Yarn giveaway and Ravelry Day in Coventry

In celebration of the fact that Skein Queen is celebrating two years in business on Thursday, I've decided to do a little name-the-yarn competition. All you have to do to win this free skein of Plushness (lambswool/angora/cashmere) is to come up with colourway name and leave a comment here on the blog with the name you've come up with. You've got until Thursday 11th June at midday BST - I'll choose my favourite name and announce the winner on my blog on Thursday afternoon (changed from Friday).

So, to be in with a chance of having this skein arrive on your doorstep, let your imagination go wild - I usually go for two-word combinations for yarn colourway names, but not always. Could be plant, bird or butterfly-related - or inspired by a landscape scene - or by contemporary culture (books, tv programmes, films) - or by a feeling or emotion. And I do especially like eccentric or kooky names. Can't wait to hear what you come up with.

And Thursday will also see the launch of Skein Queen fibre for spinning (the fibre I've chosen so far isn't suitable for felting). It's taken me the first half of the year to learn to spin and I hope you like the selection of tops I've dyed up. These snails are Superwash BFL but there will also be Superwash merino on sale in the shop on Thursday. As the year goes on, I'll be introducing a greater range of fibres and possibly batts reflecting the fibres I've especially enjoyed spinning such as kid mohair and angora.

Superwash BFL

Scarlet O'Hara

Deauville

Tequila Mockingbird

Demon Drop

Salty Dog

Dewberry Martini

Well, what a fantastic day Rav Day in Coventry was yesterday. Even the hideous rain couldn't deter the ardent shoppers but I did feel sorry for the stall holders who were frozen to the bone, but at least they seemed to be doing a roaring trade.

We met so many people - Anni from Yarnaddictanni, Andy from Bluefaced, Jeni from Fyberspates, Sarah from Mamalonglegs, Gemma from Kraftykoala, Marianne from Picperfic, Inga aka Rockpool Candy and her hubby, Jen and Juliet from The Knitter, Kerrie and Lou from Yarn Forward/Inside Crochet (in the loos), Juliet from Artist Palette Yarns, John Arbon, the Knitting Goddess and Lisa from First4yarns. It was lovely to see Becky (purlfect) again - I'd done a dyeing course with her a couple of years ago and also met libraknitter who had knitted THE most beautiful Ishbel out of a lemon Fyberspates yarn and a gorgeous Swallowtail from SQ Wisp. (I hope I haven't missed anyone out.)

Rockpool Candy with her beautiful batts and extreme crochet. Check out her fabulous corset and the bustle is made from men's ties.

Here's the wonderful Shazspun, who was brilliant company putting up with me all day, learning how to drop spindle with Ghostknitter who reckons she's the only spinner in Singapore. We had a laugh when the spindle lived up to its name and spent quite a lot of time on the floor but Sharon bought it anyway to spin up samples.

And the beautiful alpaca which belonged to Toft Alpaca - they were a bit soggy!

It was great to meet Jen from The Knitter in person as we've corresponded by email previously. And her husband who was doing a bit of laptop work linked into the photo shoot. I got snapped wearing my Aqueous Martini Ishbel with my very dank hair schloped around my face. Inga was trying to put me off during my "modelling" session by shouting "Oi, fibre fiddler - smile" and such-like encouragement!!

All-in-all, a fantastic day.. but I am glad I didn't have a stall outside in the rain - it was great being a customer! I especially love my yarn from Knitting Goddess, my mohair locks from a man from the New Forest, my silk/merino tops from Babylonglegs and my beautiful batts from Fyberspates and Rockpool Candy. (Sorry guys, too many links to put in and I'm being shouted at to get off the computer - I'll come back and put them in.)