Tea & Wine granny square blanket

Tea & Wine granny square blanket

In my continuing quest to use up my wool stash I made this lovely little cot blanket for charity.

It is just a random selection of granny square techniques.

Granny Square - colour blocks

With every blanket I make I'm left with a little ball of wool that sits sadly at the bottom of my basket.
Well that used to be the case...now I make these fantastic colour block blankets. All you need is small amounts of colourful wool and a base colour, in this case white.

Make a traditional run of the mill granny square. The large squares are eight rounds wide but the small ones ate anything from two to four. Add a base colour round or two then sew together.

Wallflower crochet square

Wall flower Crochet Square

This pretty square is a bit tricky at first but quick to make and very open. This lap blanket used 16 balls of 50g 8ply wool. I have provided you with both the UK and US versions of the patterns.

UK Instructions

Abbreviations: 

SC Single crochet

DC Double crochet

TR Triple crochet

Begin with a magic circle or chain three and SC to make loop.

Round 1: 

SC into ring then CH 6 (chain 6) 4 times and end with a SC at beginning of round. 

You'll now have 4 big loops.

Round 2: 

CH 1, 7 SC  into first space (loop)

SC into SC (join between loops from previous round),  CH 5 PICOT [CH 5 then SC into same SC as beginning of this chain]

7 SC into next loop followed by CH 5 picot, repeat into third loop.

7 SC into final loop, SC into final SC, CH 2 then DC into final SC. This will make something similar to the 5 CH picot except your stitch and wool will be at the top of the loop so you can start the next round.

Round 3: 

CH 4, skip 1 SC, 1 TR into each of next 5 SC, skip last SC, CH 4, SC into top of previous 5 CH picot

Repeat this twice more

CH 4, skip 1 SC, 1 TR into next 5 SC, skip SC, CH 1, 1 DC into last picot

Round 4:

ALL TOGETHER NOW! The next round brings the Stitches together in little bundles. Leave last loop of each stitch on hook, by end of each sequence you will either have 5 or 3 loops on your hook which you then bring together (yarn over and loop them all through!) 

TOGETHER: CH 3, 1 DC under DC of last round then 1 TR in picot 2 DC in next 4 CH space. 

CH 5

TOGETHER: 1 DC in next 3 TR

CH 5

TOGETHER: 1 DC in previous TR and next 2 TR

CH 5

TOGETHER: 2 DC in next 4 CH space, 1 TR in picot, 2 DC in next 4 CH space

Repeat this sequence until the end SC in top of 1st together group in round.

Round 5:

CH 1, 6 SC in 5 CH space, SC in top of bundle, 

Make a corner: in next 5 CH space - 3 SC, 3 CH picot then 3 SC. SC in top of next bundle.

*6 SC in 5 CH space, 3 CH picot in top of bundle, 6 CH in 5 CH space, SC in top of bundle.

Make a corner: in next 5 CH space - 3 SC, 3 CH picot then 3 SC. SC in top of next bundle.

Repeat * until square is complete, SC to join then fasten off.

US Instructions

Abbreviations: 

DC Double crochet

TR Treble crochet

DTR Double treble crochet

Begin with a magic circle or chain three and SS to make loop.

Round 1: 

DC into ring then CH 6 (chain 6) do this 4 times and end with a SS at beginning of round. 

You'll now have 4 big loops.

Round 2: 

CH 1, 7 DC  into first space (loop)

DC into DC (join between loops from previous round),  CH 5 PICOT [CH 5 then DC into same DC as beginning of this chain]

7 DC into next loop followed by CH 5 picot, repeat into third loop.

7 DC into final loop, DC into final SC, CH 2 then TR into final DC. This will make something similar to the 5 CH picot except your stitch and wool will be at the top of the loop so you can start the next round.

Round 3: 

CH 4, skip 1 DC, 1 DTR into each of next 5 DC, skip last DC, CH 4, DC into top of previous 5 CH picot

Repeat this twice more

CH 4, skip 1 DC, 1 DTR into next 5 DC, skip DC, CH 1, 1 TR into last picot

Round 4:

ALL TOGETHER NOW! The next round brings the Stitches together in little bundles. Leave last loop of each stitch on hook, by end of each sequence you will either have 5 or 3 loops on your hook which you then bring together (yarn over and loop them all through!) 

TOGETHER: CH 3, 1 TR under TR of last round then 1 DTR in picot 2 TR in next 4 CH space. 

CH 5

TOGETHER: 1 TR in next 3 DTR

CH 5

TOGETHER: 1 TR in previous DTR and next 2 DTR

CH 5

TOGETHER: 2 TR in next 4 CH space, 1 DTR in picot, 2 TR in next 4 CH space

Repeat this sequence until the end DC in top of 1st together group in round.

Round 5:

CH 1, 6 DC in 5 CH space, DC in top of bundle, 

Make a corner: in next 5 CH space - 3 DC, 3 CH picot then 3 DC. DC in top of next bundle.

*6 DC in 5 CH space, 3 CH picot in top of bundle, 6 CH in 5 CH space, DC in top of bundle.

Make a corner: in next 5 CH space - 3 DC, 3 CH picot then 3 DC. DC in top of next bundle.

Repeat * until square is complete, SS to join then fasten off.

Nana Tech

I'm a great believer in Nana Technology.

Not nano technology or aids for the elderly but NANA technology. The art of our grandmothers, the make-do mind set.

I'd like to say we live sustainably and have a carbon neutral lifestyle. I admire those folk who live in eco houses, wear warm hand knit alpaca jumpers and eat vegan organic  home grown food. Unfortunately we are too busy and rather too fond of meat and convenience (at times) to live the ideal life. So instead I try where possible to learn what I can.

I can knit, hand/machine sew, crochet. I have the patience for a baby blanket, slippers, scarves and hats but as yet have never attempted a lovely warm hand knit alpaca jumper. I can make jam and preserve/can food - in fact I NEVER buy jams and preserves, I make them. I cook from scratch and shun most processed foods. I say most as I love Ketchup and the convenience of powdered stock.

But it isn't just Nana tech I love, I go for a little Papa tech as well. I can hammer a nail, build a garden bed, fix toys and change a washer.

I'd love to join the WI or CWA but I don't live in the country and I'm under 50!
So I'll end my little chat with some links to others who are embarcing this new (old) frontier.

Nana Tech
Power of Nanna Technology
Make do and mend

For the love of a Granny square

I've fallen in love with crochet again.

The basic stitches are so easy and simple and the work just flies through my fingers.
The best part of crochet is the granny square, so lovely with so many combinations. I've gone slightly crazy over baby blankets - why I do not know as no one I know is expecting a baby. I suppose I'll be happily prepared should one of our friends decide to go for a second, third, fourth or fifth.

The first blanket I completed this year was one inspired by a Purl Bee pattern: Bear's Rainbow Blanket a beautiful circle in a square style granny square.

Once I finished this one I thought I might do a giant granny square to use up all my wool - nothing like using the stash (now I can by more). I finished the work with a row of double crochet then a row of single crochet.

Next I though I'd make a granny rectangle to fit a single bed. Unfortunately I didn't make the foundation line of the blanket long enough so I wasn't going to achieve the right size. A quick border of double crochet (5 rows) and I have a beautiful baby blanket.

Lemon Barley Cordial

Lemon Barley Cordial

It's cold outside, the sky is grey and the streets are black from the rain. I love this time of year. OK so it's not as cold as Canada and not as romantic as London but Melbourne has its own winter charm. Unfortunately with the cooler weather comes colds and flu.

So here is the ultimate cold weather vitamin C boost for all those ill or just in need off a little TLC.

Gather your ingredients

1/2 cup barley

500ml water

300ml Lemon juice - about 6 lemons

The zest of one lemon - no pith please

250g/1cup caster sugar

Start Making

Pop the barley and lemon zest in a l litre pot with some water. Bring to the boil for 2 minutes, drain the barley and lemon zest then return to the pot and add the fresh 500ml water. Bring to the boil then simmer covered for about 45 minutes.

Drain the Barley mixture keep the water! Add the lemon juice and sugar to the barley water. Place over heat and stir until sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil for 2 minutes.

Pour into warm sterile bottle - I use a 750ml Passata bottle.

Serve

Dilute with hot or cold water. It's quite strong so a little goes a long way.

If the cold is bad or you just need a little extra TLC add a dram of whisky!

Lemon & Mandarin Marmalade

The lemon tree has a bumper crop this winter. So now I'll be a little lemoncentric on my posts for the next little while.

So let's begin our lemon festival with Lemon and Mandarin Marmalade

Lemon & Mandarin Marmalade

Gather your ingredients 
3 Mandarins
3 Lemons
400ml water
2 cups granulated sugar

The preparation - it takes a bit of time


Wash your mandarins and lemons to remove any pesticides, wax and in our case with home-grown produce any possum wee!

Carefully peel the mandarin and using either a knife or scissors slice into thin strips.

Carefully using a zester remove  the lemon rind being careful not to get any white pith (bitter ugh).
Use as much of the rind as you like.

Remove any seeds or pith from the lemon and mandarins. Either chop the lemon and mandarin slices or place in a food processor and whiz a bit. Place in a medium sized jam pot.


The Marmalade

Place the rind and water in a small pot and bring to the boil. Once boiling reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the cooked rind and water to the pot containing the citrus fruit. Bring up to the boil then boil gently for 20 minutes.

Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Bring to the boil, stir frequently until mixture reaches setting point (10-15 minutes). Pour into hot jars and seal.

Makes about 4 jars.

Confession - making marmalade is a labour of love for me. I hate it, I hate the smell, the taste and the preparation. However my family LOVES it and I love them. If I ever stop making it they'll know they're in trouble.