My mother in law's recipe is the only one I use. 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup PICKLING vinegar , 1 cup water, 1 tbsp. pickling spice. Tie pickling spice into a piece of cheesecloth ( or cheat and pour brine through a sieve before adding to the jars). Bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. I also put my filled jars in a boiling water bath for about 8 minutes, to seal.
The difference between regular vinegar and pickling vinegar is the acidity. Regular vinegar is about 5% and pickling vinegar is 6-7 %. You can find it in most any grocery store labeled as 'Pickling Vinegar'. I personally, do not like the taste of cider vinegar--it makes food taste 'off' to me.