A new endeavor

Originally I thought this post would be about the scarf, but as it turns out, it's really about friends... isn't that usually how is it?

A long time ago I mentioned to a friend that I wanted to take up knitting, and she asked me to make her a scarf for her birthday. I promptly said yes and then did nothing about it for the next three years! ha! But as this most recent Christmas season approached, I thought I should finally make good on my promise.
On a dark and snowy evening in December I set out to find a little knitting shop just outside Hershey, Pa: a dear friend and knitting goddess works there and urged me to make my start there. I stepped into the store just minutes before closing time, so it was just me and the owner. She was so helpful and encouraging; she helped me pick out some great bamboo needles and yarn that was both warm and soft (half silk, half merino wool). I have to admit that I've started knitting projects about half a dozen times in my life and never finished a single thing, but I just knew that this time I would actually get my project done. I would highly recommend Yarn Love to beginners and pros alike.
I went home to my parents' house and, with the help of my wonderful sister-in-law Bekah, I cast on and knitted away. For the next three weeks the scarf went everywhere with me: to church, to girls' nights, even on a road trip to Virginia! I had such fun and grew more confident with each completed row.
And here's the finished product:



If I lived near this friend, I would definitely have asked her to come over and take some cool, artistic pictures of my masterpiece, but alas, I was left to my own devices! At least you can get an idea of what it looks like. The funny thing is, even though none of the friends I've mentioned here really did anything, they've all inspired me with their own lives and endeavors, and every once in a while it's nice to see a physical reminder of our intangible qualities.