DIY vanilla sugar

So I made some vanilla ice cream a while back and decided to use real vanilla. The vanilla pods I ended up with weren't too expensive -about $6 for two- but not the best quality either. Getting the little black beans out was a challenge as the pods were dried out. Most of them were still trapped inside when I gave up. The ice cream turned out okay but I was pissed that I spent that much for something that was more frustrating than flavorful. 

I didn't want to just throw the pods away so I thought to myself -as I often do- WWMSD? What would Martha Stewart do... obviously. I started watching Martha Stewart on TV when I was little. I had strange taste in television for a child. Anyway I love her and I love that she has been in prison. So... oh yea. I tossed those pods into an old spaghetti jar that I saved in horderly fashion. Next I poured in some sugar and sat it on the shelf for a while with all my coffee things. 

The next time I opened the jar I was slapped in the face with the delicious sent of sweet vanilla goodness... Slapped. Now I use this sugar in everything I bake. Whenever the sugar level is low I just throw in more and in no time it soaks up the vanilla flavor. That ice cream I made a while ago is long gone but vanilla sugar, you are here to stay.

I dream of chevron

Don't you love the chevron pattern? It's simple, bold, classic.

{ 1 } - { 2 } - { 3 } - { 4 } - { 5 } - { 6 } - { 7 } - { 8 }

This pattern has recently inspired tons of projects that I want to make. At this point it's a challenge to design something that isn't zigzag. The first project that I couldn't wait to start is a crochet chevron blanket.

When starting a new project google is always the first place I go. Naturally. I began by looking at all the different crochet chevron blankets out there -trust, theres a ton- so I could get an idea of where to start. I knew it would be black and tan... because I already had a ton of black and tan yarn. It was just a happy coincidence that the two colors go lovely together.

I decided to create my own pattern. I chose to do it in single crochet and a small hook to create a very defined pattern and a dense piece of fabric. Plus I wanted the points of the chevron to be... well, pointy.

I'm falling more and more in love with this blanket with every stitch.