News From the nest, October 7
Good Monday Morning, my friends!
When my children were school-aged, I managed our world through a simple steno pad—you know, the ones with the spiral wire at the top. I would just jot down to-dos on a running list week by week. What didn’t get done at the end of the week was transferred over to the next week. It worked so well.
Between then and now, I discarded my steno pad for the fancier, more tech-savvy digital list on my phone, to no avail. And I guess since that didn’t work, I just got out of the habit of making lists altogether! And boy, did I feel it! I just never felt on top of things.
In the past month, I’ve redoubled my handwritten list-making efforts, this time using my daily calendar to keep everything in one place. Each morning, I transfer over what didn’t get done yesterday and add to it, and I’m beginning to feel a little more control over my day-to-day life.
Are you a list maker?
On my to-do list this weekend was to go through our boxes of Halloween, Fall, and Thanksgiving decorations and trash or donate what we no longer needed or wanted. I ended up giving away half of what was in there! I enjoyed putting out the decor I kept, both inside and out, making our home feel a little more fall-ish. Of course, then I had to splurge on a decadent fall-scented candle and bake some pumpkin-spice cookies for the full effect!
Table of Contents
New on the Blog
Our resident crochet expert, Tawnie, has a new project for us today! This Checkerboard Crochet Blanket is a fun and versatile project perfect for crocheters of all skill levels. The simple construction of thirty individual squares makes working on the go or in small steps easy. Once the squares are complete, they are sewn together, and a simple border adds the finishing touch, creating a cozy and eye-catching throw blanket. This would be a perfect gift for someone with a favorite sports team…choose the team colors for the blocks.
From the Knit + Crochet Studio
Thanks so much to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts in our Knit and Crochet Projects survey last week! The results were quite overwhelming! As you can see, most of you (92%) want to see more Knit Baby Blanket Patterns, followed by Knit Blanket Patterns, Knit Dishcloths/Washcloths, and then ‘Other Knit Projects.’ The ‘other knit project suggestions’ were varied, and I am already planning content around your input and suggestions. So, thanks so much for putting your two cents in!
But I noticed that some of the requested items were for patterns that we already have in our pattern library! For instance, several of you asked for potholders and trivets, which we have but will do more of. We also have two Christmas Stocking patterns, here and here, for those who expressed an interest there. Also, in terms of general knit instruction, check out this series of posts. For those looking for crochet edging, most of my knit baby blankets have crochet edging of some sort. Here’s a crochet market bag and a knit purse for those looking for those patterns.
The survey and your comments were anonymous, so I can’t respond to each of you. That said, I encourage you to head over to the Knit and Crochet Pattern Library and peruse what is already there. The password is at the bottom of today’s and every Monday’s Newsletter Email. Know that we will continue to add to it! 🫶🏼
- Looking for a quick knit project? This chunky knit blanket pattern can be knit in a day… using flagpoles or large knitting needles.
- Here are some Common Knit Errors and how to prevent and fix them.
- Check out this Linen Stitch Potholder Pattern. I chose the linen stitch for this pattern because I wanted a flat stitch without much surface texture. The linen stitch always lays flat, making it an excellent choice for potholders.
From the Kitchen
- It’s hard to beat a warm, comforting meal without much fuss. This easy Potato Leek Soup recipe combines the simplicity of fresh ingredients with the convenience of slow cooking, resulting in a dish that’s both delicious and effortless.
- Utilizing convenient store-bought rotisserie chicken and zesty homemade taco seasoning, each bite of these Air Fryer Mini Tacos packs a punch of deliciousness, all wrapped in a perfectly crunchy corn tortilla. While the rotisserie chicken is our option for a quick dinner, you can substitute any meat, as we discuss in the recipe post.
- Making apple butter couldn’t be easier. At its core (get it? 🤣), you put several pounds of apples with their peels in a pot and cook them until they’re soft. Then you mush them up (you have several options to do that), add some fall spices, and cook them for a bit more. That’s it! That’s all you need for homemade apple butter! And this apple butter is healthier than many as there is no sugar added to it.
- Can we all agree that the combination of warm brownie + real vanilla ice cream + homemade caramel sauce + hard toffee = One Delicious Dessert? This Brownie Sundae Recipe does all that for a real winner.
- These spiced Madeleines are special enough for any fancy gathering. But, you could just as easily enjoy them with your cup of tea or coffee any time of the day! Following this detailed Madeleine recipe and the tips will ensure Madeleine success!
From the Arts + Crafts Studio
- While going through my Fall boxes this weekend, I came across these Needle Felted Pumpkins. This was one of my earliest needle-felted projects as it is an easy one for beginners.
- This nailhead Bulletin Board stays up year-round and displays the Christmas cards we’ve sent over the years. It’s a lovely look back at how my kiddos have grown over the years.
- With just a few supplies and some easy-to-follow instructions, you can transform plain white candles into beautiful, hand-painted candles. Whether you’re crafting for a cozy dinner table or giving them as a unique gift, this project will bring a fall/seasonable vibe to any setting.
In the Garden
- Follow these plans for an easy-to-make cold frame from old windows and how to keep your cold frame warm during winter.
In the House + Home
- These illustrated Step-by-Step Instructions show how to fix moth holes in sweaters and other knit items. Knowing how to repair moth holes will help you extend the life of your fine knits.
- If you’ve ever wanted to reupholster a piece of furniture, I share the tips and guidance I used to reupholster a chair. It wasn’t as bad as I thought!
Some Fun Finds and a Few Favorites
Some of these links may be Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from the sale of these products to help defray the costs of operating this site, but the price you are charged is not affected. You can see my full disclosure policy here.
Amazon Prime Days start tomorrow, but they’ve released some early deals. It’s a good time to think about upcoming gifts you’ll need and take advantage of the sales.
- EchoDot for kids is more than 50% off right now.
- I am a self-avowed Sharpie enthusiast and this Sharpie set more than 60% off! One can never have too many Sharpies…amiright?
- 7-Qt Crock Pot Slow Cooker is 40% off.
- Breville Espresso Maker is 40% off.
- I have these battery-operated candles in my outdoor lanterns on my front porch. I love that I can program them to turn on and off at specific times and that they do throw off a good bit of light. You can see them in the picture with Elsa at the front door at the beginning of today’s newsletter.
- I happened upon glass emery boards, and I’m a big fan! They are much gentler on my nails than the sandpaper emery boards.
Well friends, enjoy your day! I hope to get the recipe for those Spiced Cookies I made yesterday typed up to share with you today.
Thanks for spending a bit of your morning with me.
Hugs,
Thank you again, for your blog\posts. All so very useful and relevant to me personally right now.
Oh, I’m so glad Kim! That is my goal for every newsletter and post I write! I really appreciate you taking the time to share that with me. It helps me to know that I’m on the right track.
Have a fantastic day.
Hugs, Lynn