She was in love with the wool — not so much the knitting. Or maybe it was the idea of crafting something into life. She didn't delve too deep. She just bought: canary yellow merino, blue sky mohair, aran cremesicle prints — colours and textures you could sink into.

Imagine the cozy afghan for the couch in her mountainside cottage; the chunky sweater she would make for him; the tiny baby booties; the striped scarf for her daughter-to-be. It was worth learning the patterns for that — no matter how many times she has to unravel her stitches and start again.