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.

Embroidered Pineapple Tutorial

The Pineapple.

This sunny summer fruit has taken the world by storm this season. Not only fashion, but art has been affected by this delicious yellow trend, so why not jump on the bandwagon? Today I'm going to show you how to embroider this beauty:

The stem stitch outlined pineapple. This one would look great on a tea towel, in fact that's what I made this one for. You can buy it here!

Wheat Chaff Wrap knitting pattern

Halloo, everybody!
If you're like me, you've been waiting for what seems like forever for sweater season to be over. As soon as the temperatures start to get above 50* upon occasion, you're hauling out the tee shirts and sundresses. For me, the first spring dress comes out Easter Sunday and then they stay out.
However, no matter how much we want it to be warm it's still going to be cold. If we're to be honest with ourselves, 50* is not warm enough to go out in a strap-sleeve dress without some sort of protection from the frigid temperatures. As an easy and fashionable solution is a lacy wrap; therefore, I give you:
The Wheat Chaff Wrap!

Still trying to figure out how to have a pleasant smile for the camera.

It's knitted with a simple lace pattern on huge needles, and is a great beginner lace project!

The wrap is very light (yet surprisingly warm) and thin, so it can also be used as a scarf!