My Camera & Creepy Clowns

The black bag is moving along as always at a slow rate. I am very pleased with the baby blanket. And the scarf is doing alright.

I currently working on a pattern for a super bulky children's sweater. I do not have any one to knit a sweater for so I will knit one for someone that I do not know. If I make it todler sized it should move along quickly. I think it would also be a nice addition to the booklet if it does not look awful when I am finished with it.

In other news I did get a web camera that will work with me very old computer. On the down side I have to lure my cat near the computer in order to take his picture. The dog is scared to death of the camera. So there will probably not be picture of Sally soon. Zoltan is a media whore. He will do anything to get any sort of attention.

Some one did question what the pager thing was that I mentioned in the entry when I was answering questions posted by Natasha. One of the questions was to reach out and touch somthing to my left. Next to my computer is this pager thing. If anyone is into old electronics you may recognise this as a device that one uses to activate pagers. Now adays people just use a computer. The type of system we use to activate pagers does not work well with DSL internet connections. Just bellow the pager gizmo is the shelf that holds the map books. The map books were also featured prominately in that same entry. You may also recognise the high quality furniture the paging station is sitting on as a milk crate. Yes I spare no expense in my private office. It is much like the oval office except not as many crayons and coloring books and probably more yarn.

A very brave person visited my blog using what appears to be their real name. I do beleive the FBI is keeping a file on everyone that visits my blog so be warned. Although I think they are doing it for some sort of case study in mania. Anyway Jamie Fritz was one of the female MENSA knitters who stopped by Knit on on Sunday. I made a synical observation about there being no male MENSA knitters. Well thank you for visiting Jamie, this will be the noted in your file. And the male MENSA knitter are Chickens, which leads me to the next part of my entry, the Cartoon.

By the way it is proven fact that people who ready the comics first live longer than people who start with any other part of the paper. Your tax money found out what any clown could tell you Humor is good for you.

The next thing I would like to ramble on about are scary clowns. Namely the Cirque de Soleil clowns. I am convince that everyone who is affraid of clowns is really of these clowns. The good people at Savage Chicken put it in a way that I thought should be shared.

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

Hive Knitting

Hive Knitting was good for Labor Day. Much fellowship was had and a few laughs. I frogged the Blue Baby blanket. I was not pleased with the boarder and it needed to be a little wider. The changes should make is a nice addition to the knitting booklet. My wife is working a crocheted baby blanket that should also go nicely in the booklet.

On other front the black bag grew another milimeter today. The pink scarf made no progress.

Well not much going on just wanted to check in. Everybody be safe out there and keep your stick on the ice.

There will be Hive Knitting Tonight. It is not that we have no respect for the labor movement. It is simply that we all have a compultion and cannot stop no matter what. It may not be mentally healthly still we are going to be knitting today any way. Besides we have thirteen people on memorial day so holidays are good for us. I can't wait until Christmas fall on a monday.

Also because the rolling Knitting Thing is fixed I will be able to bring all of my equipment.

I hope to see everyone there. Be safe and keep your stick on the ice.

The frustrating world of the male knitter continues. The Black Bag continues very slowly and I am going even slower on the Booklet.

I have four or five books out and I cannot put together a coherent text on how to knit. I know I will do it eventually it is simply the frustration of the beginning stages.

Never the less I am encouraged by hor supportive many of the knitter I know have been of this project. I have received five pattern and the aforementioned help from an area designer.

By the way this is another chicken Comic. My wife is reading one of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Books. I thought this was funny. Oh and the Solution to the Lance Lawson comic from before is bellow. I know they are silly but like so many silly things they entertain me.

SOLUTION: Lance knew the woman lied about being home because she had not yet taken in the morning paper.

Another very nice day was had at Charity Knitting. I am half way through a blue baby blanket made from super chunky Galaxy yarn. I MENSA group dropped by to take a feild trip. There were no men with them. Apparently intelect is not enough to get over the male knitting phobia.

The new set of casters on my knitting case are working well. Well it is really not a knitting case. It is a large rolling tackle box for fishing. Still, it is a manly color. In addition it has large open spaces and not the cute little boxes insdie of boxes that most craft cases have. Since I already have made cases and holdersz for my needles and other euqipment this works best for me. And it is not pink or powder blue.

Speaking of pink I put a couple more inches on the pink scarf for my Neice/God Daughter. It is your basic 2 by 2 ribbed pattern. It is excelent practice for ribbing. And it is Pink. I will make sure to get pictures for the Punk Rock Girls they are all about pink. It looks as if they are starting a gift exchange. That could be very interesting. Although it would give me chance to use a skull and cross bone pink bag pattern that I have. I am not sure why I have this pattern but I do. Perhapse it is all part of a greater knitting plan that I am only a small part of.

One thing I have noticed about the Punk Rock Knit Girls is even though they fly the Jolly Roger there is not mention of Pirates. I should ask why there is a lack of Pirates on the blog. Perhapse they are more into the knitting and punk rock. Or maybe they beat up the Pirates and stole their flag. I will sepnd more time on this late on the Punk Rock Knit Girls Blog.

I am also thinking of having these little pictures beside each entry in the area I am talking about. Perhapse even color coding the entries. There is no good reason for me to state this. In addition it is probably a silly idea. Still that is the story of my life. I should probably also break down and get photoshop on my home computer so I can made a little picture thingy for Hive Knitting.

Also on another knitting front a complete idea has formed around knitting booklet that would be used during presentations aimed at getting people knitting for our Shelter. The Booklet would have a section on how to knit. Suggestions about types of yarn to use. And I am hoping about thirty public domain or original patterns. A very nice Lady from the Wednesday Group at the Water Front has agree to deisign a hat and scarf set. I am about to finish up a basic baby blanket in Super Chunky and am working on a simple sweater for todlers. If any one has suggestion please let me know. You can email me or post on this blog.

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

Actual Knitting Stuff & Thanks Knit 1 & Women Knitters

Well I continue to knit even though I have been going on about a lot of things that have nothing to do with knitting. Although, I have been reading many many blogs about knitting that often have a great deal to do with many other things. I never fail to be amazed by the sort of people that are knitting out there. I am also surprised the the compassion that is out there for serving people. Many of the blogs I have visited are knitting for chartiy one way or another. Many are knitting for Children in Hospitals. As I and many others have observed babies enter the world with nothing except for a hat. I love the fact that you can have nothing and still you get a hat. I really like hats.

Still, I wanted to plug a group I attend in a fairly selfish way. It is after all my blog. And both of my fans tune in to hear me ramble on. On Sundays from 1 until 4 the generous people out a Knit 1 are kind enough to give yarn for people to come in a and knit thing for The Salvation Army Family Crisis Center here in Pittsburgh. This group has already produced a large box of items that will be put into use by families in need. I wish to thank them for their time and effort. Oh and go there and buy stuff. The place is huge and as a lot of stuff. They have a nice web site that I will be putting a link to soon.

I will be there late this week. The Corps is having a planning meeting and I have to be there. If any one does come I will be the one with the beard and the blue uniform. And proabably the only guy there.

As for my knitting the black bag continues and I am wondering what to knit next for Knit 1. I have a skein of Galaxy Yarn from the hat I did, perhapse a scarf. Or I could get some more Galaxy and do a baby blanket. I always love doing baby blankets especially in chunky yarn.

I would also like to note my membership with the Punk Rock Knit Girls. Everyone has been very nice there. Stephieface suggested that I join. Groups of men tend to compete with one another. When guys are blogging they talk about how their stuff is the best and that they are better than everyone else. This is not something that I have noticed on the female knitting blogs. Well I wanted to thank tem for the warm welcome. As for knitting things in pink I am working a scarf and mitten for my God Daughter and Neice.

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

I saw this comic and it go me thinking. My knitting Blog needs a comic stip since I do not have very many pictures of my knitting. Still there is only so much time you can spend attacking the New Yord Times.

There is also the possibilty of using an old comic like this Lance Lawson Comic. By the way I will give the solution to this one tommarrow.

Still I think this savage Chicken Comic strip is more the speed of Blog. As always I am open to suggestions even suggestions about the Savage Chicken.

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

The Beloved Mayor of Pittsburgh lost his battle with Cancer this evening.

Penny Wiggins

Just to continue on rambeling about useless information that I know. Penny Wiggen started as a clown. She is now working as the assistant of The Amazing Jonathan. As Psychic Tanya she plays does the dumb blond routine for his act.

Even thought their show is not for most, and is in many ways an example of what is wrong with show biz, it can be funny.
Polictically Correct may not be a good discription of this routine. Still, his Vegas show was not as vulgar as some of his other work. Perhapse they are growing up.

Answering Velma

A few entries ago I was rambeling on about large needles and other reletively unimportant things. She wanted to know where people knit with three and a half foot needles. The answer is no where that I know of currently. I leanred in the Circus from some people that were so old school that it was painful. When we knit it was often in groups.

Say for instance you were working on a 90 foot scarf several people would work on the scarf. When one person was tired of knitting the next person would continue. So a large project could be comepleted with in one's life time. The same was also true for projects like blankets that you would knit on the 3 and half foot needles.

If you can imagin it, you would hold the neddles like pencils. You would rest the needle on your fore arms to hold the weight. For those who get annoyed by the backing up of their knitting on circular needles at the joint between the needle and cord this is the ultimate way around this. Some of our people could even knit tandem. Each person would hold a needle. If a pair was good at it they could go wicked fast. Even faster than continental style {take that Zimmerman}.

To be even more silly tandem knitters could knit with even larger needles. We had a juggling team that could knit with six foot needles using three people. Two would hold one of each of the needles and the third would guide the yarn. It was a sight to behold and required team work. Multi person knitting was not as efficient as a knitting machines that we also used. Still, performing teams could build a sort of uncommon team work that is rarely seen. It would almost be as if they could read each other's minds.

Alot of performing troops would pruchase their props we still made all of ours. Amoung those things were our apparatus bags. These carried our practice equipment, 3 balls, 3 clubs, 3rings, Devils Sticks, decks of card, air pumps, balloons, a few books and what ever knitting project you were on at the moment. Being that I am working outside the Circus I find that I do not always need all of my practice equipment. Hence making the knitting bag. She mentioned that most of the jugglers she knows use duffel bags for their equipment. At the confernces that I go to I have not seen an old fashioned apparatus bag in years. The only ones that I see are by clowns who make their own. They are more comfortable than duffel bags and if you are in a crowd and have to juggle a little or make a balloon animal you can do it with out setting your bag down. They are quite nice. Most jugglers have to set up an area where they will perform and there is a fixed place where that audiance is. Clowns even when practicing do not always have that option.

I do not have more pictures because I do not have a working digital camera. I'll get one eventually and post some pictures. And as for my accent I am from Pittsburgh, Pa. I have lived a little of everywhere but I am a run of the mill American.

Well as always I enjoyed answering your questions. Have a good evening, stay safe out there and keep you stick on the ice.

More Magicians

Since I have little to report but another milimeter of growth on the Black bag this is a good opportunity to answer a question about another magician. Namely the Amazing Jonathan. There are a couple of definitions about what make a proffessional magician. One is membership in one of three groups The Magic Castle, Internation Brotherhood of Magicians and Society of American Magicians. His has performed for each of these group and I am almost certain is a member of all of them.

The Second is prestige in the Magic Community. Unlike Mark Wilson, people will probably not be teaching magic classes out of any of the books that he has written. Unless they are talking about blue material. Although his material is more witty than most and does not rely on the F Bomb. A lesson that many people in Show Biz could learn from.

The last standard of a Proffessional magician is the amount of money they have made. And he has made a boat load. Hence he can afford expensive cars and floozies. Although these are proabably simulated floozies in the form of expensive models. And if you can afford to simulate floozies then you know you have really made it.

I have seen him at two magic confferences where he was on the slate with Jeff McBride, Harry Lorayne, Eugene Burger and other past and present greats. By the way for those of you keeping track clowns such as myself rank somewhere bellow your Uncle Sid with the "Got Your Nose Trick". Well Jeff and Harry are two of the best Magic teachers and performers that are out there. Even Harry who does not perform like he once did can kick the daylights out of that goof ball who locked himself in a box recently. At least Houdini stuck the box underwater. Harry to the best of my knowledge never needed Floozies real or simulated. Perhapse that is the difference between a class act and well all the other acts. Still, in this world where a comedy routine and or a magic routine rely heavily on profanity and nudity The Amazing Jonathan is much classier then most of his peers. And like contreversy in most of show bussiness it is a fiction used to hype shows and sell tickets. Except where David Blaine is concerned no one really likes him.


I have also been informed that there is at least one male member of the Punk Rock Knit Girls. Well that is reassuring, perhapse I should give it a shot. I do have lots of blue hair and a couple jars of Manic Panic.

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

Multiple People Blogs

I have always been facinited by the multiple people blogs. I have been reading the Punk rock Girls Knitter blog. It has people from many areas blogging about knitting. I have not found a punk rock knitters blog for boys. I probably could not pass myself as a punk rock girl.

Moving along I am still looking for new neat blogs.

Well I did not have much to to say. I am just not getting to sleep.

Contintue to have a good evening and keep you stick on the ice.

Male Knitter & Clown Stuff & A New Blog

The Wednesday group was nice this week. Much knitting was done and the black bag 2 continues to crawl along at a slow rate. I think I need some enchanted Needles like from Harry Potter.

From those that do not remeber one of my stated goals was to meet some other men that knit. Over the last couple days I have met four. Two attended the Hive Knitting Group a third claimed her could but forgot his knitting so I did not count him. I met an older gentalman on the bus who also claimed he could knit. As we were going through Arlington Heights {which is not that dangerous since they knocked it down} he refused to knit. He did not want to be outed in a dangerous neighborhood and could not beleive I knit on the bus.

When we were out of the dangerous neighborhood he showed me a lace top that he was making for his wife. Well Bob your secret is safe with me I will not tell anyone that you knit or that you are making a surpsie gift for your wife. He told me that she did not understand his knitting. He said that he was forced to hide his yarn from his inlaws and he had hidden his secret obsession all these years since he learned to knit in the Navy.

My wife locks me in the basement when company comes over so do not fell bad, Bob. Still, the basement is well ventalated and I get Grilled Cheese sandwiches when I am locked down there. I do like grilled cheese sandwishes. Velvetta should be one of the food groups if we still had food groups. That is if Velvetta was a really a food.

The fourth knitter is one of the Clowns that I am training. He is knitting and purling and I could not be more proud. It has been four years since I have done honest to goodness Master Clown work. I am thankful for the opportunity.

In semi related news the Clown Brigaide has been asked to perform it their first show. I did not think we would be ready for any sort of show our first year. I am proud that we will be able to perform after only four months of practice.

A very nice lady named Stephieface has been visiting my blog and her blog has a cheeky monkey featured today. He reminds me of myself at that age. I would have put a picture of the monkey on my blog but I do not know if that is allowable according to the blogging rule book.

well have a good evening everyone and keep you stick on the ice.

Sorry Mrs. Howe & The Incredible Nani Darnell

I think I tried to post the same thing about thirty times. I thought that I was not entering the little coded thing right and apparently she has to screen her comments. I am told that is what happens at the more popular blogs. Since I only have two readers I do not have to worry about strange people putting things on my blog. Although now that I think about it I am probably one of the stange people posting things on blogs.

Someone sent me an email ask Nani Darnell. Nani is married to one of the corner stone of 20th century Magic Mark Wilson. If she were starting here career now she proabbaly would have been on her own. magic if the last corner of the world that feminism has not conquered or even made a dent in. Besides being a talent magician in her own right { and better looking in tight then Mark, her husband} I am told she was the bussiness sence behind their act. If you go to the website , www.markwilsonmagic.com, you will see that he always reffers to "their act" and "us" as the performers.


Bellow are some publicity show from their T.V. show on CBS. They also worked with a clown name Rebo who I think was a Master Clown from Cole Brothers. Don't quote me on that it as been along time since I read about them. The rabbit was named Basil and also got top billing.

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

Hive Knitting

We had eleven people at the group tonight. We had several members of the knitting group from Garfeild attend as a feild trip. It was nice to have the visitors and I hope they come back someday.

Using a gizmo { the Clover Wonder Knitter} and some stuffing I think I should be able to actually knit a Bee Hive. I think it would be nice to knit a hive for Hive Knitting. Well I will let you know how that goes if I do it.

It is late I just wanted to let both of my readers know Hive Knitting went well this evening.

Have a good evening and be safe out there.

Blogs I Read & Charity Knitting

Some one asked me what blogs I read. I am not sure if they were seriously looking for an answer still here it is. As far as most of the knitting blogs go I have listed them with links on the side bar. If anyone has a blog they think I should be reading please let me know. I do have a couple more to add but I am dispatching for the power outage in Duquesne. If someone is reading this blog then they are into some pretty obscure stuff. And I imagine they have been to some odd blogs.

Charity Knitting was nice today. I had not been able to get there because of church meetings and the like. I am told Stacy took a box of items down to our shelter. I am sure they went over well and I thank everyone who knitted and continues to knit for our Shelter.

Well have a good evening and keep your stick on the ice

Slow & Steady Progress

The Black Bag continues to make slow and almost painful progress. I have gone back to the old stand by strait knitting needles. It may be odd but I find them comforting. Well what can you do?

I am also working on putting my yarn stash into some semblance of order. In my Basement I have milk crates laid on their side to make up book shelves. I have putting netting across the bottom two third of the opening in them to hold the yarn. Fortunately my basement is dry even though it is not really finished. Still, the yarn is fighting for space with toys, books clown equipment and tons of other stuff.

I have also just purchased a fish for my other office at work. I let the church kids name him and they called him Sinister. Zoltan does not get play with Sinister because he like him a little too much. He does look a bit lonely to me and I will probably get him friend when I am near a pet store again. He is what they call a Lion head Gold Fish. He does not have a dorsal fin and had a calico color scheme. Actually he is not really that gold. I am told the designation Gold Fish refers to his breed not his color. Sinister had a four gallon fish bowl with little plastic plants in it. He appears to be very happy. On the Up side it probably does my office some good to have a living thing in it. Feng Shu or karma must be helped by him.

I am also going to starting Tai Chi at the Dojo of one of the soldier at my Corps. I get spiffy pajamas and slippers. They assure me the pajamas are not the reason that most people take Tai Chi. Still, I look at it is a nice benefit.

Well you all have a good evening and be safe out there. And no high sticking.

New Format

I am working on a new format for the blog. I am not thrilled with it yet. Perhapse some color changes. As always any suggestions are welcome. I was not thrilled with the rounders template. I still need to play with the spacing and layout especially on the sidebar.

I am very pleased with the new internet service. It is more reliable and I have more time to putter around with this thing.

Well I don't have much to say just making note of the changes. Stay safe out there everyone.

Following Natasha's Orders

Reading through the blogs today I stopped by Natasha's blog and there was this set of instructions. Well I pasted it here and filled in my answers. Please keep in mind that I am in a basement office surrounded by yarn toys and radio dispatcher equipment.

1. Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 123. Find the fifth sentence.Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions."
The book closest to me is the Rand Mcnally St. Guide for Allegheny County. Actually I have most of Western Pa. and Ohio in map books. I picked Allegheny. On that page is the grid that includes Jackson and Forward Townships along with the northern part of Evans City

2.stretch your left arm out as far as you can...what do you touch first?
All the way to my left is a Canamex communication Quicktel paging System and a Bearcat 60 channel fire and police scanner

3. what was the last thing you watched on tv?
Law and Order Rerun

4. without looking, what time is it?
9:00 PM.

5.what is the actual time?
18:57 Ops Military time still I was close. The law and order rerun was ending

6. with the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Another law and order rerun. The scanner Alarm activation in Witaker, Refrigerator, dog , cat playing

7. when did you last step outside?
8:30 to let the dog in.

8. what are you wearing?
Khakis

9. when did you last laugh?
ten minutes ago when the cat slapped the sleeping dog

10. seen something weird lately?
the cat nursing on the dog.

11. what did you dream last night?
I drempt I was the skipper on a Ship of the Line fighting the Spanish and French squadrons North west of Gibraltar. I took out a two French frigates with a classic capping the t maneuver in only five broad sides.

12. what's on the walls of the room you're in?
I have a royal standard of Scotland, picture of John Demchak, a rack for holding yarn balls while knitting, clown shoes, ice skates tools, hats, compass, whistle

13. what do you think of this survey?
It is odd but it is like the last time I went to a shrink

14. what was the last film you saw?
Swashbuckler - a pirate flick with Robert Shaw and James Earl Jones

15. if you became a multi-millionaire overnight what would you buy first?
a new scanner a new church

16.tell me something about you that I don't know.
having never met Natasha well I like Jelly Beans.

17. what would you change about the world?
I would have no more pants for men, all men in kilts. And baseball teams would have Tartans. And Ghana would have won the world cup. And world peace.

18.Do you like to dance?
Yes I took tap and ballet

19. imagine your first child is a girl, what do you name her?
Lydia or Natasha Two Clowns I know.

20.boy?
Andrew or Zoltan I probably can't use Zoltan because of my cat Zoltan. It would probably give the boy a complex

21. would you ever consider living abroad?
I have live abroad I liked both Canada and Mexico.

consider yourself tagged if you want to be!

well that was fun. I anyone else wants to do it give it a shot.

New Blogs

I am impressed with new blogs on Pittsburgh Knitting. Just Be, Steel City Knitter, Mrs Bear and Knitsburgh are all very impressive. they each have a good layouts and lots of pictures.

It has continced me that my blog is the 3 am infomercial of the knitting blogging world. I will proabbaly have to get a camera and start sprucing up my blog. I am open to suggestions. So far folks have emailed me that my color scheme is ugly. I will proabably stick with the color scheme.
I suppose the header needs worked on. I do have a nice pciture of my cat playing with yarn that might make a good backround. I think I will use the picture of Russel Crowe knitting instead of me. I am told he is good looking.

On other fronts the knitting for our shelter is going well. A box of completed items have been taken to our shelter already. Any one wishing to join the group should go to Knit 1 on sunday afternoon from Noon to 4. I will be the one in the blue uniform with the bread. There is also Hive Knitting on the South Sides Monday at 7:00 PM the knitting group in Homstead in the Barnes and Nobles in the Water Front.

Have a good day keep you stick on the ice.

It has been a while. And really Big Needles.

My internet has been on the frits for several weeks. I am switching companies on monday. Since I started this blog I have had a several problems with my internet. Still, switching to another DSL company should allow me to add to the blog when I am awake at 4:00 on the morning.

Firstly I wold like to think Lynn for the gizmo. I have already been experimenting it. In recently months I have been experimenting with felting. Even thought this means that I must use a natural wool it is a very good process for making bags. Using the machine I have made a couple test swatches that could help me deign a felted apparatus bag. For those of you that know me that is the bag I carry my juggling equipment in.

I am currently putting together another a clown troop. I am going to have to make several new bags. Looking into the price of canvas if it takes less than 20 skeins it might be cheaper to make it out of wool. the only problem with this is the fact that it would take many weeks to make a bog and I will probably need to make 6 of them. Even as complicated as the bag is with it's expernal pockets there are only six angles on the bag and no button holes. I think I could make an entire bag in a couple days once I master the gizmo.

I may be heresy amoung some knitting circles but in the Circus circles it is what ever it takes to get the job done.

My wife is doing well and will be going back to school in a week. Sally and Zoltan are also doing well.

The new black bag is coming along slowly. I have decided to make it a little bigger. And since it will be felted it is going to be enourmous until it is felted. I have made one of the removable pockets and felted it. I am very pleased with the result. This first test pocket is one of the thing that makes me think it might be able to an Apparatus Bag from felted wool.

It is odd how some thing come full circle. I am told that this first bag that were used by my old circus just before the civil were felted wool much like Army Uniforms of the time were made from.

The only problem with the felted black bag is that I am forced to use a circular needle. I am apparenly the only person in the world that does not like them. And they do not like me. I just broke the one I am using today and I don't have another number 6 in the size I need. I will have to pick one up tommarrow. this further intensifies my desire to have a set of three and a half foot needles made. It may be considering the most insain madeness by most knitters, still, it is how I was taught. And a good set of steel needles never breaks.

I have found a welding company that is willing to take a crack at making these supersized needs. the old ones I used to have were just bare metal. Perhapse Rustolium would be strong enough to finish the needles. I do like the slightly tapered points on the Bryspuns that I have bee using. It should not be hard to replicate that with a grinder.

I have looked high and low an it looks as if no one makes such a needle anymore. maybe I am stuck in a bygone age. Still, they are easier.

A New Black Bag

I have begun making a new black knitting bag to replace the one that was struck down in it's infancy. I will be making it of a black wool and felting it.

It has been the longest time since I have felted something. This may even be the thing I enter into the Knit 1 contest. We will see how it goes. The bag will have a few removeable pockets for my Bryspun needles and the like. I will be putting a pocket in for my Bussiness Band radio from work as well.

The draw back of the felted bag is that I will probably not be doing any duplicate stitching on it. I may still I wonder how the alpaca wool blend I had for the murdered bag will felt. I should probably ask someone from the wednesdays group. An suggestions for my throngs of fan out there reading this are welcome as well.

I spent the better part of the weekend trying to takwe pictures of my wife dog. Apparently Sally is terrified of cameras. I have several pictures of here running. Zoltan on the other hand is a young media mogul. We had another name for it atthe time but he is male. After taking pictures for two days I found out that I cannot operate a camera. I am still looking for a couple that are usable but will have to try it again.

On the up side Carol is a heavy sleeper and does not mind having odd hats put on here when she does not know about it. When I have a good picture of that I will let you know.

I always be careful out there and keep you stick on the ice.

Saturday Afternoon

I am currently working a a pink scarf for someone, I know not who. It has been a couple months since Ihave done something harder like a sweeter or socks. I am looking for a good off white wool for a pair of kilt socks. It has to be just right or the Ghost of Robert the Bruce will kill me in my sleep. But I digrees.

I have borrowed a digital camera so Iwill be taking some pictures of the Sally dog and her cat Zoltan. I will also take some pictures of my wife while she is sleeping wearing funny hats. I suppose that is the down side to marring a clown.

I am trying to get Sally's cat to wear a hat. He is not having it. I am surprised the Peta people do not do something about people dressing their animals. That should be some form of animal cruelty. Never mind that it is not improtant now any way.

What is important is that I might be near to a solution on my quest to go to a knitting group where there is another man in Pittsburgh. Well it is in Homestead and I had to bring him to the group and get someone to teach him to knit. It might not be an actual victory in the quest but it is a start. Once again if you are male (or female or other) and knit come to my group at the Bee Hive on Mondays at 7:00 PM It is fun and we have an upsidedown flamingo with a scarf. How many people can say that about their knitting group? Well maybe no has ever wanted to say that about there knitting group. Still, now that I have said it and you have read it you will have to consider it when you go to you knitting group again. Especially since I have harped on it for more than it was worth.

We are considering contests for our knitting group. So far the front runner appears to be knitting a hat contest for one of the people that work there. Well it is the front runner in a one horse race. No one else it terribly interested. Still, if we have that contest I think I have a fair chance at winning it. Especially if no one else enters. A victory is a victory you cannot have everything.

If any one gets this far in my ramblings, post a message suggesting what I might knit for the Knit 1 contest. I am very undecided but think I would would like to enter something just to entertain myself. Please no internal or external organs, especially pipe organs. I do not want to invest that much yarn into this project.

I am also looking for a vest sort of thing to make from the Rowan denim yarn. Suggestions would be helpful.

Everyone in my little fantasy world says hello.

God's Speed and keep your stick on the ice,

We Loose those Most Dear to Us

Recent event have kept me away from civilization. I have not been able to post since I have not been around a computer that was on line.

For those of you that know me you know where I was. Never the less knitting has continued on the else of civilization. I have gotten through a couple of hats and scarves made with a chuanky yarn for the Knitting for Charity at Knit 1. By the way if you have nothing to do sunday afternoons there si the knitting for Chartity at Knit 1 on Sundays from 1 to 4. They are currently knitting for The Salvation Army. A group near and dear to my heart. Please stop by and see me I will be the one with the bread in the blue uniform.

Secondly I do apoligise to my fan out there. I am sure you were very distressed to not read about my adeventures in knitting for nearly a month. To my fan out there I am back and will be blogging again. Thank you for your understanding.

Lastly I am sad to say that the Black Knitting Bag was struck down be someone hostile to knitting. It is a great tragedy that petty feelings can destroy anything. It is sad but what can you do. I will start another one I am sure but not this week.

I will write again tommaror have a good day

The Black Bag Nears Completion

I have begun peicing the bag together. All that is to be done is the linning and duplicate stitching. There is little time and i am very busy. the lawn is doing nicely for a change. there are a couple patches of grass so at least that is going well.

The critters are also well and having fun. Well i hope to have more time next time.

Have a good day and keep you sitck on the ice.

Black Bag Continues

The Black bag is getting close to being finished. The insainly large piece of material that makes up the bulk of the bag is almost done. A little duplicate stitching and she will be done. It is Monday and Hive Knitting will be meeting this evening. Most of the group went to the Knitting in Public event on Saturday at Point State Park. Pictures were taken and will be put up when I have them.

My wife make a white baby hat that will be added to the growing collection of things hidden in plain sight at the Bee Hive. So if you drop by the Hive make sure you try and find the hidden knitted items. This will be the fourth to be hidden.

As always we are meeting down there at 7:00 Pm this evening. I will be there an hour or so early if anyone it truly bored.

Well Keep your stick on the ice and have a good evening.

Grass well some Grass

I looked at my patch of dirt and weeds grudgingly called a lawn. There was some grass this morning, a sight to behold. I almost cried.

Hive Knitting was good this week. We had the usual cast of characters and a good time was had by all. Progress is being made on the Black Knitting Bag. I hope to have the shell done by Thursday and will line it on Friday.

I will be heading off to knitting at the Waterfront this afternoon. I must remember to eat before I go.

The critters are doing well. Sally is taking well to the fact that she now has to go for two walks every day. The cat is jealous. Although I do not think Zoltan would wear a leash.

I am a bit rushed today so I will wish everyone well.

Keep you stick on the ice.

Just a Post and an Appeal to the Dark Arts for my Lawn

Not much to report today. Just wanted to put something up so there was something new to read. The Black Bag is coming along nicely. I may have the knitting done on it by the end of next week. I am still considering if I should send a scarf idea as well. I don't imagine that it would hurt. And it would be nice to do some stitches that I have not for a while.

I have been receiving the notes about the group that has started in Shady Side. I may have to stop out there to see how they are doing. Moral support is one of the most important things when someone is starting a new group. If anyone has been out there post a note and tell me how it has been. I am told it goes back and forth from squirrel Hill.

The critters are doing well in the air conditioning. Both Zoltan and Sally should be happier now that Carol will be home most of the time. There is much to with the Day Care. I have planted grass and done my best to get the yard into a reasonable shape. I would like to invite the Hive Knitting Group for a cook out. The only draw back is that the weeks are still winning out in my other never ending quest to plant grass where none has grown before. If this is the measure of my manhood then I am not doing well. Although the chemical steroid and irradiated material that have been pleased on the so called lawn have begun to make a dent. Perhaps in another couple weeks I can be proud of my progress. At the moment I will console myself with my progress on my knitting projects.

I would like to thank the people who have sent in comment or email. It is nice to have feed back and it replaces that love that I never had as a child {sniff sniff}. In addition I am looking for someone who has a supernatural ability to kill weeds. If anyone is interested let me know. As always you can email me at Yahoo or post something here

Keep you stick on the ice and have a Blessed Day.

Monday Group

Hello Everybody

This Memorial Day we still met at the Bee Hive. Knitting stop for no one. We had a couple guests we have so we still had a large group even though some of us had obligations else where. The Black Bag is coming along well. And we knit a little hat for another Flamingo. This one was near the air condition so he is going to be cold this year.

Sally and Zoltan are having a good time as they lay around in the air conditioning.

On another subject I am looking for long rubber or plastic knitting needles. The old flexible ones like Sears used to make. With disasters a coming I am looking for needles I knit on planes with. I have a few but the one that dies with the most toys wins.

It looks like I will be able to go the Wednesday Wasterfront group this week. I am not sure how much longer I can go with my schedule constantly changing. Well we shall see.

Every one have a great day and keep your stick on the ice.

Hive Knitting a Quest to Take Over the World

This way lies madness - The Flamingo Scarf was brought to us by David Arquette. Well that is what the tag says.







Well maybe not the world but at the very least the Bee Hive. I have some exciting pictures of the first two things that have been knit for in the Hive. We put a scarf on a flamingo and another on a angel. If you stop by the hive try and find them. Even better yet come down to the Bee Hive on Mondays for the group.

The small bit of yarn used for the angel and the balls in the background were given to me by a nice lady from the Water Front Knitting Group. I don't mention her name because I am not sure she would want to be named. Regardless a valuable lesson was given to a new knitter and fun was had by all.

Also as a note I received an email about Debbie Stroller's new book. I am thinking of submitting a clown scarf. I am sure it would be a hoot even though it would proabably not make the book. Still it is a good beginner project and looks like you put and insane amount of effort into it. If anyone would like the details about the message please email me at zeeppo_the_great@yahoo.com and I will forward it to you {the are underscores}.

As a pet update Sally is still nuts and the cat is still our fierce protector. It I ever get a working digital camera I will take pictures of them.

Away for a While & Pittsburgh Knitting Update

I have been out at my church camp for a while and have not had the opportunity to post. As an up date I finished the blue baby blanket and are well underway on the Black Knitting Bag. At the last Hive Knitting group we decided that on of the flamingo looked cold. So I knit him a scarf. Because it was an ugly scarf I did not want to take credit for it. So we left a note saying the David Arquette knit it. And man that would publish a book wearing a pink scarf would not mind knitting one for a flamingo.

Almost the best news of all happened last week. After four years of marriage my wife has crocheted something. It is not knitting but it is a step. I am not sure how I feel about my wife being a Hooker as Debbie Stroller would put it. Still, it is a step.

I am worried that she will now think she can have at my yarn stash. I know they said until death do we part. Still, they said nothing about sharing the yarn. I supposed I will have to at some point, but, I will not do it willingly.

Well have fun everyone. I am looking for a part time job and it would be nice to find something in the knitting field. If anyone has some ideas let me know.

And for joy for joy I am told my blog is on Pittsburgh Knitting. It warms my heart and is one of the greatest acomplishments of my short life thus far. I would like to thank the Acadamy and and I glad to know they love me they really do.

Have a good week everyone and keep your stick on the ice.

Monday Group

We had a very good group on Monday. I have given up on the cables for the flap on the black bag. My yarn is too thick and I do not want to go with multiple yarn sizes. I will probably use a sport weight yard on the side to put cables in there. The new black bag pattern will leave more room for the tree I wanted to pu on the front. It should be nicer when it is done.

Just for fun we knit a scarf for the flamingo near the disco ball in the Bee Hive. If anyone is there take a look. It is a brick red scarf just for the fun of it. We should probably knit tea cozies for all of the tea pot just for fun.

My wife Carol joined us for the group and even crotched. It was an impressive feat since she had not done it for several decades. She is out now buying yarn and has probably stolen several balls from my stash. I will have to lock up my office in the basement.

Have a good week and drop by the Bee Hive on Mondays if you are near by.

The Evil Black Bag

I continue to have mixed feeling about what the bag should look like. I would prefer a good cable that fits nicely into ten stitches. Maybe I should be doing something lighter with it than a 6x6 cable. I would like it to be more elongated but have not quite found it yet. I am open to any suggestions.

That is my quandary for the day. Carol would like to have a female cat. I like cats but Zoltan and Sally have an odd relationship and think I third may throw it off balance. We will see. And we will probably not get another cat till after the day care is fully open. Time will tell. Perhaps we will get a little Evangeline.

I am heading off to a Fire Association this evening and will probably not get much done. Still, as always it will be interesting.

Have a good evening and watch out for nature.

Accomplishing A lot of Not Much

I am very disappointed with the cable patterns that I have for the edge on the Knitting Bag. I have tried and frogged three patterns. One I thought would be nice for a scarf. So I now have a foot on a green cabled scarf that will probably go to some shelter somewhere.

I also want to make a vest out of this denim stuff that is made by Rowan. It is fairly expensive and more then I usually spend on myself. Still it will be nice to fool around with it since I have never used this type of yarn. They say that it will wear like a denim shirt.

If it turns out nice perhaps I will have found something that my wife would like. It has also been along time since I have made a piece of clothing for an adult. So it will be nice to make something for someone that is more than two feet tall.

The Blue blanket is finished. I have duplicate stitched the child's name and will be giving it to him in church on Sunday. It will be cuddle and fun I hope.

Have a good day and keep you stick on the ice.

Black Knitting Bag and Other Stuff

I have been working on the bag for a couple days and it has taken me a couple trys to get the cabling pattern I like. I will post a picture when I have enough of it done to show. The flap will have a set of cables running up either side and a tree knit into the center.

For those that are interested both Zoltan and Sally are doing well. They have both discovered the joy of Acrylic Floor Paint this week. Neither was injured even though Carol and I were willing to injure them.

The folks at the Water Front were making skeins of yarn for dyeing and fun was had by all. I considering visiting a few of the other local group around here. I have been to the one in Garfield at the Quiet Storm. Perhaps I will try one in the North Hills since I have not been out there.

Thus far my quest to find other male knitters who are willing to knit in public has yeilded no finds. I am told there are a couple out there but I have not made contact yet. Perhaps they are hiding out McKnight Rd.

On other front I have been accepted into the Yinz Knit group on Yahoo and am still sad that I am not on the Pittsburgh knitting site. Hope springs eternal.

Email me if there is anything interesting out there

Random Thoughts

I believe I have figured out my picture posting problems. The picture bellow is the black knitting bag that I am making. I decided the flap will have a tree knit in the center and a set of cables going up with side. There will be room in the bag for my set of metal 14 inch needles and a large project and a couple pounds of yarn.

We had another good group on Monday at the Bee Hive. I don't have a working digital camera so I am going to pester the members that do to send pictures for the Blog. There are doing construction in my Computer Lab so I get some time off. I hope to make some real progress on the bag during this time. Everyone keeps having baby and a never seem to get this bag started.

The Blue blanket is finished except for the Child's name. I will be duplicate stitching that in a place I have left for it. I will take a few picture of it and post them when I have a free moment. I will try and stop by the group at the WaterFront to show them since they were interested.

Men need to knit in Public...............
I do not understand why I have gone nearly a year with out seeing a male knitting. Gents there is nothing to be scared of. Besides being a constructive thing to do it is a good way to meet women. My wife hit on me when she first saw me because I was knitting. If you do not know how stop by our Monday group at the Bee Hive on the South Side at 7:00 PM.

Have a good day everyone. And remember artificial fibers are your friend. Stop the needless suffering of Sheep. Kill plants.....

Yarn for Knitting Bag

This is the Yarn and Needles for my Knitting Bag.

More Rings

congratulations to me.

I have been accepted into most of the knitting rings that I have listed on my Side Bar. If any one has a ring that you think I should join please let me know. I went to the Thursday monthly group at Panera on Blvd. of the Allies in Oakland. There were four folks there and fun was had by all.

I have decided to spend my time working on my knitting bag. It is going to be so manly that Rosie Grier would be proud. The black is a Red Heart Acrylic, the green is a Moria 65% Nylon, 20% Acrylic and 12% Mohair. I will add a picture of the yarn and the needles when I can upload. The bag is going to be black designed somewhat like a bicycle messenger's bag. There will be cables on the sides of the flap.I will knit a tree trunk and branches in the the center and I will duplicate stitch the leaves in with the green.

I am not using a pattern. If anyone is truly interested I will write one after I have knit the bag.

As always have a blessed day.

First Ring

I know it is not that exciting but my blog has been accepted by Men Who Knit. It is the first Ring that I have been accepted to. For joy for joy.

Also the Knitting group on the South Side is doing well. Over the week end most of us took a field trip to the. We had much fun and there. Perhaps we will take a trip to a petrochemical factory where we can see some acrylic yarn being made.

Hive Knitting May 1

Our knitting group on the South Side of Pittsburgh has been going for a couple months now. We have a good group of regulars and have begun attracting people from else where. Any one with some free time should stop by.

I am most of the way through the blue baby blanket and have finished the pink one. When I am able to post some pictures I will. Perhaps I will even put up some of those progress graphics I see on other knitting pages. For those keeping track the blue one it is made of a cotton acrylic blend.