Why casting on is so exciting



I've been struggling to make time for the current project, but I have spent some very late nights recently with Robert Harris' Fatherland and spinning the first couple of hundred grams of this pale grey merino fibre.

As you cast on, it's too early for there to be any mistakes in the work. In fact the finished project, which is still in your imagination, is perfect in every way. It looks like the pattern, it's flawless and it fits perfectly. You can imagine the compliments when you wear it for the first time. "Yes, I did make it myself! Spun the wool and everything."

The reality might not exactly match the expectation and that's a little way off yet but I love casting on.

The fibre is not very pleasant to work with, it has short fibres and lumps, resembling cotton wool. The only way that I could get a reasonably even result was to tease and spin from the fold. But the result is very soft and springy. I can't wait to wear it, flaws and all.

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