Saturday, March 22, 2014

Taming the Deep Forest Evlen Scarf

top of hood, rope and braided cables over double seed ground 

Here’s a peek at my Deep Forest Elven Hooded Scarf for Ms. Megan Kenny. It’s a lofty garment fit for an elegant Elven queen, such as Mz. Kenny.

This hooded scarf uses as much yardage as a large man’s sweater, about 2000 yards. This is made from worsted-weight Shepherd’s Wool, a Michigan company, purchased at Stitch Therapy, A Fine Yarn Shop. I love this deep shade of oxblood (Berries).

This pattern part of my original series Elven Anthropology, knits inspired by the books of J. R. R. Tolkein, the fantastic art of the Brothers Hildebrandt, and of course the cinematic wonders of Peter Jackson.

hood folded to match seams

turning the hood
The gusset capelet adds an aesthetic stability.

Seams are grafted in Kitchener stitch; the band is turned and ticked.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Dog-gone Cute!

Who’s that pretty girl in the sweater vest? That's Diamond. My brother Vince and his wife Ro have the smartest and cutest dog I’ve ever met... if not the best dressed. But you can’t go wrong with a basic black turtleneck and a golden Italian merino shawl collar vest. You might say it’s fetching.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Buy A Cat Sweater Vest

Get the purrfect gift for your feline friend. Buy a Cat Sweater Vest. These hand-knit cat togs are made with fine wool fibers. Stock is limited, act soon!

Christmas Cats 2013

This little beauty is Rizzo, a cat who we were fostering for Anjellicle Cat Rescue. After two months she found a new home with a lovely couple in Mnahattan. Rizzo now residies over Bowery Whole Foods... lucky cat. I took posterity photos of Rizzo and our cats, Phillip and Chela, in their Holiday togs. Congratulations Rizzo! We’ll miss you.

Cats like Rizzo are saved from kill shelters through the kindness of organizations such as Anjellicle Cat Rescue. Have a heart and adopt or foster a cat. For more information visit their website: www.anjelliclecats.com










Thursday, December 05, 2013

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Holdidays!




Seasons Greetings from my family to yours! I wish all you crafty primates a safe, warm, wonderful holiday! BTW I’ll have ten ready-to-wear sweater vests for purchase through this blog by December 1.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Dust Off Those Needles...

2012 draws to an end, a year of extremes from politics to weather. Barack Obama remains president for four more years. A grueling presidential race brought out how polarized we Americans have become—culturally, ideologically and monetarily. Can Barry pull it all together in four years? We’ll soon find out.

Last week Hurricane Sandy carved a devastating trail through most of the East Coast. Houses washed away liked shoes boxes, downed power lines strewn about as tidal waves pushed inland—many are still in the dark or homeless. I'm amazed the subways came back so quickly after I saw how tunnels and lowland areas flooded.

I never underestimate the damage that water and flowing currents can wield. I felt fortunate that we didn’t lose power as so many did. Quite a few of my friends have lost their homes and cars.

It’s been a while since I picked up a pair of needles. I’ve been busy with another project; my Kimcheelicious eCookbook is going well. I have 30 recipes out of 60 fully tested. I have now made over 180 pounds of Napa cabbage kimchee over the course of this project thus far. I’ve met many folks who are interested in the book and am developing some products based on my research. I’m even giving a food demo and lecture at the Bowery Culinary Center. I’ve also developed quite a following on Tumblr... but this is topic of another blog.

On November 5th, I started this scarf at our Knit PH meetup at Hungry Ghost Café. I think we all needed to get out after being cooped up through the hurricane. This black Mobeus scarf was actually inspired by Hurricane Sandy. It’s a haphazard arrangement of reversible cables that start off and end in simple 2 X 2 ribs.

On the news we watched in awe as growing streams turned into raging rivers taking cars and houses along with it. Over social media we read as friends announced they were evacuating their homes. Familiar city streets turned into river banks in empty canyons of buildings. Sandy was the great equalizer for the monied and the have-nots. I watched people were evacuated from coastal and lowland areas. Many were left with nothing. And yet again we just got through a Nor’easter.

I sewed the open ends of this scarf together to create a seamless Mobeus strip that traveled through a river of cables and met at simple ribs. As the city recovers and people try their best to reclaim their lives, we are all due for better weather.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Are You Kimcheelicious?

Kkakdugi: pickled Korean radish salad
I haven’t blogged in a while. Someone even messaged me and asked if all was OK. I’ve been busy exploring a  healthy obsession: Kimchi. I’ve become quite the fermenteur. Kimcheelicious is a project that I’ve been developing—soon to launch as a Kickstarter campaign. Side dish or part of the main meal—my mission is to explore and document ways of making this Korean pickle a part of the American table and grill.

Kimchi meatball stuffed dumpling

Veggie dumplings made with shitake mushrooms and pickled radish
Kimchee is the unofficial Western spelling, as opposed to kim chi (김치). My Kimcheelicious project will not convert the un-converted but it will give those who appreciate it’s complex flavor more ways of enjoying and sharing a meal. Aside from varying degrees of spice, Kimchi has a deep savory complex flavor that some call it “umami.”

Lion's Head, a large meatballs stuffed with a kimchi meatball
I’ve been making great meals with my kimchi I’ve made. Aside from traditional BBQ Beef and dumplings I’ve made stuffed meatballs (Lion’s Head), pork sliders, grilled kim-cheese sandwiches, seafood stews, patty melts, pork fajitas... you get the idea. Kimchi it already on the American table and grill.

Bulgogi (Korean BBQ beef) cheese steaks


Mushroom omelet with kichi and tortillas
Grilled kim-cheese sanwich

Bok choi and Napa after brining
Kimchi and other fermented foods have been touted as some of the most healthy foods one can have in their diet. These foods restores probiotics into our digestive system, and through the process of fermentation makes other nutrients and vitamins more available. But I just like the way it tastes.

My goal is create an app and a series of iBooks that you can call up in the kitchen on an iPad. I’ll be hosting some tasting to promote Kimcheelicious before I launch my Kickstarter campaign to raise angel capital. For now you can follow me at http://www.facebook.com/Kimcheelicious, and http://kimcheelicious.tumblr.com. The website will be up soon... meanwhile back to the knitting.

Chili paste, carrots, radish, scallions and Napa cabbage