The Margaret Tunic Free Pattern

So I finally designed a successful garment you guys!
And I actually wrote a pattern for it, so you can knit it too!
(Or if you don't want to knit it, you can buy it here!)

I've always wanted to knit a light spring/summer top, and I figured out a really simple way to do it. It's basically a long rectangle with a head hole, that's seamed on the sides, with a long lace panel down the front. Easy-peasy and quick to knit on big needles.

Keeping Up, New Beginnings (and What's Ahead)

Life is hard.

I'm just going to be real with you all here, it's hard to keep up with everything. I've got schoolwork, first and foremost; music (piano) to work on daily, and a variety of farm work to do. I'm running multiple businesses, and I've got activities in two different towns to run to nearly every day.
I guess you could say I'm the typical example of the overachiever-teenager... you know, the one who's in everything and who does everything and is always complaining about how busy they are? Yep. That's me.

Star of Winter free hat pattern

Hey everyone!
Here's a free pattern for this hat:

It has been too long since my last pattern, now, hasn't it? Well, I've been busy with Christmas stuff, and anyone who knits will know how that is, and anyone who sells crafts will know even better.
Complaining aside, lookie what I got for Christmas:

My Garden Transformation

When I was younger I begged my parents to let me have a flower garden all for my own. Long story short, it went to heck after the first year. For one thing, I wasn't taking care of the garden at all after the first year. For another thing, I had a friend give me some plants from her garden. one of those plants is called Leafy spurge.

This is what it looks like

 This is what it can do.

So if you ever see it in your garden, remember this motto: PURGE THE SPURGE!

Of course when I planted it in my garden I had no idea it is one of the most noxious weeds in the country.

After about 3 years of not working on it at all, I decided that I needed to start completely over. Rather than try and weed out all the individual plants, I needed to rip everything out and start afresh. So I did.

Knitted Drawstring Pouch Pattern

It's nice to have big bags for things, but sometimes it's nice to have littler bags, too. 

Here's a pattern for a quick and easy drawstring bag to hold those little things. It's worked from the top down in a very easy-to-pick-up lace pattern; and most of it's on some pretty big needles, so you'll just fly through it, trust me. I use my bag as a fabric scrap bag!

Materials

Size 7 and size 10 16" circular needles

Blunt tapestry needle for finishing

1 ball Lily Sugar n' Cream 100% cotton yarn (or any worsted weight yarn)

A Knitting Horror Story

We're going to do a little something different today. I'm gonna tell you a story!
If you don't knit, however, you might not completely get what I'm talking about, so, ah, WARNING.

Once upon a time I was working on a new hat. It was knitted in the round; I'd spent a good hour or so working on it and I'd finished the brim and started the body. I was so excited, it had a lovely stitch pattern motif, and I was really enjoying working it.
I'm going to step back quick here, and say this: You know where you're reading a pattern for something in the round and they say "Join, taking care not to twist sts on needle"? Today I had read that and said,
"Psh. Let's get on with it."
I'd knitted about 2 inches of this thing and I realize, huh, this looks a little off.

So I investigated a little more and realized that the flippin' thing was flippin' twisted.

My First Craft Show!

Hey everyone!
This past Saturday I had the amazing opportunity to sell at the Crosby Heritage Days Festival's fine art and craft show. It was a blast! I got to meet new people, make some money, and all in all have a great learning experience.

I think my booth really reflected my brand, which is definitely what I was going for. Clean, classic, easy-on-the-eyes. I had nice white tablecloths, signs and stands, but the products themselves provided color, as well as the vases of fresh flowers everywhere.

I was very proud of my ruffle scarf tree.

Sorry random lady setting up next to me, I got you in the picture.