The amish people have a "homemade" method of staining pine so that the stain appears to adhere to it. As most of you know the resin and knots will not by themselves take stain. But there is a way around this. A friend told me about it some years ago and I thought I would share it with you.
Most of you will have a tub of "spackling compound" somewhere around your shop. Take about two or three tablespoons and put it in a medium to large size can. Add water and stir until it is soupy. Take a paint brush and paint this compound onto the pine board on the edges, sides, every part. Allow to dry for 24 hours. Take a sander with 150 grit sandpaper and sand it until very smooth. Use a tacky cloth to remove all dust, maybe even a moistened cloth. Wipe until perfectly dry. Leave for a while to make sure. Apply your stain. The stain will "adhere to the "spackling compound" as opposed to the resin or knots. I tried it by making our church some book cases. Turned out very nice. Pine is also cheaper than hard woods and depending on what you are building, if stained properly, no one will know.
Try it-you will like it.
Wayne