Really – this is big news today. Why? Because we’ve had a lot of cold, blustery, gray days. Now if you have been reading this blog for awhile, you know that I like those kinds of days. But even I have to admit that after too many of them, you need some sunshine. It’s still cold, though. The windchill was negative 1 this morning. In true St. Louis fashion, tomorrow will be almost 50 degrees. FPS. That will be nice for Valentine’s Day, won’t it? I made cookies, which I do several times a year around most holidays. Always this recipe. Only the shape and frosting color changes. We love these cookies! The other great thing about tomorrow? It’s Knitting Daughter’s birthday. She was my most favorite Valentine’s Gift ever!
I completed some fibery things over the weekend. First of all, I knit up a skein of the Kid Slique in Woodland. I absolutely love how it turned out and it was quick and easy. Test-Knitter-Sharon said, “Hey, why don’t you just cast on 12 stitches on size 11 needles and then do: Slip 1, *K2tog, YO*, K1 on all rows?” (See why she’s a test knitter? It was easy peasy and fun.) The scarf is almost 5 feet long. Loopy had fun modeling it, but I have taken it back so that I can wear it. Of course now I want to make it in a few more colors…..
There was spinning this weekend, too. I have been wanting to spin up some of the Alpaca With a Twist Roving and picked the soft gray. Apparently there is a bit of a learning curve when spinning pure alpaca, because it came out just so-so. The roving itself is amazing. 
So soft to work with. This was pure operator-error. And although my skein is a little wonky looking, it feels absolutely wonderful spun up. I need to knit it into a nice hat, as I want it on my head. 🙂 All of you experienced spinners out there – is there a trick to spinning with pure alpaca? What might I need to do for future spins? (Because there will be more Alpaca spinning in my future. I really do like it.)
Check out this Tempted Bordello roving that I spun up. This might be my new favorite skein that I have spun. Not only do I love the colors, but I think it looks ok, too! It’s always interesting to see how different people spin up the same colors of roving. Blogless L-B cracked me up when she asked me one time, “Have you decided how you’re going to spin that?” Umm …. like there is a choice? I just start spinning and take what comes from it. I’m so not yet in the mode of figuring out color placement and how I want them to “mix” and look in the end. 
(Ok – let’s be honest. I so don’t have the skills to do all of that figuring yet.) I’m just happy when it comes out looking like something I might actually knit with. (Edited: Here is a photo that WH took of this skein of handspun. Now do you see why he is the official photographer and photo-correcter here at TLE?)
Speaking of spinning, I ordered a Victoria from Louet to keep here at Loopy Central. It might also be the beginning of possibly carrying spinning wheels here. What do you think?
I hope all of you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day tomorrow, with lots of chocolate and cookies and fun times with those you love. We’re taking Knitting Daughter out for dinner to celebrate her special day!
Sheri isitbadtohavecookiesandcoffeeforbreakfast?That’spurelyahypotheticalquestionofcourse.