News From The Nest – March 17🍀

New on the Blog

One of my dearest friends will welcome her second grandbaby next month, which means we have a new baby blanket pattern! Introducing the Tiny Trails Blanket, named for the little trails made by slip stitches on an otherwise all garter stitch blanket. I added an applied i-cord border to mirror the tiny trails.

From the Knit + Crochet Studio

• This Argyle Baby Blanket was requested by the daughter of the girlfriend I mentioned above for her first baby! How do you not love a good Argyle!?

• It’s good to have a yarn joining method in your back pocket when knitting or crocheting a large piece, like a blanket. My go-to is the Russian Join, which I explain in this post.

• After completing your blanket, scarf, throw, washcloth, sweater, or any other knitting project, it is essential to block it. Blocking your knitting significantly enhances the appearance of your project, making it look more polished and professional. This post explains how to block a knit or crochet piece.

From the Kitchen

• Chilling the dough for these pecan sandies results in a cookie that is light, crisp, and delicate—just as a pecan sandie should be!

• Why is a bowl of chicken soup like a big comfy hug? In my opinion, the simpler the ingredients, the better when it comes to chicken soup recipes. Chicken and chicken broth can be somewhat neutral in flavor, so we want our ingredients to complement and not overshadow the flavors. This Chicken Vegetable Soup is simple and simply delicious.

• 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 spices, and cook them for a bit more. And, when you make your own, you control the ingredients. This apple butter recipe has no sugar.

• Use some of that apple butter you just made to bake these Apple Butter Bars. You are welcome. 😘

• Because pups like yummy food too, dehydrate some sweet potato slices for easy-to-make Sweet Potato Chews.

Learn Something New This Month!

Learn the art and science of jelly and jam-making before spring and summer to preserve the bounty of those seasons. Like many skills, a perceived difficulty is quickly dispelled, and once you’ve made your first jar of jam or jelly, you’ll say, “I’ll never buy it store-bought again!” I have many simple recipes that would be perfect for the first-time preserver, so come on over!

• This post discusses Jelly and Jam Making Basics, including the main ingredients of jams and jellies, their importance, and the basic equipment for making jams and jellies. Additionally, we discuss the differences between various jellied fruits and vegetables.

• This easy, no-pectin plum jam recipe is perfect for those new to canning and preserving. It is simple and lets the plums’ flavor shine through. The optional addition of fresh rosemary while the plums cook down adds a lovely but subtle piney flavor.

In the Arts + Crafts Room

• If you’d like to bring a little spring into your home while you wait for Mother Nature to catch up, these Moss Balls may be just what you need. Easy and quick to make.

• Need a few more ideas to nudge Spring along? This post has a few; my favorite is to sprinkle grass seed…just about anywhere! Those bright green shots have magical power to ward off any vestiges of winter.

In the Garden

I’m tickled to be able to share more and more ‘garden’ posts…it’s getting close to ‘that time!’

• This Container Gardening 101 post shares some essential tips for creating container gardens that will bring you joy throughout the season.

• It may be cliché to refer to singing birds as the harbinger of spring, but it is no less true that spring definitely brings more chatter in the bird world. This Fanciful Bird Feeder project is made from thrift store finds and is truly ‘for the birds.’ 

In the House and Home

• If you’ve ever considered doing your own reupholstery, this post shares my experience and what I learned along the way.

• This Drawer Organization Solution uses simple drawer dividers to bring order to chaos in your drawers. It’s such a great and flexible idea.