So you stumbled upon tumblr and thought "Hm... 'Guys with Needles' is a weird name... What's this all about?" Or maybe one of us forced you to like us on Facebook or sent you a link to this blog... Either way, you want to know what we're all about, more than just our "About Me" section, which talks a great deal about someone named Flo but doesn't talk a great deal about what this blog is about. Well, first let me dispel any misconceptions about the name: when we say "needles" we're talking about knitting and crochet. Those of you looking for drugs, tattoos or weird fetishes might be disappointed but I encourage you to keep reading nonetheless.
My name is Stephen, henceforth known as 'KnitGuy' to differentiate myself from my co-author Steven (aka 'The Yarn Fiend' or some crap like that.) First let me tell you how a well-rounded, athletic, masculine man such as myself found his way into the world of knitting. It's simple really. I had thought about it a little only because I am very picky about what I wrap around my neck and the majority of scarves I found in all my favorite retail stores were too long, too short, too thick, too thin, too scratchy or overall just too ugly for me to purchase. I wondered what it would be like if I could just make my own. But that thought didn't progress to more than just an idle whim until one fateful day on my way to work.
I live in the city of Boston and take the train into work each day. I normally spend my time commuting with music in my ears and my nose in a book. One day, however, about six years ago, my ipod was dead and I had just finished the book I was reading so I had nothing to do on my commute except sit quietly and stare at my fellow commuters. Let me digress for a moment and talk about knitting again. Up to this point, I thought knitting was for lonely old ladies or young ladies who were in training to become lonely old ladies. That day on the train I happened to notice a very attractive man who happened to be in the process of unabashedly knitting a very attractive scarf. If it were me, I'd have been glancing around to make sure no one was sneering or gawking (and even now, I don't knit on the train) but he was in his own little world doing what I had only considered. He wasn't especially effeminate, either. That day I began to question what I had thought about knitting... I went to the craft store and picked up my first pair of needles and my first skein of yarn and got to knitting.
Fast-forward a couple of years and countless abandoned projects and here I am. Somehow, I found myself coupled with the only other guy I'd ever met who shares my affinity for yarn crafts. He even got me to pick up crochet, although I have to admit that as far as I am concerned, two needles far outweigh a single hook.
So I've tried blogging on several topics but follow through is hard for me, especially if it's something about which I'm not terribly passionate. Now I figure, I'll blog about something I actually care about. Check back from time to time for project ideas, knitting tips, progress on some of my ongoing projects or just to hear about how I'm doing in general.
