Earth Day Tradition: Two Towel Patterns (+ a Recipe!)
UPDATE: The towel patterns are no longer available for free but can be purchased here.
Happy Earth Day! I'm so excited to be celebrating the fourth year of my favorite tradition - the release of two special towel patterns, free for three days only, in honor of Earth Day. I am thrilled to add these two patterns to my stack of eco-friendly designs and to be able to offer them to all of you for free for a limited time! Scroll down to find the new Bistro and Mercantile Kitchen Cloth patterns for free until Saturday, April 24th, 2021 at 11:59pm EST, after which they will return to normal pricing and join my Purposeful Patterns initiative whereby $1 from the sale of each pattern will be donated to One Tree Planted. I'm also sharing one of my favorite recipes that's an eco-friendly alternative to the store bought version, which you can find below as well :)
2020 put our Earth and nature in sharp focus as the global COVID-19 pandemic effectively put humans on lockdown. We all saw the headlines of wild animals roaming the empty streets and waterways where they hadn't been spotted in decades, and of skies clearing after being fogged with perpetual pollution as we were all forced to stay indoors, allowing nature to thrive in every way. I for one found it incredible to watch Mother Earth bounce back so quickly when we give her the opportunity.
As we start to emerge back into the world, I think it's more important than ever to take steps each and every day to help protect our planet. Last year in New York City where I live, a giant digital clock in Union Square that used to tell the time now showcases a countdown to when scientists and experts believe the effects of climate change will become irreversible - around just 7 years from now. It is a daily reminder, ticking down second by second, of how crucial our choices are in this very moment. This year the clock was updated to include a second set of numbers with a more hopeful message, measuring the percentage of the world’s energy that comes from sources like the sun and wind. That number is currently just over 12% but is (very slowly) increasing.
While the mission of saving the planet seems like an enormous job for any one person, it's the small daily choices and changes we each make that add up to the bigger task at hand, and it's important for all of us to make informed decisions. I encourage all of us to assess ways in which we can make better, more sustainable and eco-conscious choices in every aspect of our lives to keep this planet (and ourselves) healthy for future generations.
If you don't know where to start, I compiled a list of links with some simple ideas below. My friend Chondra (@chonlinkz_39) shared her tips on Instagram for 6 ways she's being more mindful in her daily life, and these are such easy ways we can all use to move toward being kinder to our Earth one day at a time. They include planting your own herbs and veggies, using reusable bags and bottles, opting out of junk paper mail, switching to non-toxic cleaning products, and recycling. Last year I called every single catalog and company I receive mail from and asked to be removed from their mailing list or switched to digital statements, and I've been shocked at how much paper one person can save on a monthly basis! It's little things like this that over time or when done by many people can make a huge impact.
70 Ways to Save the Earth
50 Ways to Help the Planet
40 Ways to be Greener at Home
10 Easy Ways to Live a More Eco-Friendly Life
Committing to reusable bags and towels is another way to help reduce your footprint, and what better way than to knit or crochet those items!? Here are a few of my favorite eco-friendly patterns to do just that:
This annual pattern drop is something I look forward to and think about all year long. I have countless sketches and notes that I collect over several months as inspiration for the next set of towels, because they're just so fun to make and I absolutely love imagining their use and the mood that inspires their designs. Read about the inspo behind the previous three years' towels here:
2018: Alsace and Marseille Tea Towels
2019: Barrow and Waverly Hand Towels
2020: Brimfield and Berkshire Dishcloths
The inspiration for this year's Earth Day designs was functionality and simplicity. I wanted these towels to be clean and utilitarian, unfussy and classic. After a year spent in quarantine, I think a lot of us are leaning into a less cluttered, more essentials-driven feel for our homes, and these towels fit perfectly in that world. Since they're handmade they still feel special, but not in a way that makes them too precious to use. They feel all at once elevated but still useful.
Whenever I think of classic, simple sophistication I immediately think of the French. They have a certain je ne sais quoi way of making everything feel elegant and effortless at the same time. I love the way the classic striped napkins at French cafes are such workhorses but simultaneously look so chic. This concept heavily influenced the two designs, and I named the knit towel the Bistro Kitchen Cloth as a nod to it.
I'm always drawn to boutique home and kitchen shops and the way all of the tools and decorative items are curated. One of my fave stores of this caliber is Clove and Creek in Kingston, NY, and I kept imagining these towels in such a place. Many of the items they sell are rugged enough for everyday use but pretty enough to be on display. Because the crochet towel is so thick and tough, I wanted it to have a name that reflected the utilitarian and functional beauty of it. I named it the Mercantile Kitchen Cloth to reflect that idea, as I can totally picture it sitting on the shelves of an upscale general store.
In addition to the towels, this year I wanted to offer an extra special something. So many of us have taken up a lot more cooking in the past year, and aside from knitting and crocheting, it's one of my favorite activities. I often share recipes and kitchen hacks in my Instagram stories, but I'm excited to start bringing more food and home related content to you across the board. So I figured I'd start with one of my most "famous" recipes - my granola! I use it to top my yogurt, as a cereal with a splash of oat milk, or just as a standalone snack eaten by the handful (once you start you can't stop!). The best part about making your own granola is that you can shop for almost all of the ingredients in the bulk food section of your grocery store. You can bring your own reusable containers to fill up with all of the ingredients and reduce the packaging waste from purchasing each item individually wrapped or ready-made granola. Hot tip: it’s also cheaper to shop this way!
Scroll down for the recipe.
I started giving this as a holiday present in lieu of cookies years ago, and ever since it's consistently been one of my most requested gifts (especially for the men in my life who are hard to shop for!). It's incredibly easy, feels so fancy, and in my opinion is much more delicious than anything you can find in a store. And because it's baked at such a low temp, I was even able to take my new towels for a spin as stand-in hot mitts to use for removing the trays from the oven. For an extra special housewarming gift, whip up a set of towels to give along with a jar of the granola.
Now back to the towels! As I mentioned above, these patterns will be available for free for three days from 4/22/21 through 4/24/21. Starting on 4/25/21, they will only be available for purchase as printer-friendly, ad-free PDFs. The PDFs are part of my "Purposeful Patterns" initiative, whereby $1 from the sale of each pattern will be donated to a worthy cause.
This time around I've chosen to support a wonderful organization called One Tree Planted, which is a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. Their mission is to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees, and for every dollar donated, they will plant one tree! That means that for every pattern purchase, you’re also giving a tree back to the planet. What could be better than that!?
One Tree Planted works with partners in North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, so it is truly a global endeavor. Did you know that trees help clean our air, filter our water, and provide habitats to over 80% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity? They also provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people, absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere, and are key ingredients in 25% of all medicines. By planting trees, One Tree Planted is able to help restore forests after fires and floods, create jobs, build communities, and protect habitats for biodiversity. To learn more about One Tree Planted or to donate directly, visit their site here.
Please enjoy the following patterns + recipe!
The Bistro Kitchen Cloth
The Bistro Kitchen Cloth is a beginner level knitting pattern and the techniques involved are the knit stitch, slipping stitches, and changing colors at the end of a row.
Purchase the printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
The Mercantile Kitchen Cloth
The Mercantile Kitchen Cloth is an easy level crochet pattern and the techniques involved are single crochet, chaining and skipping stitches, working into chain spaces, and changing colors at the end of a row.
Purchase the printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
… and now, The Best Granola Recipe Ever!
(Makes approx 7.5 cups)
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup blanched, slivered almonds
1/4 cup cashews, roughly chopped
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup golden flax seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
EQUIPMENT:
Large and small mixing bowls
Baking sheets
Glass jars
Spoons
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 250 F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, almonds, cashews, coconut, sugar, salt, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, wheat germ, and cinnamon. In a small bowl, stir together the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix together until everything is lightly coated in the liquid.
Spread the granola evenly on two parchment lined baking sheets and cook for 1 hour, lightly stirring and rotating the trays halfway through.
Let cool completely, then break into clusters and store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
OTHER MIX-INS:
Lemon, orange or other citrus zest (added to the dry ingredients before baking)
Additional spices like ginger, nutmeg, allspice, or cloves (added to the dry ingredients before baking)
Additional nuts like walnuts, pecans, and macadamias (added to the dry ingredients before baking)
Peanut, almond, or other nut butter (added to the wet ingredients before baking)
Dried fruit such as berries, pineapple, apricots, or raisins (added after baking)
Chocolate chips (added after baking)
Looking for other ways to reduce waste in your daily routine? Check out the French Market Bag and Farmers' Market Tote patterns!
Don't forget to share your projects made using Two of Wands patterns on Instagram with the hashtag #crewofwands so your post will get featured on my site and you'll be in the running for monthly pattern giveaways!
Check out the #crewofwands community page here.
The patterns and photographs of items on this site are the property of Two of Wands and are for personal, non-commercial use only. These patterns files are protected by US copyright, and you may not distribute or sell them electronically or physically. Small batch sales of finished pieces made from these patterns are permitted, but seller must use their own photographs and credit must be given to Two of Wands as the designer.
