3D Optic Doily

Hello Friends!
This my  version of  '3d Optic Doily' completed  in Crochet cotton thread. It is an amazing and interesting pattern to work with. Pattern courtesy and tutorial @ handmadebyraine.com. Thank you Raine, for this intricate pattern and video tutorial.

Lotus Mandala

My new crochet 'Lotus Mandala Flower' completed,  pattern courtesy @ crochetmilan.com , Thank you for the wonderful pattern.
 I am grateful to Sangeeta @ crochetkari.com for helping me out with her inputs during completion of this mandala. Thank you  Sangeeta.

International Women's Day

Happy Women's Day Dear Friends
The march 8th, 2017

Today's post comes after a long hiatus. I took this opportunity to wish all my friends A  Happy Women's Day!!
 May this day and future life bring health and peace to all.

Enjoying the afternoon meal with a hot, comforting and delicious mixed veg soup followed by main course lunch dishes and end with a  rich plum cake. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

The evening's kick start was an attempt at making the most lovable snack across the length and breadth of India,' The Samosa'

I gathered myself and collected  all the items needed for the recipe from my kitchen store.
I was actually  happy at the end result after putting in lot of efforts for making samosas.

Here goes the recipe, and some pictures.
The recipe was retrieved from internet, how to fold samosas was the actual trick I wanted to learn, so thanks to you tube channel, the vahrehvah chef who  showed it the right way!!

Ingredients:
 Potatoes - 4 no, big,boiled , peeled, cut into dices
Cumin seeds -  1 teaspoon
Asafoetida (Hing) - A pinch
Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Green chillies 2 no, chopped fine
Salt - As per requirement
Coriander and cumin seeds, roasted about 1/2 tsp each and pounded , ground
Red chilli powder -  1 teaspoon
Lemon juice - 2 teaspoon full
Garam Masala - 1/2 teaspoon
Oil -  for frying and for making potato curry
Fresh coriander leaves - cleaned, washed, chopped  1 tablespoon

Potato curry method:
Heat a wok or kadhai, pour 2 tablespoon oil, heat it, add cumin seeds, hing, turmeric powder, green chillies, fry a bit. Now add, diced potatoes , saute well, cover and cook for a while. Uncover see to it that it is soft but not mushy. Now add spices   as follows, coriander powder, garam masala, red chilli powder, lemon juice, salt and mix well cover and cook for aminute. Lastly sprinkle chopped coriander leaves. Dish out in a bowl, let it cool. Stuffing is ready.

Ingredients: For outer cover of samosa or pastry sheet.
Maida or refined flour -  150gm
Oil- 2 tablespoons
Carom seeds or ajwain - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - Quarter teaspoon
Water for kneading to make stiff dough.
Dough should rest for 15 minutes.

Mix all the above ingredients one by one carefully and knead a soft dough.

Method: To prepare samosa

Roll out a thin oval sheet of prepared dough which is divided into lemon sized balls.
cut horizontally into a half, out of this half shape make a cone, gently put the stuffing mixture into the cone, seal the edges from all the sides with water, press the edges. In this way make all the samosas.
Meanwhile heat oil in a wok for deep frying.
As the oil gets hot, reduce the flame and gently drop each samosa 2-3 at a time and fry to golden brown colour.
Hot crispy samosas are ready to serve with tomato ketchup and a cup of hot tea. Enjoy!!

Crochet Poem

CROCHET


When waffle,bobble,ripple n cable,feel like a hastle,
And these stitches make me go cold...
Why should I baffle when MICQ is there to hold?

It's time to learn the new stitches the unique MICQ way
unlocking the talent within to work for a cause each day
The splatter of colours, enticing patterns and designs,
make a way for a reason to spread smile and not to whine
empowering me and all the crochet way.

Many more new stitches to join my dictionary
 eager to learn, happy to unwind the yarn for each new pattern
New friends at MICQ, sharing joy and laughter
what more can I ask for in this noble endeavour.

Mother India Crochet Queens (MICQ) Create a New Guinness Record

MICQ: The Mother India Crochet Queens an aptly named Facebook page was created by Subashri Natarajan, who spread the movement, the mission, and the challenge nationwide and overseas of creating the largest 'crochet blanket' to beat the earlier Guinness record set by South Africa at 3,377 sq. mts.

Subashri learnt about the South Africa's group effort in Guinness record breaking event held in April 2015 and decided that very moment that from India she will take up the challenge and attempt to break this record.  She started working upon her idea in systematic way and approached Guinness committee and  applied, registered for approval for the big project from March 2015 to July 2015 with series of correspondences and completed the formalities.Once the project was approved she thought of spreading it around in an orderly manner.

She  created a Facebook page named MICQ, invited women of Indian origin from  of our country and all over the world. 2500 women joined the group  all held together by single thread of yarn literally.The only condition being she should be a crochet crafter.

So the crochet blanket creation dream project was born with a noble cause of donating the individual blankets after the record break to under privileged and the needy. Exactly this cause bought together thousands of ladies with a purpose in their mind and their fingers started deftly creating blankets quietly in the own confines of their homes.The real challenge was execution of the task to completion within this large group maintaining discipline and transparency an uphill task which Subashri carried out excellently.

With the support of her husband, her friends and most importantly with  blessings of supreme power she initiated the project in Aug 2015.

The crochet pattern a traditional granny square of 40/40 inch,  hook size 5mm, yarn 4 ply weightage and requirement was thought over with front runners within the group and announced and to strictly abide by it.

The logo for MICQ was designed by Neeraja Iyer. Photo collages as photo evidence were called from each participant and compiled in file form for better coordination. Queries and FAQ'S were addressed on a dedicated forum, newer announcements and updates were regularly being given by the head of MICQ. The stipulated time limit for completion and joining of the blanket by white yarn only was rolled out.

.

THE JOURNEY... MICQ

What followed was a 'RAINBOW' of colours, support, culture, art, imagination, enthusiasm, hard work to name the few.This social cause empowered and strengthened the women and reinforced the belief in oneself with utmost confidence.This also dotted on world map the art of crochet craft taken up by women who were beginners and learnt it and the suave ones who have been doing it over a period.Successfully interconnected with each other the women within the group are fostering friendships. No words are enough to present the picture of MICQ family.This opened a pathway for new learners and innumerable possibilities of creation which can be evidently seen in platter at MICQ altar in the form of unique well thought out designs, colours, personal targets ranging from 1- 100, signature blankets. 

I am pleased to know that Subashri for  herself set a personal target of creating  100 baby blankets apart from handling the larger responsibilities of spearheading the mission and cause and encouraging others.

A special mention,

let us congratulate our darling young participants of age group 8-12 and our senior participants from 70-90 with reverence whose unfailing spirits motivated us all.

The coordinators formed within MICQ family at different regional and overseas centres for smooth functioning   worked relentlessly tirelessly and silently with personal attention and dedication keeping aside personal trials.

The coordinators of all regions looked into every detail of the misssion and the blankets made at regional centres which were first joined and then all  joined at chennai in big blanket  The bigger blanket is of 49 no. each  and joined  in the making of 1 big blanket.

Similarly, the print and electonic media have been roped in to spread the movement which have proved to be important part of the mission and from time to time. The videos and interviews on different TV, radio  channels were broadcast, telecast and articles appeared in  magazines and newspapers.The infrastructure and the requirements for final event  being taken care of by a team of people.

The backup and backstage team of our efficient work force who silently lent support to the cause is worth mentioning. we salute their spirit at all centres. Also the the yarn sellers like pradhan embroidery, ganga acrowool, knitpro, raja threads, kwality traders and many more  sold their yarn at discounted price for this cause is worth appreciating.The sponsors for the cause  put their whole  might in MICQ mission.

The camaraderie within the sub groups while enjoying sumptuous snacks and lunches, coffee at the time of joining the blankets is evident.

The final event  was  held in MNM  college in CHENNAI on 31st Jan 2016. The day before, a team of fast crocheters completed the joining of blankets into the big one.
Mr Pravin Patel the honorable  official adjudicator of  Guinness Committee  took the measurements and verified the claim of new  record and announced it officially at a grand event organised on 31st Jan 2016 in the presence of MICQ participants and guests.A proud moment for all Indians indeed.

The earlier guinness record held by South Africa has been shattered by our Indian team by huge margin and attained a name for our country in guinness book of world records The record breaking blanket measures  at 11.148.5 square metre.

Crochet Bag

'My Fat Bottom Crochet Bag'

This bag I made is dear to me since this is  the first bag pattern I made for myself.
The pattern for this bag is of Marinke or Wink  who unfortunately is  no more around to enlighten us  with her new patterns.This  is a homage paid to her from me by making this bag. It is an easy Granny Square pattern used to create this handcrafted bag.
The link for this is in  http://www.acreativebeing.com/.

'Hyderabadi Mudda Bhaji and Lal Mirchi Thecha'

Ingredients:
  Spinach, 1 cup(palak)
Fenugreek leaves,( Methi) 1 cup
Khatta palak or green sorrel leaves 1/2 cup (chuka in colloquial language)
Ghol or purslane,or kulfa  a leafy green vegetable available in warm temperate climate down in southern part of India.

Salt: 1 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric: 2 Teaspoon
Oil: 4 Tablespoons
Tamarind paste: 1 Tablespoon
Dry Red chillies; 2-3 in no,
Garlic pods : chopped 1 Tablespoon
Mustard, Cumin seeds: 1 1Teaspoon each
Asafoetida (Hing): 1/2 Teaspoon
Red chilli powder: 1Teaspoon
Green Chillies; 2 in no.
Split Pigeon pea or tur or arhar dal and Chana dal or split chick peas:( 1 Tablespoon),  Washed and cooked 2 cups
Water: As per need.

Method :
Wash and chop all the green leafy vegetables finely and keep aside. Mean while cook lentils until soft in pressure cooker with Turmeric and little salt. cool and lightly mash.
In a wok or fry pan heat oil, add mustard, cumin, asafoetida, Turmeric Garlic green chillies dry red chillies and cook for sometime. In a bowl take out 3 spoon full of this for garnish.
To this add chopped leafy vegetables and cook till tender. Now add cooked 'Tur dal', mix well add tamarind paste, salt, red chilli powder, mix well and let the mixture simmer for 15 min.
Once cooked oil will float on top of the curry or stew. Switch off the gas and serve hot with hot chapati and onion rings.
Enjoy.

Fresh Red Chilli chatni or' thecha'

For red chilli Thecha or pickle, simply clean and wash fresh red chillies, pat dry and grind them in mixie along with salt, lemon juice and 2 teasoons of chopped garlic for 1 cup of fresh red chillies. Transfer in serving bowl and garnish with' Tadka' or tempering of mustard seeds with hing or asafoetida.  Enjoy as a spicy accompaniment.