It is September 1st , as well as Labor Day, and as far as I am concerned, the beginning of autumn – the equinox in a couple of weeks will only confirm what is started today. Weather-wise, summer has left the party early this year anyway (she came late, too, like a much-anticipated but over-extended celebrity making a publicity appearance). There is a nip in the air, a golden gleam in the afternoon light, and night advances with a little more authority.

Enough rhapsodic anthropomorphisms! And back to knitting.

Autumn is the knitter’s season. Sweaters are chic, socks coquettish, gloves/scarves/mittens poetic. Wool is well-respected in winter (and appreciated even in spring around here), but it is positively romanced in autumn. Just writing about it makes me want to go plunge my hands into a basket of yarn.

Fortunately, while at the Oregon Coast, Sarah and I talked ourselves (twice) into going to the bright and well-stocked yarn shop, Yarn For All Seasons. And, with rather unseasonable rain and wind urging us to think warming thoughts, talked ourselves into buying yarn for autumn knitting (both times). So, I am well-supplied with a selection of purples and grays for a cozy poncho (the Jane Eyre version of a sweatshirt) and another basket of blues and taupes for…well, for something. Not quite sure what yet.

I admit to a cuspish quandary as I am not quite ready to let go of my remaining summer knitting – my lace shawl and the Forbidden Summer Sweater. And there are a couple of autumnal projects in-process that I should resurrect. And there is a Pelagic piece that I set aside while in “summer vacation” mode which should be completed. With autumn comes a school-days sense of duty.

So, I might have to content myself with petting my autumn yarns today. I could ruminate over the poncho design, too. I could maybe swatch a little — just to get a taste of autumn.