{tutorial} Make a potholder (or four!)

This Saturday is not only St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also National Quilting Day. Quilting and aprons don’t often go together, but when you throw those necessary potholders into the mix, there’s plenty of quilting to be done for the kitchen. We rounded up a few of our favorite tutorials to share with you.

via Prudent Baby

via Texas Freckles

via Fresh Lemons Quilts

via Modify Tradition

Quilting and Chocolate and Aprons–Oh My!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Quick! Make these before the new year and the subsequent new year’s resolutions start!

These delish cupcakes are just one of the dozen recipes that Jacquelynne Steves includes alongside project instructions in her recent book, Fruitful Hands. Published by Kansas City Star Quilts/Pickle Dish, the book is a collection of sewing projects and recipes, including her Sew Sweet apron and accompanying cupcakes.

Steves uses both quilting and applique to give the apron its own unique look. In fact, many of the projects she includes use more than one technique–painting, embroidery, quilting, sewing and applique. The apron has the patchwork panel and sweet cupcake appliqued to the pockets.

With some thoughtful additions of Insul-Bright or other heat-resistant fabric and a couple layers of batting, you could make the corners of the apron into potholders. Kathy from Merriment has a great tutorial on making an apron with built-in potholders.

For more creative ideas and some yummy recipes, check out Fruitful Hands. You can find out more information about the book and its author on her website. Steves also designs fabric for Henry Glass; her current collection is A Beautiful Day, full of dragonflies and kites and singing birds.

What’s cooking? Or, perhaps, baking?

With Thanksgiving in the rear-view, the holiday season is officially upon us and whether we’ll be making latkes or fruitcake, there’s plenty to keep us busy in the kitchen.

One of my favorite aspects of this time of the year is the candy-making. Every year I try something new, in addition to the favorites I’ve picked up along the way. I found a delightful recipe for caramels that I make every single year (see below), as well as the easy marshmallow cream fudge. A few years back, I tried making peppermint patties from scratch, working up to a flavored fondant and let me tell you, I’m not doing that one again! What a mess.

I dug up some of my old aprons and will be trying to find a new candy to try my hand at this year. Do you have any ideas? What’s your favorite holiday treat?

My Favorite Caramels
(posted to Allrecipes.com by Barbara)

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Grease a 12×15 inch pan.
2. In a medium-size pot, combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, evaporated milk, whipping cream, and butter. Monitor the heat of the mixture with a candy thermometer while stirring. When the thermometer reaches 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) remove the pot from the heat.
3. Stir in vanilla. Transfer mixture to the prepared pan and let the mixture cool completely. When cooled cut the Carmel into small squares and wrap them in wax paper for storage.

It’s All About Friendship

September is International Women’s Friendship Month along with National Sewing Month. It seems that friendship and sewing often go hand-in-hand, whether it is stitching alongside my friends or making some fabric gift or another.

This makes September a perfect time to get together with your lady friends, sew an apron and enjoy some delicious Amish Friendship Bread. Really, what better excuse could you need?

First, you’re going to need an apron, of course. If you’re anything like me, you have plenty but will take any excuse to stitch up a new one. I recently tried out Indygo Junction’s All-Day Apron and loved it. I want to try the modern linen apron in Modern Mix (Stash Books, 2011). The box pleats are a different method for me–I usually just gather the skirt–so I am intrigued. What apron patterns have you been wanting to make?
Once we have our aprons, we need to bake and what’s better for Friendship Month than Friendship Bread? Here’s a favorite of mine:

Amish Friendship Bread
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 (9×5 inch) loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine the Amish bread starter with oil, eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

This recipe makes two loaves: one for you, one for a friend (of course!). We all have friends who need to know they are appreciated. September is a great time to show them. And you’ll have the chance again in November on National Tie One on Day. Get ready because that’s gonna be grand!