How I Sterilize Jars for Jam

I love making jam. Today I made some blackberry jam, which I'll do a post about in the next couple of days, but for today, I am going to share how I sterilize jars for jam.

HOW TO STERILIZE JARS, KATHY STYLE:
1. Wash the jars and lids in hot soapy water.

2. Begin to heat up the oven - I set it on 150'celsius.

2. Rinse the jars under hot water. Do not dry them.
4. Put a clean teatowel in an oven tray (one with sides, as might be used for a slice): make sure that the teatowel goes up the sides too.
5. Put the rinsed jars on the teatowel, and put the tray with the teatowel and jars in the oven, even though it will not be completely heated. Leave it in there for at least 10 minutes (at least 5 minutes at 150'celsius) getting it out just before the jam is ready.

I have used this method for all my jams and marmalades, and have not had any problems.

Thrifty is a Nice Word (Unlike 'Frugal')

Being frugal is very popular at the moment - there are so many blogs and articles and information sites that talk about how to be frugal, how to save money, how to bulk buy and make your own.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing! A very good thing! But how many of you are like me? You read all this information until your eyes get twitchy and you get grumpy, and you bookmark a hundred and one pages and you do... maybe one thing. Two if you're super motivated. Oops!

Artichoke Flower

True, I do write a shopping list. I always have because that is what mum did. I menu plan now, but I'm still getting that down pat. (Next fortnight I'm going to be trying a different method which I'll let you know about.) I use homemade cleaners. In someways it is more expensive as now I clean more. Haha! But seriously, my homemade washing powder works a treat. I crochet, so that covers a lot of birthday and Christmas presents. The only problem is that I now love yarn and if I had no self control I would by so much more than what I do now.

I have been thinking about my reluctance to jump onto the frugal bandwagon and I think I have identified problem.

'Frugal' is a horrible word. I have no nice images associated with it. It looks un-pretty and doesn't roll off the tongue nicely. Y. U. K. It has a good definition: to practice economy; to live without waste. Despite this, I don't want 'frugal' to be the adjective chosen by people to describe me.

Bitsy Bunny, made for a friends baby. Pattern is here and here (Ravelry).

'Thrifty', however, I like. It has more of an old-world charm about it. It has sweet images of aprons and embroidered tea towels associated with it. And cups of tea, steaming with deliciousness. (I'm not a big tea drinker but I'm seriously tempted right now). Its meaning is much, much nicer too: wisely economical (phew, I can still go to the movies occasionally); industrious and thriving (I like the sound of that); prosperous (yes please!); growing vigorously, thriving, as a plant. (Which reminds me, I have to water my herbs.)

Isn't that so much nicer? Thrifty has so much more room for romance than sensible frugal does. Marilla Cuthbert was frugal (I love her very much, but gee, she was sensible and prudent!). Mrs March (you might know her better as Marmee), on the other hand, I would describe her as thrifty. I want a happy home like she had - minus an absent husband and Aunt March, of course!

Pattern PDFs

It has taken me hours and now my brain is hurting from working so hard, but I am making PDF versions of my two crochet patterns!

I think it has worked, even though they are appearing differently to how I would like them too. I think that is because I am doing it through Google Docs? Does anyone know?

I will be adding the links to the sidebar very soon :D

ETA: It's okay! I figured out how to make them appear the way I wanted them too! Yay yay yay yay YAY!!!

Amigurumi Pig - Free Crochet Pattern!

I had a dream... well, I had an imagine... of which I drew a sketch... then I waved my hook wand and look at what appeared!

This is Peninnah Pig. Her dress comes off, but don't worry she's a modest pig with her petticoat!

Oops, a Marilyn moment...

The dress does up with a button:

Ever since this little piggy appeared I have been writing, testing, changing and writing some more.

Finally, she is ready! (Here is the Ravelry link to the pattern.)

ETA: the pattern is now available as a pdf download on my "Beautiful Crochet" page - see the link below the blog header.

Penninah Pig 
You can use wool or acrylic for this pattern. Whichever you choose, use that type of yarn throughout.
DK weight cream/white yarn for petticoat: 5 grams (8 meters/8.7 yards)
DK weight pink yarn for body parts: 10 grams (20 meters/21.9 yards)
DK weight of any colour yarn you like for dress: 5 grams (10 meters/11 yards)
Small amounts of black and dark pink for embroidering facial details.
3.5mm crochet hook (next hook down from recommended hook size of 4mm)
Tapestry needle for sewing in the ends
Polyfill stuffing
Small button




Pattern uses US terminology.  
Stitches used: chain (ch), slip stitch (slst), single crochet (sc), single crochet decrease (sc-dec), double crochet (dc).


Special stitches:
--small picot: (slst, ch1, slst) in same st. 
--large picot: (sc, ch2, sc) in same st.
--mini puff: yarn over hook (yo), insert hook into indicated st, yo, draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook [half closed dc, 2 loops remain on hook]. Yo. insert hook in same st, yo, draw yarn through st, yo, draw yarn through 2 loops on hook, yo, draw yarn through last three loops left on hook. 

Special Techniques:
--magic loop video (here are some written instructions)

Notes: 'St' stands for Stitch, 'sk' means Skip, 'blo' means Back loop only. Make sure you read the additional notes where I have added them for the dress and body. **Except for the dress, all the pieces for the pig are worked in a spiral round (i.e. the rounds are NOT joined with a slst).

INSTRUCTIONS
 
Head:
Make magic ring, 
Row1: 6 sc in magic ring
Row2: 2sc in each st around (12sc)
Row3: *sc in next st, 2sc in next st, rep from* (18sc)
Row4: *sc in next 2st, 2sc in next st, rep from* (24sc)
Row5: *sc in next 3st, 2sc in next st, rep from* (30sc)
Row6: *sc in next 4st, 2sc in next st, rep from* (36sc)  
Rows7-12: sc in each st (36sc)

Row13: *sc in next 4st, sc-dec over next 2st, rep from* (30sc)
Row14: *sc in next 3st, sc-dec over next 2st, rep from* (24sc)
Row15: *sc in next 2st, sc-dec over next 2st, rep from* (18sc)
Row16: *sc in next st, sc-dec over next 2st, rep from* (12sc)
Row17: sc in each st around (12sc), slst in next st and fasten off yarn by cutting it and drawing it through the stitch. Leave 20 to 30cm for sewing to body.


Body:
Note: if you do not want a frill, omit rows 4 and 5 and do an extra round of 18sc.

Make magic ring, 
Row1: 6 sc in magic ring
Row2: 2sc in each st around (12sc)
Row3: *sc in next st, 2sc in next st, rep from* (18sc)
Row4: sc in blo of each st (18sc), ch1, turn whole thing upside down.
Row5: make a small picot (see Special Stitches) in the front loop (now the back loop as you are holding it upside down) of the st you just did a sc in, *sk 1 st, make small picot in next st, rep from *. At the end of the round, slst into the the first st that was worked into at the start of the round. Turn right side up.
Row6: sc in each st from row4 (18sc). (Before starting, count the st from row4 so you know which one is the first st. It might be difficult to get the hook into the first st. If it is too hard, just insert the hook through the backloop.)
Row7: Sc in each st (18sc)
Row8: *sc in next st, sc-dec over next 2st, rep from* (12sc)

Rows9-14: sc in each st around (12sc), slst in next st and fasten off yarn by cutting it and drawing it through the stitch. Leave 20 to 30cm for sewing to body.


Arms (make 2):
Make magic ring, 6 sc in magic ring, sc in each st, continue until arm measures 3cm (1 1/8") - around 8 rows total.

Legs (make 2):
Make magic ring, 6 sc in magic ring, sc in each st, continue until leg measures 5cm (2") - around 12 rows total. 


Ears (make 2):
Make magic ring, 
Row1: 6 sc in magic ring
Row2: sc in each st (6sc)
Row3: 2sc in each st (12sc)
Row4 and 5: sc in each st (12sc)
Fasten off yarn. Thread yarn onto tapestry needle. Squish ear together so it is flat and sew the bottom together.



Snout:
Make magic ring, 6 sc in magic ring, 2sc in each st around (12sc). Finish by cutting thread (leaving a tail long enough to sew it to the head) and pulling through st to finish off. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle, take thread under the first sc, and back into the centre of the last sc of the round to finish off the circle without a bump.


Dress: 
Note: leave 15 to 20cm before the starting chain for sewing on a button later. Once the dress is joined and you are working in rounds, always do the first dc of a row in the same st as the slst and ch1 that start the row.
Chain 17
Row1: dc in 6th ch from hook (loop thus created is a button hole), dc in each st to end (12 dc), ch2, turn.
Row2: dc in first st and the next st, ch2, sk 2 st, dc in next st, do a mini puff in each of the next 2 st, dc in next st, ch2, sk 2 st, dc in next 2 st, join to start of row with a slst (now dress will be joined in a circle. Try it on the pig. If you can't get it over the pigs bottom, try adding a ch before the slst. Sk over the ch in the next round so it does not change the st count. Alternatively, go up a hook size.) DO NOT TURN FROM NOW ON.
Row3: ch1, dc in same st, *2dc in next st, dc in next st, rep from *, 2dc in last st (18dc), join round with slst.
Row4: ch1, dc in each st (18dc), join round with slst.
Row5: Repeat row3 (27dc)
Row6: ch1, dc in first st, *2dc in next st, dc in next st, rep from * (40dc), join with sl st.
Row7: ch1, make a large picot (see Special Stitches) in next st, *sk 1 st, make large picot in next st, rep from *, cut thread (leaving a tail long enough to sew in), pull through st to finish off. Thread tail onto a tapestry needle, take thread under the ch1 from start of row, and back into the centre of the last sc of the round to finish off the dress invisibly.
Sew the button onto the dress, making sure it will fit through the button hole. Sew in ends.


Assembly:
1: Sew snout and ears to head. Embroider head with eyes, nostrils and mouth.
2: Sew legs to base of body. Sew arms to body, positioning them between the third and fourth row down from the top of the body.
3: Stuff body and head, sew together (remember that there is an even number of stitches around the head and body openings. I sew them together by matching the stitches).
4: Put the dress on and do up the button!
5: Gaze at the pig until she tells you her name. (Seriously, I try to name them, but they always end up picking their own! Weird, but true.)



Please, if you have any questions, let me know! 

The copyright of this pattern remains with myself. It is provided free for personal use only. The pattern may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. If you want to sell products you have made from this pattern, you are free to do so (please refer to my FAQ page).

Penninah Pig by Katherine Crombie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

My Needle Book

In my perusal of crafty blogs I have seen some amazing needle books. Some have stunning embroidery and many look like they took DAYS to make. Well, my needle book is not stunning and its edges aren't even straight. It still took me ages to make though. Want a squiz? Yeah, okay, I'll show you.

It is made of four rectangles of felt, all sewn together with one seam.

It is neat on the outside but very wonky on the inside!

On the front is a little cross stitch I made over ten years ago.

 

On the inside flap I 'wrote' the date, Dec 28, '08.

 

Inside the back cover is a little pocket for my needle threader.

I love the colours of the felt!

I just love it in general - even though it is wonky and crooked.

 So that is my needle book. It's not perfect by a long shot. But I made it. I used it. It works. I like it. It's mine. I hope you liked it, even just a little!

Did you notice what was in background of some of the photos? It might (just maybe) be a pattern (perhaps!) for something cute and cuddly and sweet! Come back soon to find out!

Kathy xx

Urban Shells Scarf - Free Crochet Pattern!

There is something immensely satisfying about having an idea, and then making it come into being. As I tell DH, I burst with pride inside every time I look at something I made that was TOTALLY my idea. It's such a rush!

The Urban Shells Scarf has been my latest rush... I love this scarf so much!

I named the scarf “Urban Shells” due to the combination of the shell stitches and the post stitches, which created ridges that remind me of power lines. The name of the scarf makes me think of Sandy Bay beach which is so very close to Hobart - a beach (complete with real shells!) in an urban area.

One of the wonderful things about this scarf is that the edging gets done as you go, so when you are done you actually are done! (And there are less ends to weave in - YAY!)

Here is the pattern - I hope you love it as much as I do! (For those of you on Ravelry, here is the link.)

ETA: the pattern is now available as a pdf download on my "Beautiful Crochet" page - see the link below the blog header.


Urban Shells Scarf
300m of DK weight yarn
4.5mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle for sewing in the ends

Measurements: 4.25inches (11cm) wide and 52.5inches (133cm) long

Stitches used (US terminology): chain (ch), slip stitch (slst), single crochet (sc), double crochet (dc), triple crochet (tr), back post double crochet (bpdc)* and front post double crochet (fpdc)*.

* Here is a video tutorial for front post double crochet (fpdc) and back post double crochet (bpdc). (This one is good too.)

Special stitches: shell (sh): (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in same stitch or space.

Note: a bpdc gets worked when the wrong side (WS) of the scarf is facing you fpdc gets worked when the right side (RS) of the scarf is facing you. 'St' stands for Stitch,m 'sk' means Skip and 'chsp' means Chain Space (i.e. space created by chaining, such as in the center of the shell). I used 300 yards of a DK weight yarn, but the pattern will easily lend itself to other yarn weights.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Chain 26 (multiple of 5 plus 1 chain for turning)
Row 1: sc in second ch from hook. Sc in each ch across, turn (25sc)
Row 2: ch4, tr in same st, sk 3 st, (slst, ch4, tr in same st), rep across row, ending with a slst in the last st. Do not turn, instead rotate 180' (6 scallops)
Row 3: ch2, sh (shell) in first st, *sk 2 st, dc in next st, sk 2 st, sh in next st, rep from *. Turn
Row 4: ch2, sh in chsp of previous shell, *sk 2 st, bpdc around dc from previous row, sk 2 st, sh in next st, rep from *. Turn
Row 5: ch2, sh in chsp of previous shell, *sk 2 st, fpdc around bpdc from previous row, sk 2 st, sh in next st, rep from *. Turn
REPEAT ROWS 4 and 5 UNTIL SCARF IS DESIRED LENGTH (or the yarn has nearly run out!)
SCALLOP EDGING (so that both ends match!):
Row 1 (WS should be facing you): ch2, 2sc in chsp, *ch1, bpdc around fpdc from the previous row, ch 1, 3sc in chsp of sh from previous row, rep from * until second last sh, ch1, 2sc in sh, turn (25sc)
Row 2: ch1, sc in top of each st to the end of the row, turn (25sc)
Row 3: (ch4, tr) in same st, sk 3 st, (slst, ch4, tr in same st), rep across row, ending with a slst in the last st (6 scallops)
Fasten off yarn and weave in ends.

Stand back and admire, then wrap it around your neck and go look in a mirror!


Please, if you have any questions, let me know!

The copyright of this pattern remains with myself. It is provided free for personal use only. The pattern may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. If you want to sell products you have made from this pattern, you are free to do so (please refer to my FAQ page).


Urban Shells Scarf by Katherine Crombie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

February Already!

Hi Bloggees!

As you might have noticed, I have changed the title of this blog from "The Ramblings of a Student Wife" to "A Beautiful Ramble". I've also added a blog description. It is all very exciting!

****If you subscribe to this blog through an RSS feed you will need to update the address of this blog!  http://abeautifulramble.blogspot.com/

In other news, I've got a crochet scarf pattern in the works and I'll be publishing it on here soon. I'm very excited about it and can hardly wait to show you! There is something very special about seeing something you thought of grow and take shape - especially when it turns out well!

Hopefully I will start posting here more frequently again, I do like stopping here. Lately though I have been focusing most of my blogging action on my other blog, the link to which is in the side bar. Check it out! It has lots of photos.

Kathy xx