It began with a mid-afternoon text. “Don’t forget we are doing our birthday lunch tomorrow instead of next week! See you at the usual place at noon.” I had forgotten that we were celebrating our joint birthdays a week early and haven’t even wound the yarn for the present I was going to knit my friend; but I do know that there is a book I have been wanting her to read, that I could buy, and pair with a bookmark made from some leftover yarn.

Yarn
Valley Yarns Huntington (75% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon; 218 yds 199 m/50 g): Fawn 1 skein.

Needle/Hook
Size US 1 (2.5 mm) straights or circulars
Or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge
20 sts and 24 rows = 4” 10cm in St st

Size
4 inches 10cm long, 3” 7.5cm wide

Notions
Tapestry needle, stitch markers, 2 yds of thin ribbon cut into 1 yd lengths