When I was a child every Christmas brought forth a beautifully wrapped gift at the back of the tree that held my mom's hope that I would discover a love of crafts. The gifts ranged from hook rug kits to weaving machines, crochet hooks and macrame books. I never showed an interest (or the patience) to excel at any of the Arts and Crafts she tried to lure me with. My mother gave up when I was around 16.

Then Purple Purl moved into the neighbourhood and I started toying with the idea of knitting my mom a scarf for Christmas, I couldn't imagine a better gift. I finally got up the courage and enrolled in the Purple Purl's knitting 101 class and in 4 hours I had obtained enough skill to buy a pattern, follow it and voila, scarf! It took me about a month to knit a 7 foot cable scarf. I catch myself staring at it in amazement that my fingers were able to create something out of two pieces of bamboo and some wool.

Bring on the apocalypse - I will now be able to keep myself and friends clothed! While others fight for twinkies I'll be hunting for wool! :)