One of the reasons I started canning was that I wanted to make something. I wanted to find a way to make something in my own little kitchen that would last longer than the twenty minutes to eat a meal. I wanted to have something I could put on the shelf that was useful, delicious and that I could point to and say, “Look! I made that!”
Hey! That’s me!
It used to be that people made everything for themselves, from the tools that built houses, to butter they spread on their home baked bread, to the sweaters and coats that kept them warm. Knowing how to make, built, and craft was a matter of survival, artistry, and human expression.
I have no interest in going entire back to the days when every item in a home started from raw materials, but I do believe that we’ve gotten a little bit out of balance when it comes to the making of things. I think the current increased interest in knitting, sewing, quilting, crafting, baking from scratch, and canning is our culture’s response to this imbalance. We want to make things with our own hands.
There have been many books, magazines, blogs, and other forms of media that have appeared over the last few years that celebrate this resurfacing instinct to make. One of my favorites is By Hand (and this is not just because I’m a contributor. I’d have subscribed without ever writing a word for it). It was dreamed up by Susan Gibbs, the woman responsible for Juniper Moon Farm and the legions of adorable lamb photos that festoon the internet.
The magazine is simple and lovely. It is divided into five topic areas: Cook, Grow, Build, Stitch, and Craft. Each section features recipes, instructions, ideas, tips, and stories that will help you tackle a world of projects and dishes. The writing is clear, useful, and friendly and the photography is really beautifully done.
Oh this yeasted apple butter bread recipe. I’ve been meaning to make it for months now. I have several jars of apple butter, waiting to be pressed into service. I’m hoping to try it soon and if it’s as good as I think it will be, I’ll post the recipe as a “Preserves in Action” piece.
You can browse the Fall/Winter issue digitally by clicking here and if it seems like something you want to have in tangible format, their shop can be found here. The Spring edition will be out shortly and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it.
What’s more, I have a little giveaway today. Two lucky winners will each get a By Hand tote bag and a copy of the Fall/Winter issue of the magazine (they’re in the first picture at the top of this post). Here’s what you do to enter.
- Leave a comment on this post and share one thing you like to make by hand (it doesn’t have to be food related, either. Just something you make). If you’ve not taken the plunge yet, share something you’d like to learn to do.
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013. Winners will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog over the weekend.
- Giveaway open to everyone.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog at the bottom of this post.
Disclosure: The By Hand editorial staff gave me the tote bags and the copies of the magazine. They did not pay for inclusion on the blog and my opinions remain entirely my own.
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That apple butter bread would come in handy about now… there’s a daunting quantity waiting to be eaten yet.
Canning and kombucha, well my husband just made the kombucha for me.
Canning, as well as sewing and quilting. And I have a strange penchant for making wreaths…
I like to knit items by hand.
I Love making all my cleaning/laundry products, and recently picked up sewing again…<3
I knit, quilt, and cook, and I just learned to spin yarn from wool fleeces. I have not done any canning, but I would like to learn that too!
I am dying to make a garden. I’m nervous because so far all I can keep alive is my dog and that’s thanks to my partner.
Socks! I like to make socks by hand
I love to can tomatoes and am excited to pickle asparagus, thank you for the giveaway!
I’m all about canning and bread making…they seem to be something of a lost art and I’m glad to see folks starting up again! Thanks for a terrific giveaway!
I am just new to canning, super new. As in I really really want to do it but I don’t have the equipment. I freeze lots of stuff though. Just found your blog and I intend to start putting up veggies and fruits come spring!
i like to knit or crochet baby blankets–small enough to complete a project!
I adore knitting and baking, for my family and friends!
I do a lot of things by hand but I think that my favorite is planting my garden. It is so relaxing and gratifying to eat what I grow and then to put up food for the winter.
Thank for the opportunity to win!
I think I was born a maker of things. Knitting, spinning, sewing, quilting, cooking, gardening…I love them all! Woodworking is one thing I haven’t done that I would love to try.
Always sewing things for friends and family – seem to make a lot of buntings! Love baking cakes and hosting tea parties.
Vinegar
I make the granola we eat every morning! Its easy, delicious and always appreciated. I need to get a move on sewing canvas projects and not worry it wont be as good as if made by a professional!
Baking homemade breads and desserts-would like to learn to knit and/ or crochet.
I have fallen in love with canning. I make Gingerbread Spice jelly from tea. I also love to make my own chocolate covered Easter eggs. When my girls (now in their 30′s) were little, making their dresses was my favorite pasttime. My mother would do the smocking, and I would sew the dresses.
I always thought knitting would be my creative end-all, be-all. But spinning is a whole different plane of relaxation and personal satisfaction. So I guess I’d have to say that one of my favorite things to make is my own yarn!
I love making bread. People are always so impressed when they hear you make your own bread, but anybody can do it. Although a Kitchenaid mixer certainly doesn’t hurt…
I love to spin wool into yarn.
Anything from soft fibers. Quilts, pot holders, scarfs, doll sweaters, pin cushions, pillow cases, hats, mittens and napkins. Love to craft from fabric and yarn. Also love to can all sorts of food and condiments.
So many things I like to make by hand–the more the better!
I love to bake desserts and breads, and I love to knit and crochet.
I make quilts by hand. Sometimes I use my sewing machine, sometimes just a needle and thread. I want to learn to spin, so I can make a blanket from local sheep!
I knit and sew. But want to learn to can and preserve – and keep bees!
I love making ice cream.
i enjoy making homemade cards for different occasions.
Hi:
I make preserves, pickles and wine in the basement! There are many things I’d love to learn how to do: knit, collage and plumbing. NO, really, I’d like to learn a useful skill!
I love to knit and bake! I would love to start making my own body products.
Gosh, I make so many things by hand. Lately, I’ve really enjoyed making and giving away jams and marmalade. I love to wear my handmade socks. And just about every one of my friends and family has something made out of my handmade wet felt– my favorite thing to make.
I am addicting to making things. My latest is sewing on my vintage Elna sewing machine.
I make homemade goat cheese all the time (with milk from my dairy goat). I would really like to learn more about basket weaving. Someday…
I love to make cards by hand. Handmade cards are always one of the best gifts to give.
I’ve fallen for quilting this year – so I love making warm blankets by hand
There are so many things I like to do by hand! These include: line-drying laundry; making jams, jellies and fruit butters; cooking meals from scratch, and baking bread.
Creme fraiche and quick pickles. I’ve made beer (once, but I want to do it again) and I really, really want to try kombucha. As for non-food things…I’ve sewn buttons back on?
I bake A LOT, love to can, sew by hand and machine…and I love to write, too…
Love your blog and book!
I agree with many of items posted. I enjoy baking and knitting for family and friends. Scrapbooking is more for me: It reminds me of great memories and wonderful smiles.
I have been baking since I was a child. I love baking and sharing cakes, breads, etc. I also enjoy knitting small projects such as scarves and baby blankets.
Lately, it seems to be yogurt and ricotta cheese. So much better homemade!
Wow, lots of comments… I just took a bookbinding class and started to make note/sketchbooks by hand. Also, my hands finally got better enough that I can take up knitting again. But I think my favorite thing is baking, making challah and pies (not at the same time, usually).
I cook from my garden and preserve what we can’t eat fresh. I have made bread and need to re-start doing that. I am signed up for a class in cheese making. I used to knit and sew, but it seems I let work get in the way of that.
I’d really love to do more, make more, and stay further from the ‘sameo’ stuff found in stores.
I crochet a blanket for every baby of my friends & family.
Tomato sauce. Nothing you can buy compares in the slightest.
What a beautiful looking magazine! I make yogurt all of the time. I would love to try making cheese.
I knit- so calming – and bake and can and make granola and yogurt.
I actually just used your kumquat marmalade recipe! (With limequats, but they work the same). I discovered that (at least for small-batch stuff), if you don’t have cheesecloth, you can just boil the seeds separately and add the water to the citrus. I ended up with a really nice gel!