fifteenth - how to make pickled cucumbers

We're officially in the middle of a cucumber glut!

A crate a day. All you can eat; straight off the vine, in salads, and sandwiches, and dips and like apples. We're filling the baskets of anyone passing through. And it's still early in the season!

We planted cucumbers last year for the first time and I fell in love. I had one plant and I think I squealed in delight every single time I picked a fruit from its vine. They were so crunchy and delicious and so user friendly.

This year I planted trays and trays of seeds. And when their green leaves poked out of the soil I quickly repotted them to give their roots space until they took up half of the green house. They were a hardy plant and seemed to thrive under cover.

When it came time to plant them in the ground my farmer boy read me a section from Steve Solomon's Growing Vegetables South Of Australia;

Unless you intend to put up enough cucumber pickles to supply all the rellies, neighbours and friends, two vines will almost certainly become one vine too many.

And then I promptly ignored him and planted about 50 plants. Yep, I know.

So right now, we're getting through them, only just, but come next week, or into February - who knows.

Originally I found our pickle recipe on my instagram friend Jules @procrasticraft's page . We've made them so many times over the past few weeks that they've become a kitchen staple. They're super simple to make and ridiculously delicious to eat.

I asked Jules and she kindly gave me permission to share her recipe, so here it is. Just keep in mind that the measurements aren't exact and each time I make them the number of jars I fill changes.

PICKLED CUCUMBERS

Gather

• five medium sized jars - sterilised
• enough cucumbers to stuff the jars full
• fresh bay leaves
• 1tsp each per jar cumin, coriander, mustard seeds
• 4 cups cider vinegar
• 2 cup water
• 3Tbs each sugar and iodised salt

Make

To each jar add 2 fresh bay leaves, and 1tsp each of cumin, coriander and mustard seeds and then your cucumbers.

In a saucepan put the cider vinegar, water, sugar and salt.

Heat until the sugar and the salt have dissolved but do not bring to the boil.

Cool slightly, fill each jar, seal and store.

Leave a day or two and then EAT!

I have no idea how long they'll last but given that they are full of vinegar, sugar and salt, I'd say quite some time. Also we refrigerate the jars after we open them.

Modifications

We're not big on cumin so we ditched it.
We have masses of garlic so we peel and slice a couple of cloves per jar.
We tried pepper corns but they didn't seem to do anything for the flavour.
We haven't tried dill yet because we don't have any but are going to grow some to add.
We cut down on the sugar for taste.

You know what else? I think there's no reason why this recipe wouldn't work as a pickler for all manner of things...beetroot, onions, carrots...

The only thing that I can't work out is if it's possible to reuse the liquid in another batch, it seems like such a waste to chuck it in the compost. Do you know?

So are you in a pickle?
Do you have a go-to recipe?
What are your fave things to pickle?
Do you think you'll try these?

Thanks Jules!

Happy pickling you guys

Love Kate

xoxo

How to crochet a #grannyhottie - the grand finale

Hello and welcome to this week's edition of the #grannyhottie-a-long.

This week we'll be making a button closure so you can get your hottie in and out of its cover, crocheting the two sides into one and then we'll be making the neck cover.

Sounds like fun! Let's get to work.


Before we begin step four, if you need to catch up a bit you can find step one here, step two here and step three here.

Now for this bit we'll need our two granny square sides, a hot water bottle, a tapestry needle, some snippers, between three and five smallish buttons (1-1.5cm across), your main colour of wool and your crochet hook.


Start by sewing your buttons on the bottom of one of the granny sides. Make sure they are evenly spaced apart, I lined mine up with the middle of each square and make sure they are very close to the bottom of the last row of stitches.


Place your other granny panel on-top of the buttoned panel, wrong sides together, and do the buttons up by slipping them through the last row of dc's on the top. They will probably be tight but will wriggle through.


Now we're going to start crocheting the two panels together.

Join your wool a stitch after the outermost button and start crocheting around.

You can use slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, or even something a bit fancy like a scallop for the joining, whichever you like the look of best. I used singles.

Continue hooking around making sure you crochet two stitches into each corner.


When you reach the opposite side of the cover to the buttons, stop in line with the end of the first square.


At this point I like to insert my hottie and crochet around it to ensure all the stitches fit it snugly.


Staring again on the other side of the neck, after the next square, crochet around the other side.


Fasten off one stitch before the first button.


Now you have a clothed hottie with a naked neck sticking out!


Join your yarn to one of the stitches in the row below, chain three and then start double crocheting your way around the neck. If it looks like there's a gap when you get to the side you can add an extra stitch or if it feels too loose, you can decrease a stitch.


When you get all the way around to the start, slip stitch into the third chain.

Then chain three and work your way all around the neck again.


Continue like this until your neck is covered. I did five rows.

Purely as a guide only;

• my first row had 28 stitches.
• I decreased one stitch on either side of the second row making 26 stitches.
• my third row had 26 stitches.
• I increased a stitch on either side of the fourth row making 28 stitches.
• I increased a stitch on either side of the fifth row making 30 stitches.

After you have finished crocheting the neck, darn in all your straggly ends.


And look at that, you're all done!!

You have finished your #grannyhottie

Yipppeeeeeee!!!!!!

Now all that's left is to fill it up with hot water and jump into bed!!!

Ahhhhhh doesn't that sound like heaven.

If you've been grannyhottieing-a-long please share your pictures with us on instagram using the hashtag #grannyhottie. I can hardly wait to see how great yours all look.


Big love, happy grannies and toastie tootsies.

xx

#grannyhottie step three

Hello it's Tuesday again!

I know, I can't quite believe it either.

But never fear, step three of the granny-hottie-a-long is here!!!

Hooray!!!!!


If you're running a little late to the hottie party, you can find step one here and step two here.

OK let's get started, for this step you'll need your granny squares all joined neatly into a front and a back.


You'll also need your crochet hook, a pair of scissors and your main colour of wool.


Now for the fun stuff.

Starting anywhere you like on the front part of your hottie cover, join your wool to a back loop and chain three.


Then make a double crochet stitch into the back loop of every single stitch along the row. This pattern is pretty forgiving so don't worry too much if you get confused and crochet a stitch too many here or not enough there.

(Remember I am working in US crochet terminology, conversion chart here).


When you reach the corner make two double crochet stitches into the corner stitch and keep going along the next side.


When you reach your first double crochet stitch, make a slip stitch into the third chain stitch you started with.

Then chain three stitches and double crochet in the back loops all the way around the outside of the front panel of the hottie making sure to crochet two stitches into the corners when you reach them.

Once you have finished the second row of stitches, fasten off and repeat for the back of the hottie.

And there you have it, the front and the back of your hottie cover. Well done!!


I was planning to go a little further and join the two panels this week but;

a) I ran out of time

b) I'm loving this hottie-a-long and want to stretch it out so it lasts a little longer

c) I found out that some people like to be able to take their hottie out of its cover and therefore need a cover that opens and closes and that's thrown me.

d) I have become OBSESSED with sock knitting and all my spare crafting time has been sucked up by the sock.


The answer of course is all of the above. The quiz of course is because I finished Gone Girl and loved it.

Let's meet up here for step four next Tuesday Ok?

In the meantime we can chat about our granny hotties in the comments here, on Facebook here, and we can share photos on instagram using the hashtag #grannyhottie.


Happy grannying!!

Love Kate xx

#grannyhottie part two

Hello and welcome back to the granny-hottie-a-long.

Today we'll be moving right along to step two, but if you missed step one never fear you can find it here. Yay!


Today we are going to start with your pile of 24 cute little grannies.

Some people have smaller hot water bottles so they are going to start with their pile of 18 or maybe even 12.


Divide your pile into two, half for the front of your hottie cover and half for the back.

Then arrange and rearrange your granny squares until you have a colour order that is pleasing to your eye.


After that gather your crochet hook, your scissors and a ball of yarn to crochet them all together with.


Start by crocheting two mini grannies together through the back loops.

Gorgeous Lucy over at Attic24 has a brilliant and easy to follow tutorial over on her blog if you need a bit of help with how to do this.


After you've joined two grannies, go ahead and join three.


Then join them all into rows of three.

And then join those four rows of three all together into one piece.

Great job!! You're half way through step two.

Now go back to the top and follow along to crochet the other 12 grannies together.

Once you've made your front and your back you can darn in all your ends by threading them onto a needle and tucking them through a few stitches on the back and then snipping them off.

And that my friends, is step two done and dusted.

I'll see you back here next Tuesday for step three.

In the meantime we can chat about our granny hotties in the comments here, on Facebook here, and we can share photos on instagram using the hashtag #grannyhottie.

Happy grannying!

Bye!!

x

Let's crochet a granny hottie!

I've got a great idea!

Somehow I've found myself in a bit of a crocheted granny-square, hot water bottle cover marathon, and before I get going on my fourth one, I thought you might like to play too.

We could have a bit of a granny-hottie-a-long. How fun does that sound, not to mention snuggly and warm too.

I'm sure you've got lots of stuff going on in your lives so we'll take it pretty slowly, maybe a step a week, and that way we'll all have lots of time to keep up.

What do you think? Are you in?



Just a few things before we get started;

Firstly, I'm going to assume a little bit of crochet knowledge here, but at any stage if you get stuck, or if you are crocheting for the first time, ask google, ask me, or ask in the comments and together I'm sure we can work it out.

Secondly, I'm going to be working in US crochet terminology.

Thirdly, I've been making these up as I go along, but if you feel like you'd like to change things up or do things your own way - go for it.

Yay!! Should we start?

The first thing we'll need to do is gather our supplies and the most important supply of all is YARN. I'm using 8ply wool left over from other projects. This is a wonderful way to use up all those rolly-polly odds and ends.



Next up we'll need a crochet hook. I'm using a 3.5mm because I like the size of the stitches it makes but feel free to experiment. We'll also need sharp scissors for snipping, a darning needle for those perky ends and a larger ball of wool for your main colour (i.e. the edging and neck). And of course we'll need a hot water bottle.


And now for the fun bit!!

Using your yarn and your crochet hook, hook up 24 granny squares using dc's and chains. Remember these granny squares are a bit mini so stop each one after three rounds. When choosing colours, be as wild or as monochrome as you like.

I like to crochet over the tail of the last colour I used as I go (there are plenty of tutorials online), but if that sounds too hard, don't worry about it at all.

I guess the other thing is joining as you go but I like to lay them out at the end and choose where each one will go before joining.

And that's step one all done. Yay!

Let's meet back here next Tuesday for step two.

In the meantime we can chat about our granny hotties in the comments here, on Facebook here, and we can share photos on instagram using the hashtag #grannyhottie (I've checked - there are not hot grandma pics - it's safe).

I'm excited - let the grannie hottie begin!!

Just think how much your cold winter toes will love you.

Bye!!

xx

Pom-pom bombed prezzies. Yes!

It's Thursday and we're in market prep mode.

It's been a little while since we've done a market and I must say this before part, where we're talking about what to sell and how to make it look pretty, is a lot of fun.

This afternoon we've been pom-pom bombing copies of my book. It's been a lovely indoorsy thing to do on this freezing cold summer's day and I think they look super cute too.

In fact I thought you might like to make some of your own.

Here's how we did it;

Gather

• your prezzie
• plain wrapping paper
• sticky tape
• wool
• scissors
• a pom-pom maker/cardboard ring

First wrap your prezzie in plain paper.

Then tie some wool around your package a few times.

Use your preferred pom-pom making method to make three different sized pom-poms. Or two of the same and one different. Or all the same. Whatever you like.

Fluff your pom-poms out and give them a little hair cut if you need to to neaten them up BUT leave the two strings you used to tie them up long.

Tie one pom-pom at a time to the middle of the present using the long strings you left on your pom-pom. After you have tied them up, you can trim them off too.

You are done! Simple pimple, right.

Sit back and enjoy your pretty pom-pommed prezzies.

Oh and instagram them too. Of course. They look so pretty, how could you resist?

Let me know if you make some, I'd love to see.

You can buy these ones we wrapped with a bonus book inside at The Dumbo Feather Christmas Fete this Saturday from 8am-1pm. Yay!

And I am super thrilled to be linking up with amazing Kirsty again at my fave meme My Creative Space. 

Happy making!

Lotsa love.

xx

Their scrappy space! (How to Solvy)

A few days ago I was trying to get some sewing done and my girls were playing on the floor behind me, rummaging around in my rubbish bin and my scraps drawer. They wanted me to sew this and pin that and I wanted them to be a bit more self sufficient.

Then I had a brain wave!

Last year at a craft night at Jodie's house, she gave me a packet of this stuff called Solvy. I vaguely remember her talking about it being some sort of water soluble stabiliser, but couldn't remember the exact details. After a bit of googling around they (we) got to work.

We laid out a strip of Solvy on the carpet and then they rummaged around and covered it with scraps of all shapes and sizes. They tried to make sure that each bit was touching another bit, and that there weren't many gaps.

Then they laid another bit of Solvy on top and made a sandwich.

At this stage we pinned and pinned and pinned the layers together.

And then I lowered the feed dogs on Nina Bernina and sewed and stitched and doodled and drew all over every bit of the length. They stood behind me telling me what to draw...a spiral...a flower...my name...

Then they took the stitched length to the sink where they washed it. At this stage the Solvy became jelly like and then dissolved like magic. They helped it along a bit in the beginning with a paint brush but soon realised they didn't have to be so gentle. Then they squished and wrung the water onto every bit.

And then we hung it on the line to dry.

And admired their art work.

This gorgeous scarf was made entirely from scraps!

It has been worn non stop since it was dry.

We have two more in various stages of completion and a couple of orders from teachers.

This is such a great kiddy craft activity. I highly recommend it.

What's going on in your space today?

I hope your day is a happy, scrappy one!