National Alpaca Farm Days

Getting ready for National Alpaca Farm Days next weekend and working on which alpaca items to have available. For more information about the herd, go to alpacanation.com/sugarcreekalps.asp

January 28, 2011 Washing Alpaca Fiber

Winter evenings are spent cleaning alpaca fiber and watching TV while the snow gently falls outside. I have been cleaning firsts and seconds to prepare them for processing. I've been saving thirds in a small bag to wash and dye.

The white fiber that was washed yesterday is now drying and waiting to be dyed. It's an exciting process to think about the colors you want to use and the products to be made. Hopefully, I will be able to dye some of the fiber a deep red color in time for Valentine's Day!

January 26, 2011 Alpaca Goes With Everything

Alpaca is so wonderfully warm and lightweight to wear in addition to being ideal for cold weather. It does go with everything and can be the perfect solution for working in a warm environment. The good news is that it goes well with all types of fabrics!

Think of this the next time you are wondering how to dress for various temperatures during cold weather!

January 23, 2011 Alpaca Industry Initiative

Yesterday we had a telephone conference call with the two key players in the Build A Tent Initiative which is working together to form a national alpaca fiber industry. This is an exciting time as we work together in this much needed initiative and also frustrating because of the time it takes to get it done.

At this time we are working to help others be aware of this movement and to become initial investors as we would like to have as many as possible on board before "the train pulls out of the station"!

January 22, 2011 Asian Market Buying Up Alpaca Fiber From Peru

An interesting news story from Fibre2fashion News Desk in India that talks about Asian markets such as China surpassing other countries such as UK, Japan, and Italy. China imported 63.1 percent of Peru's total exports. Taiwan emerged to be the biggest importer of alpacas from Peru.

Increasing demands for alpaca fiber from other countries suggest that as the word is getting out about this remarkable fiber that prices will increase with the demand. We alpaca owners and breeders should heed this information as good news for the fiber industry as well as a warning that we need to be actively involved in our own alpaca fiber industry.

We expect the value of alpaca fiber to continue increasing around the world and let's share the great news of about the incredible fiber that we work with.

January 21, 2011 Carding, Spinning, Dyeing, and Weaving Alpaca

One of the joys of working with alpaca is the opportunity to see the fiber go through the entire process of cleaning, carding, spinning, dyeing, and weaving the product. Some fiber artists may choose to knit or crochet the fiber and may even felt it as well. Whichever process one chooses, it is immensely rewarding! Perhaps especially so when it is fiber produced by your own alpacas.

This is a picture of fiber that was spun by a friend learning to spin, Mimi from Melody Lane Alpacas, dyed, and then woven into scarves. Each piece made has special meaning and memories and it is a value-added product that is "green"!

January 20, 2011 The Joy of Spinning Alpaca

Part of the joy of spinning alpaca is the joy of plying what you have spun. There is a sense of gratification to be in the final stages of your project. This time I am plying alpaca fiber that was handspun to make a few skeins of yarn to dye. White and fawn fiber are the best colors to dye which is also a delightful next step.

Part of the challenge of dyeing alpaca fiber which dyes very well is to decide on the colors to be used for the product to be made. Out of all of the beautiful colors available, which ones will be the best to use to complement each other. Of course, each batch of dyed alpaca fiber can be different from the last which means you want to dye sufficient fiber for your product as you may not be able to perfectly replicate the colors.

What an amazing opportunity to be creative!