Spring is in the air—finally! After weeks of bitter cold and snow, we’re seeing the first hints of green peeking through, and it’s a welcome sight. A little crocus braving the chill, the grass starting to wake up—it’s the perfect reminder that warmer days (and plenty of new stitching projects!) are just around the corner.
We’re celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a little extra luck for our stitchy friends: 17% off sitewide now through March 17th! Whether you're looking to stock up on charts, floss, kits, or accessories, it’s the perfect time to grab what you need for your next project.
A Sweet St. Patrick’s Day Treat: Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce 🍏☘️
Not in the mood for corned beef? We’ve got you covered! Let’s celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with something sweet instead. Irish Apple Cake is a traditional dessert that’s lightly spiced, loaded with apples, and perfect for welcoming spring. Pair it with a warm vanilla custard sauce, and you have a treat worthy of any celebration!
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 large apples, peeled and sliced
- 2 tbsp sugar (for sprinkling)
For the Custard Sauce:
- 2 cups milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch round cake pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk. Stir until just combined.
- Fold in apple slices, then pour the batter into the cake pan. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp of sugar.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool slightly before serving.
- For the custard, heat milk in a saucepan until warm but not boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks and sugar. Slowly pour the warm milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Serve warm slices of apple cake with custard sauce drizzled on top. Enjoy!
What’s New in the Stitching World?
The Nashville Needlework Market just wrapped up, and we’re buzzing with excitement over all the new designs heading our way! We’ll start posting preorders next week, with official releases coming after April 21st. If you love discovering fresh charts and planning new projects, stay tuned—it’s about to get very exciting!
Meanwhile, our Designer Spotlight for the next two weeks is Little House Needleworks! Known for their Americana, country, and folk-art-inspired designs, they’re also the makers of Classic Colorworks hand-dyed thread, which we proudly carry. To celebrate, all Little House Needleworks charts and Classic Colorworks floss are 20% off during this feature! We’re also considering adding Punchneedle patterns and supplies—if that’s something you’d be interested in, let us know!
We hope your March is filled with stitches, sunshine, and a little bit of luck. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and happy stitching! ☘️🧵✨
Blessings,
Shelly