Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wow! This year has flown by! I have been so busy with work and life, that my crochet was put on the back burner. I did complete a few projects though, and wrote a new pattern last week.

My husband cannot grow a full beard to save his life. Oh I'm not complaining, but it seems even his goatee takes a month to fill in! I kid, I kid. But it's true. :-P

We've been joking that I should make him one of those St Patrick's day beanies with the red beard so he can have a beard this February! I found this Santa Hat with Beard from Red Heart for him to wear at Christmas this year.

The sad thing about it was that the beard was not tight enough. No matter what I did, I could not get that beard to stay on in the right spot. Frustrated, I took it off. It's still a very nice Santa Hat. I ended up wearing it most of Christmas. :-)

I was inspired to start a new project when I received an Ottlite as a Christmas gift. I made this Chunky Tunnel Cowl with some Lion Brand Thick & Quick yarn I had bought to make a basket with over the summer. It was a very easy pattern to follow. I gave this cowl to my Mom for Christmas. She says it keeps her warm, but not so warm that she needs to take it off. The perfect balance. 

Since the Chunky Tunnel Cowl was so quick to make, I thought about something my cousin asked me to make for her last year. She had sent me a picture and a knitting pattern for a hood with bear ears. Since I was still a novice, I would not have been able to make the hood for her without a crochet pattern. Luckily I have learned to make my own patterns this year! 

My cousin was so surprised I had remembered her request from last year. I'm happy I could make this for her to enjoy.

This project is so fast and easy to make that I made 3 within a few days of one another. I made the hood with bear ears first, then made 2 black hoods; one for another cousin and one for myself.  You can purchase this pattern from my Craftsy store.

I've learned so many new things this past year. I feel blessed to have this new skill and to bring smiles to the faces of my friends and family. That's why I started in the first place. I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and that you have a Happy New Year!