stash of Brass instruments. My Corps has a piano and stash of accordions. I mean we have several accordions not just one lonely one at the bottom of the pile of instruments. Accordions are our entire pile of instruments. I suppose someone could say that is Satan in action against the church. Well a clown looks at that and says God must want us to have an accordion band.

Beyond the horror life is going well. My hand is working well enough that I can play the accordion. Magic and juggling are still away off. Still, progress is good on the hand front.

I did have someone ask is there will be premature baby section in the book. It sounds like a a good idea so I will add it. It anyone has some good patterns that I would be grateful.

Be safe out there and keep your stick off the ice.

BookS Books Books

Hello people out there in Blogland.

As life moves along I continue to work on my writing projects. And without the splint my knitting is slowly returning to normal. Although it does appear that I am faster with the belt knitting and not splint. So I will probably continue to knit that way. I have recently been informed that you can purchase an honest to goodness knitting belt from school house press. I have not been able to find mine and I only have a few of the needles I inherited from B.

The pocket thing that I got from the Punk Rock Shop on the South Side is working more or less with the Boye Needles. If I am going to continue to use the Boye needles I will have to a slightly better way to attack the needles to the belt. i suppose I could destroy a couple set of Boye Needles and tun them into double points. For some reason I am bother by the prospect of chopping the end on my beloved Boyes.

Well moving along. I am getting back to the book on Charity knitting. I work on that some today. with a few more patterns and some improvements to the how to knit section i think it would be done.

The book will be organised into several sections. There is the how to knit section, knitting for the homeless, Chemo Caps for Cancer patients, Knitting for the Troops and a section on prayer shawls. I am still looking for some patterns, any suggestion would be helpful.

Well that is it for the moment. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Rambling Around

It is another Monday and another Hive Knitting coming up. I do enjoy our little group. By the way if you happen to be around stop by. We still meet at the Bee Hive at 7:00 PM.

My hand is doing fairly well. As you can see I am back to typing. I do prefer entering in things this way. My grammar and spelling may not be perfect. Still, I can almost type as fast as as I can think.

I have been looking for a turtle character from bleach on line and have not found it. I also cannot find my cartoon knitting book that I have a couple years ago. It was from Japan and had a couple of neat dolls in it. Japanese knitting is an interesting thing thing. One of the people in the group was asking about it and i wish I had some more answers to give.

The book is moving along nicely. I am going to have to ask the Navy and The Salvation Army for their permissions. The Navy has an office that handles that sort of thing. I am not exactly sure how my church deals with it. I suppose I will ask someone at DHQ.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Savage Chickens

Savage Chickens

Catherine Tate

Catherine Tate is Hillarious. She is also going to be the new companion in the Tenth Doctor's Third Series. Ran across these on the Youtube. Which in this case should be the them tube because they have nothing to with me. Anyway enjoy.

Good Mornig Sunshine - Extream Clown WMD

It has been a good couple of days. Besides the snarky comments about my stand on welcoming men it has been fun. At last count I have been invited to three groups and have heard about men trouble in three other groups.

To the folks in Texas, German and Jacksonville thank you for the invitation. If I ever get out your way I will stop by. To the men or women who love their particular man who told me about troubles in their knitting paradise. I sympathise and wish you well.

I have emailed them about trying to get control of their group with ground rules. And when that fails I find that a seltzer bottle or super soaker is a good way to deal with people that have male knitting problems. By the way I am a professional. Do not go around seltzering people on your own. People could get hurt.

If you are going to Seltzer people here are a couple of simple ground rules:

Aim high - Depending on your bottle their is an arch to the seltzer. If you are going long rang you will have to aim over their head.

Practice - Like everything the more you do it the better. I have a range of dummies in my back yard. I use it to practice sneaking up on people and the always hard over one person's head to hit the person next to them.

No tap water - If you are going to use a seltzer bottle you have to be classy about it.

Sound Effects - A little goes a long way. I knew someone that used a horn. This took away from their aim. If you are going to use noise makers you need a partner. It is like military snipers. One to set up the shot and other to take the shot.

Surprise - The first time you shoot someone at your knitting group surprise will be on your side. After that you will need to hide the bottle. Make it into a fake lamp. Keep it in a bag. When used effectively it can be a knitting WMD that will keep chatty and gossipy people in line.

Watch the Yarn - For the love of Mike don't hit the yarn. practice the head shot. If you can make them run off you might even get yourself some nice yarn in the deal.

Remember this is a general guide for those that are not going to listen to my recommendation not to do this. And if you must do this it is only for extreme cases. Do not go shooting the person who is knitting an ugly hat. They need a yarn intervention not sniper fire from a would be clown.

Also on the good news front I am without splint. My doctor thinks I am doing well. As a programming note he is a surgeon and has stated he make not claims on on my sanity either way.

Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.