The Ea Z. Baby Quilt

“Dan, how long is the  baby?” “15  inches, why?”  Washed, blocked, and pressed — this baby quilt is done and done! I wanted to make make sure it was big enough before I caught the G train for a visit. Ea Zarathustra Davis is the man of the hour and what a handsome little fellow he is.

This is the “Ea Z. Baby Quilt,” a modular hexagonal knit that’s surprisingly simple to make, although it took me a few collective weeks to design and knit. It’s soft and durable, made from Lang Cashmere Tweed and Cascade 220 in shades of pumpkin and tangerine. It’s about 30" at it’s widest point, but since it’s modular it can be made larger.

Wardrobe is very important to a growing baby. As soon as he outgrows his AC/DC T-shirts, he’ll have a new Pantera onesie pressed and waiting for him. I'll also have some hats ready for him by then.

More late nights are ahead for Dan and Carrie, and there will be some adjustment for Casandra the cat. But this little trouble maker is worth all of that. Maybe Casandra needs her own quilt.

Truck Stop Meatloaf Made with Potato Chips

A moist delicious meatloaf and a salty waitress — these are some fond memories of a college road trip and a truck stop diner. I love meatloaf, especially when it’s made with potato chips. The best part is having enough left over to make sandwiches the next day. I’ve heard the life span of a good meatloaf is four days, but there's rarely enough left over to find out.

The tangy ketchup sauce is very important, it keeps everything moist as it bakes‚ I call it the protective ketchup barrier. Although people balk about using Liquid Smoke, I think it gives this meal an extra BBQ flavor that kicks the cold out of a chilly evening.

For this Truck Stop Meatloaf recipe and more, visit GardenFork.tv.

A Quilt for a New Womb-mate

I better get more coffee going, I have to get this thing out sooner than later! The baby arrived a week early and I’m a few weeks behind. Two days before Christmas, Dan and Caroline’s son, Ea was born, You might say they gained  a new womb-mate.

This baby quilt is a hexagonal modular knit made in varying shades of Lang Cashmere Tweed, a very soft, warm cashmere and fine merino blend. I made it a bit larger than infant size, Carrie can use it as a lap warmer as he outgrows it. This would also make a great pillow sham.

At 6 lbs. 12 oz and growing, he's a handsome little guy. Just look at that smile. I think orange will suit him fine. Christmas has passed, the New Year is here, and I'm still picking broken glass ornaments out of my foot. Hang in there kid, Uncle Tony is already half way there.

New Year’s Day 2012

My friend Paul James said something T-shirt worthy the other day: “If you've survived 2011, you win.” The Year in Review reminds me that 2011 left behind a wake of challenge for so many people: world wide natural disasters, the repercussions of global financial collapse, political unrest, the ravages of war, a weak job market, record unemployment. It’s difficult for most to look up and see stars when there's so much garbage afoot.

But today the sun set beautifully over Coney Island on a chilly New Year’s day. With a new year comes a breath of hope and a fresh start. A woolly blanket of clouds pulled over a clear turquoise sky as stragglers on the pier waited for the first star to appear. With hands in the pockets they looked up to make a wish before they headed home. The sun winked its copper eye and sunk into the ocean, then all bade Coney a sweet good night. Coney Island, you are the unpolished jewel buried in a drawer in a second hand store.

Nathan’s still stands on the corner of economic change.

The masters of the sky look for a stray hot dog bun on the boardwalk.

Stragglers and gulls comb an empty beach for treasure.

The Polar Bears were here...

and here.

The boardwalk stalls were closed...

but Ruby’s celebrates an extended lease on life.

The sun set quickly over a raging tide.

Some gathered on the pier waiting for the first star to appear.

The Ebb Tide Scarf

It’s always a bit difficult naming something, I think that’s why some great works of art are left untitled. Sometimes I employ a loose organic process to jog my brain. First I come up with names that I would never use: Sandy Ripples... sounds like a stripper; Tsunami... too soon; Duin-hir (River Lord)... I’ll get sued by the Tolkein Foundation; Esoteric Waves... too esoteric... etc. And when I’m done laughing, I think of more realistic possibilities for names.

For now I’m calling this pattern Ebb Tide. This winding, seven foot long scarf is a gift from Clive Baillie to his wife, Dawn. This original pattern is part of my Eleven Anthropology collection.

Much like the ribbed impressions left in the sand as the tide pulls away, Ebb Tide reminds me of a bygone day. With every twist and turn, it walks me down a familiar shore past the remains of sand castles, listening to the echo of crashing waves. I can almost feel the wet sand crushing between my toes.

This scarf is made with Aurora 4 (Karabella Yarns), a DK weight super washed merino. It’s very light and warm, perfect for chilly evenings on the beach. It has such an elegant drape — it unfurls like silken strands of seaweed.

It’s a Dog’s Life

If this sweaters seems a bit big in the chest, that’s because this is actually a sweater for a dog named Timba — my friend Jenn's mother’s Lhasa Apso. Phillip the Cat is just my fit model. I wanted to make sure the sleeve placement was directly below the body.

I love this tweedy blue yarn, it’s dog-worthy. The sweater is knit up to the neck and down the body from a central back strap. This design has a lot of opportunity for applying patterns.

The back strap has simple 3 X 3 cable that travels from sleeve to sleeve. The neckline is turned at the chest for a better fit, ending in a reinforced mock turtle collar.

Broad ram’s horns and twisted columns travel down the back over a single rib ground. The body itself is shorter in the under carriage (than on the back). This allows more freedom to... do what dogs naturally do. The garter stitch hem give it more elasticity and stability.

Washed, blocked and pressed flat — this sweater was delivered. Oddly enough it’s going to Florida for now. Maybe I should have made Timba a Guayabara, I don’t know how I would have finished this without Phillip’s help. He’s such a good sport. Thanks again Phillip, there’s a bag of treats with your name on it.

Knit PH @ Prospect Perk Café, Dec. 13, 2011

Knit PH met at Prospect Perk Café to knit and nosh. The weather lately has actually been warm for December, 62° to be exact. Luise was there first — just off from work. I promised I’d give her a quick tutorial on my Cat Blanket before the year came to an end. I predict that 2012 will be the year of the cat quilt. Chrystal made it all the way from Bushwick by bus. I have to admit that I don’t know where they go on a regular basis. I actually get a little motion sick when I try to read on the bus...stopping... starting, stopping again... etc.

I’ve been working on a new scarf pattern for my Elven Anthropology collection. I was inspired by the soft ribs of sand left behind as the water recedes at day’s end. For lack of a better name I call it Ebb Tide, at least for now. As the temperature steadily drops I’ll need something to remind me of a warm day at the beach.

Christmas will soon be here, yet most haven’t even started shopping for gifts. You have to wonder what posses someone to make their own gifts this late in the game —yet every year we all do it. I know I’ll be running late (again) with a few home-spun gifts; Pat dropped in with her new scarf in progress; Lisa finished her husband’s Hunter Green house slippers — complete with snow-flake pattern.

Adrienne needed a little help finishing off a few things for their daughter, Bird. I helped her through instructions for attaching an I-cord to a baby bonnet. This is an excellent way to clean up raw edges.

These itsy-bitsy booties will keep Bird’s feet warm all winter, until she outgrows them. The safety pin gives you an idea of scale and skill. But Adrienne brought a show-and-tell item which left us all laughing — the Boob-Hider. It’s worn by the baby when nursing in public. Chrystal added “Everyone knows what you’re already doing... so y’know.” She’s also a lactation consultant.

Flatbread Made with Chickpea Flour

I finally used up the last of the chickpea flour. I made Socca, a type of flatbread or crêpe from Southern France. The ingredients are simple — everything came from my local grocery store. You’ll need a cast iron griddle or a large cast iron pan.

Bean flours are super nutritious foods that are high in protein and fiber and low in fat. They are essential to vegan cooking. Bean flours are also a great alternatives for people who can’t eat wheat products, such as pasta and breads. But when combined with grain, they create a complete protein.

I’ve used the Bob's Red Mill brand, but if you can find it, use Indian Besan. It has a finer mill and makes a smooth thin batter. Socca is typically eaten as street food in the open markets, stuffed with savory things like potatoes and goat cheese. I just ate them fresh out of the oven — socca has a subtle sweet flavor when it’s made fresh.

For this socca recipe and more, visit GardenFork.tv.

Dälahast — How Swede It Is!

Julälsningar to my Scandinavian readers. That's Swedish for Season’s Greetings. The Dälahast (a.k.a Dala Horse, or Dalecarlian Horse) is a wooden children’s toy traditionally carved over cold long winters in the province of Dalarna. It has become the unofficial symbol of Sweden.

Several types of Dälahast are distinguished by locality. The most typical carvings are painted bright red with graphic details in white, green, yellow and blue. They stand anywhere from 6" to 36" tall, but the largest Dälahast in the world can be found in Avesta Municipality in Sweden. This concrete monument looms above trees at over 42'.

The Dälahast that I made for Tretorn Shoes is 6'3". Henrik is made entirely of Papier Machier, this Swedish steed graces their store front in Soho eagerly greeting Holiday shoppers.

The decorative method of applying two colors on the same brush is called rosemaling — a skilled freehand craft. Rosemal patterns often adorn their woodwork and ceramics. I’m a very big fan of Scandinavian design — traditional and modern. I especially am fond of the graphic patterns and motifs found in their knitting, and of course the organic nature of their furniture — all of these borne of Scandinavian innovation.

But how does one make something so large in a small Brooklyn living room? I mapped out the structure and created a hollow modular pieces. Each piece assembles together precisely.

My assistant, Phillip the Cat, inspected the interior for structural flaws — he approved. The interior of the head and body is a small engineering marvel, built with interior struts to hold its shape and support its weight. The head and legs attach to the body by mortise and tenon.

The entire horse is covered in four to six layers of paper and glue, primed with two coats of gesso, two coats of orange under coat, and a red top coat. These layers of paint give the Dälahast the deepest red. Each piece is decorated separately.

In 1891 Tretorn was founded by Henry Dunker in Helsingborg, Sweden. Although this company is known for fine tennis products, rubber soled boots and sneakers, the company originally produced high quality rubber for tires. Tretorn’s long history of rubber production evolved from tires to tennis balls in 1902 and, later, a complete line of rubber soled sport shoes in 1934. I particularly love their rubber boots. They are exemplary of Swedish design and innovation.

I have to say I’m very proud of Henrik, it was hard to set him free. He’s a handsome fellow, no? Swing by Tretorn if you’re in Soho and say hej to Henrik.

Tretorn
150 Spring St (bet W B'way & Wooster)
New York, NY 10012