For Valentine’s Day this year I wanted to do a post focusing on patterns with hearts and one without hearts (coming soon!) so you have the option of being traditionally romantic or less so.
You won’t be surprised to know … Read More...
Valentine’s Day Activities Using Hearts
There are so many different classroom activities you can do around Valentine’s Day, from STEM activities to art projects and math activities.
I wasn’t sure how to share more ideas this year than I already have, but I thought … Read More...
Projects to Knit for Valentine’s Day
It’s kind of funny to me that I can come up with different things to share for Valentine’s Day every year, but here we are with another roundup of Valentine’s Day knitting patterns. (For some old ones, check out hats … Read More...
Stone Soup Activities for Kids
I don’t know why I was thinking about this the other day, but one of my favorite times at my daughter’s preschool was when all the families were invited to make stone soup. Stone Soup is a classic story (and … Read More...
Easy (and Free!) Hat Knitting Patterns
If your budget is tight but you still need to keep warm, these free hat knitting patterns will get you there. These hats are easy to knit for newer knitters and will get your head cozy in no time.
Note: … Read More...
Make Your Hoops Prettier to Use as Frames
It’s popular to use embroidery hoops as frames for cross stitch projects, but a plain wooden hoop isn’t really that interesting as a way to present your hard work to the world.
Luckily it’s pretty easy to embellish an embroidery … Read More...
Groundhog Day Activities for Kids
February 2 is Groundhog Day, the day when a famous groundhog in Pennsylvania “predicts” when spring is going to come based on whether its shadow can be seen that day.
It’s kind of a silly holiday, which is just the … Read More...
Joann Files for Bankruptcy Again
Last March the craft retailer Joann announced that it was filling for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and that the company would become a private company with a better handle on its debt. The first part did happen, but the company has … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Pigeon Coop Designs
Pigeon Coop Designs is a Canada-based Etsy shop that bills itself as having nature inspired cross stitch patterns and kits. I get a little of a folk art, retro feel from their designs, which emphasize natural landscapes and animals.
In … Read More...
Pretty Ways to Use Your Yarn Stash
I’m all about using yarn stash most of the year, but this time of year especially I spend a lot of time thinking about and sharing patterns that you can use if you want to pare down your stash a … Read More...
Arctic Fox Activities for Kids
There are lots of winter animals that are fun to learn about when it’s cold outside. I’ve covered polar bears and penguins before, but this time let’s learn about the arctic fox.
The arctic fox, also known as the snow … Read More...
Fox Cross Stitch Patterns
I don’t really know why I decided to do a post of fox cross stitch patterns. I was thinking this year I should do more roundups of animal patterns because there are so many out there, and they don’t necessarily … Read More...
Knit a Blanket with a Ton of Texture
This blanket knitting pattern is listed as being an easy pattern for beginners, but I’m not sure it’s something I would have taken on as a beginner.
True, all of the patterns in this blanket from Lily Lake Knits are … Read More...
Tools for Adding Beads to Cross Stitch
It’s always fun to add a little something extra to your cross stitch patterns, regardless of whether the project actually calls for it.
One way to make a cross stitch design a little more special is to add beads. Some … Read More...
Knit Some Pants for Cooler Weather
One thing that was long on my to-knit list was a pair of lounge pants. I finally knit some a few years ago, out of sock yarn. They took forever, and I do like them because they’re really warm and … Read More...
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Printables
There are a lot of ways to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. on King Day, from doing acts of service to listening to his speeches, reading his letters or talking about our own dreams for the nation.
These printables are … Read More...
Designer Spotlight: Counting Puddles
Counting Puddles is an Etsy shop that doesn’t have a huge selection of cross stitch patterns, but it does have some printables that might be relevant at the time of year that I am writing this.
Most of the patterns … Read More...
Learn about Burkina Faso for Kids
Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in western Africa that was called the Republic of Upper Volta until 1984, when it was renamed by its president, Thomas Sankara, who came to power following a coup (and was himself killed during … Read More...
Year of the Snake Cross Stitch Patterns
Lunar New Year for 2025 marks the beginning of the year of the snake. Snakes are intelligent and strong-willed, and they can be sneaky and jealous. Let’s celebrate the year of the snake with some fun cross stitch patterns!
This … Read More...
Book Review: Brioche Knitting Workshop
Brioche knitting is a fun technique that’s relatively easy once you know how it works. It’s been popular for a few years now as a way to make a super squishy, warm knit fabric that looks dramatic even in it’s … Read More...