And the foot is treadlin

I have seriously started to doubt if I'd ever find the time to blog again. Time just shoots along and I end up holding onto its tail struggling to keep up. But, it has been loads of fun in the Cave, just busy doing things.

This last week though, I haven't really been knitting or sewing. No, indeed I have been spinning. Spinning on my lovely little wheel and spinning on my drop spindle.

The reason for all this spinning is because I joined Tour de Fleece, which runs alongside the Tour. It is such good discipline to spin every day (except for a rest day).

Firstly, I spun some singles from a batt of herdwick x jacob.

These little babies are slightly over-plyed so I plan to remove some of the twist. I shall then ply them both together with a fine single made of silk. I have never spun silk before so I am looking forward to that.

Then, I finally bit the bullet and navajo plyed the lovely merino/bamboo single I purchased from Krafty Koala.
This is only the second time I have n-plyed and I really enjoyed it. I also managed to not over ply so the yarn still feels soft. It is 90g and the colourway is Citrus. It reminds me of sunrise.

Then I dashed off a quick 100g 2ply yarn spinning roving from Babylonglegs.
My good friend, Elizabeth, purchased this on my behalf when she went to Ravelry day.

It has turned into the softest and most balanced yarn I have spun so far. Thanks, Elizabeth.


I am currently working on two new projects. The first has involved me changing my wheel to a Scotch Tension wheel so I can spin lace. My first attempt is with BFL in Lime Shot from Flutterby Creations. This will probably end up as a heavy lace weight but I don't care. I love how it is spinning and that I am spinning so finely.


And last, but definitely not least, is my lunchtime fun.

I have been a busy little spider in my cave and hope to have lots more to share with you soon.

And the Winner Is ...

Thank you so much for all the interest in my small little giveaway. It was lovely to receive such lovely comments and to see it being Twittered. It made me feel very loved.

Unfortunately, there could only be one winner as there was only one bar of soap. Each comment and tweet was assigned a unique number between 1 t 11 when it was received and then the winning number was drawn using the random number generator at www.random.org.

This makes the lovely Amylane my lucky winner. Amy, please drop me a line and let me know where to send your prize.

Once again, thank you all so much for dropping by and entering, I've enjoyed it so.

St-st-st-stalling

Recently, I have been concerned that I lost my knitting mojo. I have hardly knitted over the last fortnight and when I have I have found it less than satisfying.

Now, the main projects I am working on are both lovely:

I am on square 17 of Return of the Lizard Ridge. This pattern is normally enjoyable but I had to slog my way through number 16 and force myself to cast on number 17. Also, I originally knitted this pattern as a collaborative effort for a friend's wedding and for me to knit something for a second time is unusual but I found it a really fun knit.

I am also working on Dragon Socks by Amanda Perkins using The Natural Dye Studio's Dazzle sock yarn. These are really cute socks and the yarn is just delicious but still I am suffering from second sock syndrome.

Although I still love both projects, I am just a bit disinterested in working on them to the point where I was scared I didn't like knitting anymore. The projects seemed such a drag and yet I love the yarn, I love the colours and I am still excited about the finished product. Somewhere I just stopped loving the process.

Today I was having a conversation with a friend and showed her Liesl by Ysolda Teague. She suggested I should knit it and so, when got home I pulled out a ball of Peaches n Cream and cast on. There followed a totally enjoyable evening of knitting.

It appears I haven't lost my mojo but I just needed a break from the two projects I have been devoting the last two months to. I shall continue to work on Lizard Ridge and Dragon socks and, when they become a chore again, I shall pick up Liesl for a bit of lace relief.

You never know, next post I might even include pictures of them all!

Soap Giveaway

It is Glastonbury weekend, and this year DH and I have been watching it from the comfort of the sofa. There were many personal things happening when the tickets were on sale so we decided not to buy them. Of course this is the year that Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Nick Cave all play! Glastonbury has been our major summer holiday for 7 festival summers (and 12 for DH), I am missing being there and there is a part of me missing the Glastonbury mud.

Anyway, to celebrate access to hot water and a clean flushing loo, I thought it would be fun to host my first ever give away and what could be better than to offer a lovely hand made soap from Green Ore Naturals and a sisal soap sock?



I have been using the same soap for a short while and it lathers really well and leaves the skin feeling moisturised. The packaging can also be planted to grow lavender plants, so it completely reduces waste. What a fab idea.

Anyway, the winner will win one of these lovelies, it will be a brand new and unopened soap.

How to win? Leave me a comment on my blog and/or tweet about this competition. Please include my tweet handle "@knitcave1" so I can keep track.

I plan to close this competition on Saturday, 4th July so you have plenty of time to enter. I will then select the winner using a random number generator.

WWKiP, Bath

Where does the time go? It seems only moments since World Wide Knit in Public day, although I did loose most of the week to a terrible cold.

We all met up in the Foyer of Green Park Station in Bath and knitted (or in my case, spun) away having lovely chats between ourselves and with passers by.


The projects on display were gorgeous and my friend, Elle, gave me this gorgeous scarf made from Artesanso Hummingbird. How kind is that?


Also, we were really pleased to be joined by Alison aka Laughing Yaffle. She has been selling beautiful hand dyed sock yarn for a short while, and several of us were knitting with her yarn. We also had someone come to learn how to knit and several people were interested in our regular knitting group.


So, all in all, it was a fun and successful day and my thanks go out to the lovely and energetic Janine for her hard work and to the owners of Green Park Station. I can't wait to start arranging the WWKiP day for 2010 and hope to have more knitters and yarny fun such as competitions.

Knitting in Public 1

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit in Public Day when knitters world wide grab their pointy sticks and yarn and take to the streets.

The aim is to have fun, raise awareness that knitting is not just for grannies, recruit new knitters and to know you are knitting on the same day as people in Australasia, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia, India, Europe, countries from the former Soviet Union and hopefully people working at the poles.

The Bath Stitch n Bitch knitting group has organized its own event and will be knitting from 2p.m. to 5p.m. in the Foyer of Green Park Station in Bath.

As a spinner I am gamely taking along my wheel so people can see fleece being turned into yarn. Fellow knitters will be displaying articles they have made in the past and there will be an opportunity to see some local yarns and naturally dyed yarns.

If you are free drop by; all are welcome to have a chat and a laugh whilst clicking away.

Don't think you can't come if you don't knit, we are happy to chat. We will try to teach anyone who asks the basic stitches and if you don't knit but crochet or do another craft, you will be very welcome.

Hope to see you there.

ADHD Fun

Firstly, please forgive me that a large proportion of the links in this post are to the Ravelry website. This does mean you will not be able to view them unless you are a member. If you are not a member but knit or crochet, ask for an invitation the site is awesome.

A while ago I was looking at baby patterns and I came across the most adorable pair of booties with pretty roses. I couldn't resist faving the pattern and a world of new adventure opened to me.

Firstly, the designer, Gail, invited me to join her Ravelry group ADHD Knitters. Stalking through the posts I came across a large number of talented and witty people intent in sharing, swapping, supporting and having fun with each other.

Wacky knitting projects made me wonder why I was lurking as I tend to knit 'serious' projects. Not for me a knitted pair of boobies or a garment to cover my pussy. No, I buy my bras from Marks & Sparks and my pussies come complete with fur. However, everyone was having such fun I wanted some of that for me.

In April ADHD announced a swap. Not any old swap as that wouldn't be special enough. The swap was to be a mystery yarn ball and I couldn't resist. A while back I had read about gift balls where presents are wound into a ball of yarn and these are unwrapped as the recipient knits.

Having signed up and been given my swap partner, Kittynutter, [at last a non-Rav link!] I spent time getting to know her and she spent time doing the same.

In due course I received my MYB and it caused squeals of excitement. See, look at the odd shape.

How pretty is that yarn? It is Opal Neon and will make a really fine pair of socks. Also included were some lovely silver lined beads, I think I might make Rolling Thunder socks [another non-Rav link].

As I unwound my ball DH had to prise it out of my hands so I could vote. There were so many gifts in my ball and I love every one.

I now have a 3mm and 3.5mm double ended KnitPro crochet hook. I can't wait to use these as I am really enjoying crochet. Also, there is a KnitPro viewer and needle guide, KnitPro cable needles, purple point protectors for larger needles, a pretty felted brooch, and non-slip paws for my socks. All this was secure around a jar of marmite which wore two balls of Rowan Kid Silk Haze, Princess Leia style.

How she managed to pack so much loveliness in one gorgeous ball of yarn, I don't know. I'm just happy she was my swapper and she spoilt me so.

She is planning to cycle across China with some friends in aid of charity. Drop by her cycle China blog and give her your support, such a lovely challenge.