News From the Nest, January 12

This Knit Heart potholder pattern works up in 3-4 hours using 100% cotton yarn and simple knit and purl stitches, creating a practical kitchen essential with a sweet heart motif perfect for Valentine’s Day or year-round use. The pattern uses two colors: burgundy and chiffon, with garter-stitch borders and a stockinette center.

The seed stitch knit pattern remains one of the most versatile stitches you’ll learn – it creates reversible fabric that lies flat, making it perfect for borders on blankets, dishcloths, and potholders, plus it adds lovely texture with its little bumps. This tutorial teaches this basic stitch pattern.

This common knit errors article covers the mistakes every knitter will make at some point – dropped stitches, twisted stitches, and tension issues. The post walks you through how to prevent, diagnose, and fix each problem, and I truly believe that forcing these errors intentionally makes you a better, more confident knitter.

January brings citrus season, and this orange marmalade recipe delivers sunny, tangy preserves perfect on toast or paired with goat cheese for an elegant appetizer – one reader called it “so simple and so delicious” and surprised neighbors with jars. The recipe takes time to prep all that zest, but the results are worth it.

This slow cooker potato leek soup combines potatoes, leeks, and white beans for protein in a creamy soup that needs no heavy cream – rated 5 stars, one reader noted it “reheats well too!” Just don’t forget to thoroughly wash the leeks to remove any silt trapped between the layers.

Make your own chili seasoning blend with ancho chile powder, chipotle for smokiness, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. One U.K. reader thanked me profusely, saying the chili seasoning there is “pretty tasteless and comes in tiny quantities,” and she’s found endless uses for this mix.

I walk you through every step in this detailed sourdough bread tutorial, from preparing the levain to baking in a Dutch oven, with photos and a suggested schedule that fits into your weekend. The best part? Using regular all-purpose flour, you can bake a beautiful loaf for just $1-2 compared to $5-8+ at the bakery. Plus, the natural fermentation makes it easier on your stomach than store-bought bread.

Making and canning your own chicken stock is one of those skills that pays off in so many ways. Not only can you control the sodium and avoid all those additives in store-bought versions, but the flavor is incomparable. My chicken stock recipe and canning tutorial covers both roasted and raw stock, plus detailed instructions for pressure canning so you can store it safely at room temperature for months. From 5 pounds of organic chicken and some vegetables, I can put up 8 quarts of stock, another quart or two of bone broth, and even chicken treats for the pups.

This Spaghetti Arrabiata recipe brings the flavors of Rome to your table. Made with San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, and crushed fennel seeds, this sauce packs a little heat while keeping things simple. The sweet tomatoes balance the spice, and the sauce comes together in about an hour. Serve it over spaghetti or penne (my fav is bucatini!) with fresh basil and Parmesan, and it freezes beautifully for quick weeknight meals. Add a loaf of bread and the salad below for the perfect meal!

This simple Italian mixed salad became our go-to during a trip to Tuscany. It’s just fresh greens, tomatoes, thinly sliced cucumbers, carrots, and red onions with a light red wine vinaigrette, but the quality of the ingredients makes all the difference. In this insalata mista post, I also share what I learned about olive oil during a visit to a family-run vineyard in the Chianti region – turns out olive oil can taste different from year to year depending on environmental conditions. It’s the perfect accompaniment to pasta, grilled meat, or soup.

The Old Fashioned is one of those timeless cocktails that’s surprisingly easy to master at home once you understand the technique. This version uses demerara sugar instead of regular sugar, which adds a subtle molasses note that pairs beautifully with bourbon, while the combination of Angostura and orange bitters gives it real depth. I walk you through each step of making the perfect Old Fashioned with photos, from properly muddling the sugar cube to expressing those orange oils over the finished drink. It’s the kind of cocktail that makes you feel fancy without requiring a fully stocked bar.

This date nut bars recipe comes from my Grandma’s old recipe tin – soft, chewy bars where brown sugar replaces white for a deeper molasses-tinged flavor, studded with walnuts for crunch. They bake up in about an hour, much easier than rolling out individual cookies.

This console table tutorial walks you through building a narrow sofa table for tight spaces using purchased chunky legs and cypress boards. The project uses basic tools – a Kreg Jig, bar clamps, and a sander. The detailed photos and instructions cover everything from gluing boards together to attaching the legs. For weeks after we built it, Terry would walk by saying, “Can you believe we built this?” and I’m like, “Well, of course!” It’s the kind of project that makes you feel like you can tackle anything.

Looking for a centerpiece that lasts longer than fresh flowers? This living centerpiece has been going strong in my crystal bowl for a couple of years. I separated the orchid in its own small container since it needs less water than the ferns, added moss around the edges, and tucked in a little bunny for whimsy. One tablespoon of water weekly for the orchid, regular watering for the ferns, and you have a tabletop garden that thrives year-round with minimal fuss.

After discovering a watermark on my table from my centerpiece, I needed a solution that wouldn’t detract from the crystal bowl. The answer? Making my own pot feet from polymer clay. This quick project takes just an hour from start to finish. Add felt or rubber feet to the bottom, and they’re ready to protect your furniture while adding a touch of style. Not, they don’t prevent drips, but you can more easily see if there is a drip.

We’re in the midst of tackling our bedrooms and bathrooms during the 2026 Decluttering Challenge. You can join the free challenge anytime or just head over to the post to do it on your own.

Ready to tackle bedroom and bathroom clutter? This declutter checklist is like a scavenger hunt with 31 items you can toss without missing them. From that third-oldest pair of athletic shoes to uncomfortable underwear you keep bypassing, expired cosmetics to wire hangers your dry cleaner will happily take back. The hardest part of decluttering is giving yourself permission to let go of things you bought with good intentions. This checklist gives you that permission.

How to Declutter: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself When I helped my sister-in-law declutter, I kept asking several questions that helped her decide what to keep. These 10 questions help you narrow down what you want to keep or let go of. “Would you buy it again today if you didn’t already own it?” When I asked myself that about my spiralizer, the answer was no, and off it went to Goodwill.

Where to Donate and Recycle Once you’ve decluttered, where do the discards go? This resource guide makes it easy. Clothing goes to Dress for Success, Vietnam Veterans, or local shelters. Well-worn shoes can be recycled at Nike outlets for playground surfaces. Gently used eyeglasses go to the Lion’s Club, and prescriptions go to Walgreens kiosks. Knowing your discards will make it easier for someone to let them go.