When the goldenrod nods in bloom and the ferns have started to shrivel, it’s time to start rolling the yarn. I write that as if I’ve rolled yarn before, when in fact this was the very first time. I’ve always thought of rolling yarn skeins into balls an unnecessary step, and only ever crocheted directly from the skein, pulling as I go, but like reed-making for oboe players or rice-washing for chefs, perhaps this step is a part of the process, and so I’m indulging in it and enjoying the meditative trance that one eventually finds when the ball of yarn comes into form.
Like so many other endeavors, crocheting or knitting requires a certain amount of planning and preparation in order to do it well. That begins with having an idea of what you’re making, how much yarn you’ll need, and the proper tools. In the case of making a scarf or blanket (about the only things I’ll attempt this year) that means a crochet hook and the balls of yarn.
As the nights grow cooler, and the gray days drown in rain, rolling the yarn has become a lovely past-time for the end of summer.
