News From the Nest, July 27

New on the Blog

Our newest pattern is here, and I’m so excited to share it with you: the Seedling Knit Baby Sweater and Hat. This little raglan set knits up seamlessly from the top down, so there’s no seaming when you’re finished — just weave in a few ends and it’s ready for its first wear. We sized it for four stages, newborn through twelve months, so you can knit it once for a baby shower or whip up the next size as your own little one grows. It’s a weekend-sized project once you settle into the rhythm of the raglan increases, and between the sweater and the matching hat, it makes the sweetest gift any new parent would be thrilled to receive.

From the Knit + Crochet Studio

I realized after I washed and blocked the baby blanket I finished last week that I’d dropped a stitch…right at the beginning. Argh — it happens to the best of us! If it’s ever happened to you, my post on how to diagnose, prevent, and fix dropped stitches walks through exactly how to rescue those runs with nothing more than a crochet hook and a needle.

Speaking of handy skills, the Seedling Hat and Sweater both use circular needles. If you’ve never tried working in the round before, my post on knitting in the round with circular needles will get you comfortable with it in no time — it comes in handy for this sweater and so many other seamless projects.

And it’s not too early to start thinking about Christmas gifts! These crochet slipper socks are quick to whip up and always a welcome gift when the weather turns cold.

From the Kitchen

Appetizers

Take advantage of summer’s tomatoes for this Mozzarella Bruschetta — it’s basically a chopped caprese piled onto warm, toasted bread, and it makes me feel like I’m sitting on a patio somewhere in Tuscany. I mellow the garlic in oil first so it doesn’t overpower the fresh basil and cheese, but the garlic lovers in my house rub a raw clove on the bread for extra bite.

In addition to those tomatoes, if you have shrimp and ripe avocado on hand, this Shrimp Salsa comes together in minutes and disappears just as fast. Grab the scoop-style tortilla chips for this one — trust me, you’ll want every bit of it to make it into your mouth.

Main Dishes

This Buffalo Chicken Salad gives you everything you love about buffalo wings without the mess. The chicken marinates in buttermilk and hot sauce until it’s tender and full of flavor, and the homemade ranch-blue cheese dressing ties the whole thing together. It’s perfect for busy summer nights or feeding a crowd.

Baking

These Blueberry Banana Muffins are one of my go-to ways to use up overripe bananas, and fresh blueberries from the farmers’ market make them extra special this time of year. Bread flour gives them a wonderfully light crumb, and one reader says they’re now her go-to muffin whenever she has bananas going soft on the counter.

Canning + Preserving

Save your vegetable scraps for several months, grab some fresh seasonal produce, and turn them into something you can enjoy year-round with this Homemade Vegetable Broth recipe. Once you’ve made your own, it’s genuinely hard to go back to the store-bought stuff — I keep a stash of several kinds of stock and broth in my pantry at all times.

If your garden (or your local farmers market) is overflowing with jalapeños right now, these Pickled Jalapeño Peppers are a must. They’re barely sweet, perfectly spicy, and so versatile — pile them on nachos, tacos, salads, or sandwiches all year long. One reader has made this recipe for years with different vinegars and spices, and says it always turns out great.

And speaking of jalapeños, pair them with a bottle of white wine and you’ve got this Jalapeño Pepper Wine Jelly. It’s wonderful on a cheese board, but its real claim to fame is bacon candy — smear it over uncooked bacon and bake. You’ll thank me later.

From the Arts + Crafts Studio

Give yourself a little spa day with this Homemade Sugar Scrub. It comes together with just a few ingredients you probably already have, and coconut oil and sugar leave your skin soft and glowing. It also makes a lovely, budget-friendly gift — I’ve included free printable labels if you want to tuck a jar away for someone special.

If you carry your stress in your neck and shoulders the way I do, this DIY Buckwheat Heated Neck Wrap is worth every minute it takes to sew. Pop it in the microwave for heat or the freezer for cold therapy, and add a bit of dried lavender for a truly relaxing touch. I made several of these for the price of one store-bought version, so it’s an easy win for your wallet, too.

In the Garden

If it’s time to start your kale plants indoors, don’t stop there — check out our post on kale companion plants before you plan out the rest of your bed. The right neighbors can help repel pests, boost kale’s growth, and make the most of your garden space.

In the House + Home

Whether you want to show off a treasured china set or put your open shelves to practical, everyday use, there’s a way to make your hutch a real focal point instead of a dust collector. This post on How to Decorate a Kitchen Hutch tosses out some good ideas.

And if clutter has been weighing on you lately, The Psychology of Decluttering digs into why we hold onto things we don’t need and offers real strategies for finally letting go. It’s a good reminder that a lighter home really can mean a lighter mind.

Whatcha Reading?

For the past several years, I’ve joined the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I haven’t hit my goals for the past couple of years, but I’ll keep trying! If you need some book titles to add to your reading queue this year, check out my quick and dirty reviews of what I’ve read and listened to here.