Big Stitch Quilting, Delfted Dress Pattern & New Cast-Ons: What I’m Making This Summer
Quilted Totes, Test Knits, and Tomato Juice: Summer Crafting on the Farm
Hello, friends! Welcome back to Young Folk Knits. I’m Kaci, and today I’m excited to share what’s been keeping my hands busy lately—from summer sewing and spontaneous cast-ons to spinning plans and a bit of garden-fueled homesteading. If you’re someone who loves a bit of everything (and maybe finds yourself dreaming of fish-themed sweaters too), you’re in good company.
Let’s dive in!
The Delft Dress: Gingham, Gathered Tiers, and a Breezy Summer Sew
Let’s start with what I’m wearing today: the brand-new Delft Dress by M Southwick (aka Madswick Sewing).
I had the pleasure of test sewing this dreamy little number with my friend Megha from Skeins of Dreams, and we both were thrilled that the pattern included instructions for a full bust adjustment. That kind of thoughtful design makes such a difference!
I sewed mine up in a linen gingham from Merchant & Mills that I snagged at Ewe Fibers include one of my favorite fabric shops. The dress is packed with charming details: puff sleeves, a rounded square neckline finished with bias binding (my fave!), and a gently curved waist that leads into a glorious gathered skirt.
What really makes this dress pop is the scalloped tiers at the bottom. They’re geometric and playful but not difficult at all to sew. I split the project across two evenings: one for the bodice, one for the skirt. Super manageable, even in a busy week.
The linen gingham gives it that effortless summer vibe, but I can see it working beautifully in everything from a solid-colored silk-linen blend for a dressier look to heavier fabrics for fall. I’m already dreaming of pairing it with knit cardigans and socks once the weather cools. No zippers, no buttons—just a pull-on style that’s comfy, stylish, and completely twirl-worthy.
Quilted Tote Bag Project: Big Stitches, Big Plans
Staying in the sewing lane, I dusted off a WIP I’d tucked away—a hand-quilted tote bag project inspired by vintage quilts from my husband’s grandmother. I wanted that nostalgic, big-stitch look that shows off the maker’s hand.
I pieced together a quilt star using basic square and triangle shapes—no pattern needed! And then I leaned on Craftsy, my go-to for learning new techniques, to walk me through the big-stitch quilting process. Their class Big Stitch Quilted Clutch by Jessica Marquez was exactly what I needed. Jessica covers everything from quilting patterns to assembling a clutch (which would also make a super cute tool pouch for knitting or sewing notions!). ◦ The first 1,000 people to use my link will get a full year of Premium membership to Craftsy for only $1.49!
This tote will be roomy enough to hold a whole sweater’s worth of yarn and maybe a smaller project too—perfect for when I want to grab one bag and go. I’ve pulled out some cotton webbing for the straps and am just about finished with the hand quilting. I might machine quilt the back panel to speed things up, but I love the handmade look of the front.
Knitting Progress: Test Knits and Cast-On Chaos
On the knitting front, I’m deep into a couple of test knits.
But you know how it goes—I blinked, and another project jumped on my needles. Cheryl from CocoaAmour Knits has a new pattern coming soon called the Peatland Sweater, and y’all… I had zero chill. It’s a circular yoke with a dramatic floral motif that gives fair isle vibes including no float-catching drama. Just three stitches max per color. It’s brilliant.
For this one, I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed in a moody black tweed as my main yoke color. My floral contrast color is a nutty brown (I’ll list the exact name in the video description), and the second contrast is a soft grey tweed with hints of blue. I’m knitting this at a 19-stitch gauge, and even though that’s light for DK, the felted tweed blooms beautifully and has just the right amount of drape. No stiff sweaters here—especially not in Arkansas where winter’s more of a suggestion than a season!
Spinning Update: From Fleece Force to Fish Girl Fall
Tour de Fleece may be over, but the spinning spirit lives on. Team Fleece Force was a blast, even if I didn’t get as much spinning done as I hoped. I did finish spinning for my Pressed Flowers Cardigan, and the plied singles turned out beautifully—golds, rusty reds, blues, and browns all mingling together in dreamy harmony. I plan to pair them with a blue sport weight yarn from Red Stag Fibers for a striking contrast.
But that’s not all—fish girl summer is slowly morphing into fish girl fall! I’m completely obsessed with the Halibut Sweater by Caitlin Hunter and finally plan to make time for it.
My idea? Spin the contrast color myself. I got a BFL-Masham fiber blend from Sander Yarn Co. (75% BFL, 25% Masham), which I’ll pair with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in a dark charcoal for the main color. I’m planning a three-ply spin to match the worsted weight and keep things bouncy.
And have y’all seen Caitlin’s new fingering-weight Salmon Light Sweater?
The 26-stitch gauge is a little intimidating, but I’m thinking about modifying the pattern to hit 24 stitches instead, just for a bit more drape and speed.
Thinking of making it a fish girl fall knit-along? Fish-themed sweaters, fisherman’s motifs, knits to wear by the water…Let me know if you’re in!
Life Lately: Books, TV, and Canning Chaos
Outside of crafting, life on the farm is buzzing. I mentioned last week I started watching the Hamish Macbeth TV series—and y’all recommended the books! I found the first one on Libby and am excited to dive in.
I’m also queueing up JFK: Public, Private, Secret by J. Randy Taraborrelli. I loved his book on Jackie Kennedy, so this follow-up is high on my list. I’m fascinated by autobiographies, even ones about people I didn’t previously know much about—if the story’s compelling, I’m all in.
Also, “Death of a Gossip” murder mystery:
And it wouldn’t be summer without garden chaos. The tomatoes have come in all at once, gallons of them! We’ve been canning tomato juice the way Brandon’s parents always have, and it’s been a hot, sticky, joyful process.
The kids even got in on the tradition, and seeing rows of shiny jars lined up on the counter is just the best feeling. Watermelons and cantaloupes are ripe, juicy, and exactly what we need during this hot, humid season.
Video
Let’s Wrap It Up
So that’s what’s been going on around here—quilted totes, dreamy summer dresses, test knits, and a few good books and jars of tomato juice thrown in for good measure.
Are you working on anything fun? Spinning up anything special? Should we make fish girl fall a thing? Leave me a comment and let me know what you’re crafting or reading or preserving.
Thanks for hanging out, and until next time—happy knitting, y’all!
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