Chemo Cap - Pink

This may not be extremely original. Still, it is pink and it is what I have been working on. The kids in the knitting group are on their first scarves. Some have learned to purl and increase and decrease. So after their first scarves they will need another project. This one is probably a good candidate for a second project.

Anyway it is pink made of an acrylic yarn. It is a baby soft yarn and will make a nice summer chemo cap. It is being made on number 8 US circular needles.


Being that none of us need a chemo cap we do not have any of them laying around. So I needed to make one as an example.

Well there you go your basic Chemo cap. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Knitting at the Cult Meeting & Another Clown Hat

Fun was had at the Friday Night Knitting Group at The Boarders in The South Hills. There was a of course knitting and some crochet. My wife and I have also decided to start taking a couple young people from the Clown Brigade every week.
This week we took Sergeant Prioleau and Sergeant Thurman. So The Brigade's ruling council was there except for two members. Perhaps, we should not have us all concentrated at one place in public at one time. Much in the same way you do not see the Vice President and the President at one time. Above is Sergeant Prioleau reading a book.

Sergeant Thurman is here working on a Chemo Cap.
This is a Clown Hat that I am working on. It is made of Red Heart Hokey Pokey. This hat feature two ruffle at the base of the hat.
Here is Sereant Thurman modeling the hat. The hat will have pom poms between the two ruffles. We will get to the pom poms at the next Brigade Knitting Practice on Monday



Well than you all for checking in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Black Cats Are not Lucky.

I can post pictures again. I am not sure what was going wrong there. First up this is a picture of them fighting over a cat nip toy. They have also stolen the chair for the computer. Anyway when you are walking around in the dark it is really hard to see the cats. One of these days I am going to step on them. A bell simply does not do it. They are really great cats and like them a lot. It is just i can't see them at night. I think I am going to have them bleeched and dyes neon green. Or better yet I am sure there is some glow in the dark dye some where. Does anyone know where you get glow in the dark dye?




















This is a Chemo cap that I am working on. I have no idea what yarn it is. It is a softish cotton out of the old stash. It think that Chemo cap are now my favorite thing to knit. They are simple and just fly along. After a good Law & Order Marathon you can have a stack of them. Good Times.



















This is a shot of juggling practice this evening. There are five people there even though you cannot see them all. Out Three Cadet and two of the Apprentices were working on their tossing and catching. I am so happy I don't have to learn juggling again.


















This is me lecturing during the practice. Believe it or not there is a great deal of this at practice. Much to the dismay of my Apprentices and Cadets. This is the exciting exciting Physical contact lecture. I tell every one the proper way to hug children. Yep clown have studies this at great length. I truly have a strange life.



















There are my shoes and Khaki pant at the practice tonight. Yeah I am incredible photographer. I took nine picture of my feet. That is an all time record for me.

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

Sunday Stuff

a few more balloon animals have been added to the Third Section of the training manual. At this rate the third section will be done by the end of next week. This will give us all the instructional material for the new class of cadets.

I am still tickled to say that. It is like we have a real clown troupe or something. I suppose it is a real clown troupe now.

Also in the Clown Brigade section of things there are now a few members of the Brigade that are taking pictures. So there is lots of interesting stuff that can now be put on the Brigade Blog. I should put some sort of link to it on this thing.

Blogger is not letting me upload pictures for some reason. I had a couple picture of chemo caps and more work on the dolittle scarf and hat. So there will be no knitting pics today.

Onto random things I think are cool. This is video by Fatboy Slim and Christopher Walken is doing a dance routine in it. Beleive it or not he is a song and dance man from way back.



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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stuck Home

I was not feeling well today and did not make it to the Corps or Charity Knitting. My left hand typing continues to improve. It does not go that fast but I am getting better.

The book is moving along brilliantly. I still need planet names and state names. Please post if you have any good ones.

I did use the ice cream machine for the first time today. I made some vanilla and it turned out well.

Another chemo cap was finished today. Other than that not much was accomplished.

I am considering getting my own camera so I can continue to make video entries. I am looking forward to getting rid of this splint.

I am not feeling funny so I will say good night, good night

Messing About

Well today I have been playing with some Lopi Yarn that came into the Charity Knitting Bin. There is enough of an off white color to make a sweater and I have been playing with that. It is nothing terribly interesting, just something that is not a chemo cap.

I am looking for a Hat Scarf pattern to make scarves and hats for our kettle workers. I am thinking of something in red and white. Perhaps a burgundy and Navy Blue. I am not sure. Being that I am not rich I will have to find an affordable yarn for this project. On the up side we have so few kettle workers that it will not be hard to make enough of them.

On another, slightly related subject, if you live in the Pittsburgh area and enjoy standing outside in cold weather. I have the volunteer oportunity for you. There is a hand knit scarf and hat in it for you. Email me if you are interested.

I am definitely not putting the Corps name on the hats. Steel Valley Praise and Worship Center. that is just a bit much. Homestead Corps would have been doable. Although Steel Valley Corps is not that hard. Maybe on the Scarves.

Churches do have rather long names. Well it looks that may to me. If I ever have to start a church it will just be Zeeppo's Church. Simply, easy, you know what you are getting. A clown preaching to you every Sunday and Tuesday {Feel Free to insert your own joke}. I would have Tuesday service just for the heck of it. Hundreds of years later it would become something that fanatically people would fight to the death over. I would make sure that I make it clear that Tuesday service is only because I like to golf on Mondays. That way we could avoid holy wars down the road.

Oh and if you are into clowns preaching to you I will have the pulpit again this Sunday. I have no idea what I am preaching about yet. I set aside a block of time Friday afternoon. I will write up a sermon then. I have been reading Mathew this last week so it will probably be something from Mathew.

Well I must be off to do something useful with myself today. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Knitting at Home

It has been another good day here at the homestead. I have gone through another Chemo Cap and are once again working on Knitting Machine.

I have had a handful of people pass through the beginning class and should probably start to look toward doing projects on the machine. I have managed an ugly sweater that I did not even put together. I have had some success with a one piece vest. I think this will be the nest class that I should offer.

I am a bit disappointed that no one has taken a men’s knitting class at Knit 1. I have had several men take classes at the Bee Hive but none at Knit 1. It seems odd to me. I am sure there is some sort of reason but I do not know what it is. I have started writing up a lesson plan for the vest class. I am definitely going to ask to so a design your own bag class. I think the bag class should be popular.

I have a circular bottom draw string bag or a messenger type bag. The Messenger Bag is much like my ill-fated black bag from last year. With the exception of felting the bag, if you are into that, the either bag should be able to be made in one two hour class.

On other knitting front the second session of the Knitting Group in the South Hills now at the Boarders was another fun evening of knitting. The folks there continued to roll out the welcome mat and make us feel at home. Our space is around a fire place and there are tons of comfortable chair and rocking chairs. I simply cannot say enough about these people and great environment of their store.
Well be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice

Some Really Random Stuff

A good day was had knitting today.

Our show yesterday went very well. We had thirty kids and it looked as if everyone had a good time. I am very pleased with the progress that the Brigade is making

In knitting news , if you can call it that. I have been working on using the ring gizmo to help me throw the yarn with my right hand. I did a chemo cap using this gizmo and it makes my knitting supper tight. I still have some progress to make with this thing. It does appear that i will be able to knit faster with it.

On a totally random thing how come no one told me that Billie Piper sings. Or I suppose she was a a singer. I really feel like someone should have told me this.

And what is wrong with the Doctor. He is the last of his kind and when he finds a woman he likes he gets rid of her. I don't care what the Face of Boaz says. If he is not alone than it is probably the Master and not a female Time Lord that he could save their race with.

At least they didn't kill her off. I suppose there is hope that there will be little Time Lords again someday.

From what I am told David tenant is the best looking Doctor thus far. Still. I think our standards are a little high. It is hard enough to find a woman that can put up with the Universe being destroyed every five minutes. What you find one that can you need to hold onto her.

Alright that was a bit random even for me. For some reason that is really bothering me with new companion. For the Brits that are reading this was are only on Series 3 over here. So don't ruin it for me.

I have been working on my book during all of my spare time. I am pleased with how it is going as well. I am at the point where a fleet of ships the fights the Slave Trade enter the story. I am

having a hard time naming this type of ship. I am currently calling them Anti-slaver ships. This does not have much pizazz. I am open to suggestions.

I am also having a hard time name the ships in this fleet. I am thinking of naming one after Brengle.

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

Not Much Knitting Done Tonight

I was busy with this and that. My wife and I did get a little time to stop by Knit 1.

I got through another chemo cap and spent a little time getting ready for our show Wednesday. As always there is much to do and little time to do it.

Things have been plugging along at Hive Knitting. The Monday knitting group met yesterday with most of the usual suspects. This was a good time as usual.

Well i need to get to bed. The thing about performing for kids is that they get up early. So on occasion I need to be up before noon.

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

Hello Everybody Again

It has been a super busy and some what stressful week. My wife has been in the hospital, the cat is sick, the dog is crazy and we are having our first stage show outside Homestead on Wednesday. And there was a Fire Expo in the somewhere. Oh, and everyone is well and life is good again.

I have not touched my book, except I wrote longhand, let alone blog. I have had a great deal of time to do Chemo caps. including the one I just finished I manage to get thirteen done. That is usually my monthly total.

By the way I should thank every one who helped with Carol, advice and offers of help on the Cat and my Clowns who have rehearsed without me and did what they needed to do.

It has been a busy week for many things. It will probably take me while to recount all of the excitement and drama.

Well I did want to make mention of the Boarders near South Hills Village. They went way out of their way to make us feel welcome. And not only was the staff much friendlier the entire store was more conducive to the Knitting group. It is a slightly longer walk but it is well worth it for the Atmosphere. Besides the fact everything was nicer for the group it is simply a nicer book store. I am very pleased with how this all worked out. I only wish the Barnes and Nobles had a bit more of a notion what customer service is.

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

Knitting with Fire Fighters

I have spent the last couple days at the Fire Expo here in Pittsburgh. We do recruiting for our Disaster Services there. If you are into fire stuff it is great time. I am not one of those people. Although it is is good to see all the emergency people I have gotten to know with out there being a disaster.

Being that I stood around outside one of our Canteen for two days I got to do a lot of knitting. I finished several Chemo Caps. There were even a couple people there who knew people that needed a cap. On the up side I should have plenty of time to go to knit 1 on Sunday for Charity Knitting.

Most of my spare time has been spent working on the book. It is coming along and I hope to have it finished by Christmas.

We still have our canine house guest as well. Ike has been a good pup and is even getting along with the cat. It almost makes you want to to get another pet. Still, that may be my developing mental illness surrounding chemo caps.

Well there is not a great deal to post so I suppose I should simply sign off. Be safe out there.

Another Chemo Cap

I am told that my total on Chemo Caps if 54. If that does not count as a mental issue then i do not know what does. I have never gotten into a knitting rut like this before. It is truly bizzar.

We had a good practice on Wednesday. We did mostly balloons. After it we went to Flag Staff Hill for a Movie. We got some practice working the crowd.

It is early I need to be in bed so I am turning in. Be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

Fire, Chemo Cap, Sergeant Major Maybe

Another day of this and that. Did another Chemo cap.

Well there was not actually much happening today. Well nothing that is terribly exciting. I have been trying for a week to get someone at Barnes and Nobles to find out why they are being so mean to the Friday knitting group. Well I tried the manager of the store who is not available and the regional manager who is also not available. I wonder if this is how Micheal Moore feels when he is looking for an interview?

Well hopefully the group will find a new place to meet. This thing has been a bit strange from the get go.

On other front I continue to work on my fiction book. I am into the second chapter and things are going well. Perhaps they are going too well. I am sure that working on the book has been cutting into my blog time. Well when someone pays me for the book I can say I am an author. Then I will not have to have a day job and could have a good hour or so a day to just work on my blog. they I can help flood the Internet with more irrelevant stuff.

And for a change I have something of substance to mention. My Corps Officer asked me to be the Crops Sargent Major. For those not in the Army most churches do not have a position like this one. They are second in command of the Corps behind the officers. they also have dozens of duties ranging from record keeping to making sure uniforms are worn properly.

It has been occupying my thought for the better part of this week. I have not accepted because I need to pray about it and consider if I can do it. Our Corps does not have very many people. Still, I cannot help but wonder if I am old enough and experienced enough to do this.

Also a Prayer Request we responded to a fire here in Mt. Oliver Today. The woman who own the house was as her first radiation treatment for stage 4 cancer while her house was burning down. Fortunately none of her six children were home at the time.

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

Fun at the Bee Hive

A good evening was had knitting at the Hive. More Chemo caps took shape and fun was had by all. As always it was good to have en evening of knitting.

I had someone sign up for my Machine Knitting class tommarrow evening. It is good to be making progress on that front. I know the summer is a slow time for knitting. Still, it is nice to have some movement in the knitting classes.

I do have a bit of a headache so I will be turning in. Be safe out there.