Cumberland Rum Butter recipe and tutorial

 I have been making Cumberland Rum Butter for many years now, from the method passed down from my Granny via my Mother.  It seems I actually use the 'Westmorland' method, which melts the butter before the creaming, it take a little longer but the result is a lovely smooth butter which isn't as gritty as just the regular creaming method.

In 2012 (13 years ago would you believe!!) I shared the recipe on this here blog, as I was making it for all my work colleagues at the time.... you can find that blog post here.......     https://soozintheshed.blogspot.com/2012/12/cumberland-rum-butter.html

But now I have started a new YouTube channel called Sooz Foodz - this is where I shall be uploading easy to create recipes and hacks, along side the odd restaurant review. 

I have kept these food focused tutorials and videos separate from the crafts and crochet that I normally produce, not everyone wants to see the same thing afterall, hence the new channel.

 I would absolutely love it if you would give me a follow on there.... https://www.youtube.com/@Soozfoodz  and you will see that I have uploaded the video of my Rum Butter recipe.   If you give it a go, do let me know what you think.

The RicRac Granny Crochet Blanket

 Hello Happy Hookers,   I do hope this blog post finds you well....

I have been working on a stash buster for a few weeks - I keep picking it up and putting it down again to work on other projects in-between, but finally I can announce that it is finished!!

It is really quite simple to do, and if you can do a Granny Square I am pretty sure you can do this too!

I use my favourite Stylecraft Special DK yarn, just grabbing part balls out of my stash - as long as you have enough to do three lines you can use up all your old part balls!   A hint might be to weigh the part ball before you start, then divide it by three..... once you have got to that number on the scales you know you will have enough to do the other two parts.

The body of the blanket is done in three separate pieces, so you can do them one at a time, or jump back and forth to make them all grow at the same rate. I chose to join in black and make a feature of the join to make the colours pop, I then edges it in black too to make the joining look more cohesive. 

I always use my most favourite hook which is a Clover Amour - I notice from my videos though that I jump between the 4,00mm and the 4.50mm - this is the problem when you keep putting work down and returning to it, you can't always remember which hook you used!  :)

Anyway, if you fancy having a go, you can find the video here.....

I love to see photos of your finished items, so please do feel free to tag me on the Socials - it's Sooz in The Shed all way way  :)

Until next time.... Happy Hooking!

Oh, and just for transparency, if you buy anything from Amazon using the links I provided I get a small commission. just pennies if I remember rightly, but it doesn't cost you a bean  :)

Week 6 - The Crochet Nativity Scene - Crochet-A-Long - Baby Jesus & Manger

 Hello and welcome back to the Crochet-A-Long Nativity Scene, and this is Week 6 - the last week!  This final instalment should finish your Nativity Scene.... so I hope you have all your chocolates ready.

The final tutorial is for the Baby Jesus, all wrapped up in a cosy blanket, laying on the Manger.

If you have just landed and would like to know more about this, the material list and the weekly schedule, then please visit my earlier blog post....https://soozintheshed.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-crochet-nativity-scene-crochet-long.html

A reminder of the weekly schedule..

1. Body Shape.

2. Headdress, Crowns and Halos.

3. Angel Wings, Noses and Ears.

4. Camel.

5. Wise Men Gifts.

6. Baby Jesus & The Manger.

You will need a Ferrero Rocher Chocolate for the Baby Jesus and a bar of  Turkish Delight for the Manger.

You will need:

1 x Baby Jesus in Skin

1 x Blanket in White

1 x Manger in Brown.

You can find the video here....

And if you prefer the written instruction, you can find that here....

Stitches explained:

CH  = Chain Stitch - Yarn around hook (from the back) and pull the new yarn through the loop on your hook.  This is ONE chain.  Repeat as needed.

Double Crochet (DC) - Put hook through work, draw yarn back through (2 loops on hook) yarn around hook (from the back) draw yarn through the 2 loops on the hook.

SS  = Slip Stitch - Put hook through work, draw yarn back through both loops on your hook

Baby Jesus

Round 1. Skin Colour CH 2, then work 6 x DC's into the 2nd CH from your hook. (6)

Pull up a length of scrap yarn into the last stitch (to use as a stitch marker) do this at the end of each round.

Round 2. Work 2 x DC's into EACH of the 6 stitches  (12)

Round 3. (DC 1 into next stitch, then work 2 x DC's into the next) Repeat all the way around (18)

Rounds 4-9. Work 6 straight rounds (18)

Round 9. (DC 1 into next stitch, then DC2tog) Repeat all the way around (12)

Blanket

Row 1. CH 11, DC into the 2nd CH from the hook and into each stitch following. (10)

Row 2-34. CH 1, DC in each stitch for 33 rows. (10)

Wrap the blanket around Baby Jesus and sew into place.

Manger

Row 1. CH 14, DC into the 2nd CH from the hook and into each stitch following. (13)

Row 2-27. CH 1, DC in each stitch for 26 rows. (13)

Turn to work down the side of the piece...

Row 1. CH 1, DC in next 10 stitches. (10)  (you are working across the first 11 DC rows only)

Row 2-4. CH 1, DC in each stitch for 3 rows. (10)  Break yarn.

Rejoin yarn to the opposite side...

Row 1. DC in next 10 stitches. (10)  (you are working across the first 11 DC rows only)

Row 2-4. CH 1, DC in each stitch for 3 rows. (10)  Break yarn.  Sew up the sides to make a pouch.

Well, thank you for joining me on this journey to make your very own Nativity Scene, one that you can bring out year after year - not to mention being able to enjoy all the chocolates that it requires too!

Hope to see you soon on another Crocher-A-Long, but until then... Happy Hooking!

Oh, and just for transparency, if you buy anything from Amazon using the links I provided I get a small commission. just pennies if I remember rightly, but it doesn't cost you a bean  :)