We have alpaca. Alpaca give fiber. LOTS AND LOTS of fiber.
Our animals get their haircuts, or are sheared, in the spring. Each animal provides almost four pounds of fleece and yes, I know what to do with it. Ill spin it into yarns and then make a variety of items.
Here are a couple of shawlettes that were handwoven on a triangular loom. The natural colors of alpaca are neutral colors–white, beige, light brown, dark brown, gray, black–these are how alpaca appear in nature. Anything else is the result of my playing around with dyes and blending other fibers in with the alpaca fiber. I love to play with colors! OR I might take a commercially spun yarn and ply it in with the natural alpaca yarn to achieve a unique yarn in that way. Sounds like work, but it’s the FUN kind of work!
Hats are fun to knit or crochet (these are knit) and here are a few samples. All of the colors are neutral/natural colors and the hats are VERY warm. Some of these are sold at market, given as gifts by me, or given by friends to friends.
Not to worry, though. The animals have plenty of hair left and they will stay warm in cold weather.
And now we will, too.
I’m happy creating!
Paula B. Puckett 