In the Beginning... There was Yarn

With this ball of yarn (Tibet Recycled Silk, Himalayan Yarn Company) an obsession began. My mom, an amazing quilter, wanted to stop at a quilting shop while we were on vacation in Traverse City, Michigan. Mom is obsessed with fabrics (knitters aren't the only ones who have stashes). At the time I was not very crafty; I did not sew or quilt. I would usually wander around this type of store and wait for her to quit abusing her credit cards.

This store was different, it had yarn as well as the usual quilter fare. I saw this sexy recycled silk and wanted to knit something out of it. But I really didn't knit, hadn't a clue, but I fondled the yarn anyway. I walked away and right into the most spirited women I have ever meet. She was a 72 year old, white-haired lady who had knitted since she was 3. I loved the sparkle in her eyes and the way she talked about knitting. I wanted to be her, I wanted to knit.

I showed her the yarn and the wrist warmer pattern I wanted to knit with it asking her if she thought I could do it. Being an avid ambassador into the world of knitting, she excitedly said yes and was genuinely disappointed she could not teach me. I don't remember her name, but her smile and her zest for life affected me so much that I commit ed myself to learn to knit.

OK it took a little longer to get there, BUT a year and half later I made good on that promise and took a beginning knitting class. Yet, still the yarn languishes, no wrist warmers, and technically this is the first ball of yarn in my stash.