Indy and Hayden gave up this particular fleece almost two years ago. I had to live with their fleeces for a while, touching them, smelling them and just generally loving them before I was able to drop them off at the local mill. Months went by as I patiently waited for them to return, spun from raw fiber into delicious, delicious yarn. Then I had to live with the yarn for a few more months, touching it, smelling it, loving it and knitting it into a variety of different works before I was able to finally decide to share some in The Shop tonight.
I had this yarn spun for knitters, blending Indy and Hayden's fleece with a wee bit of local wool so that you would get all the luxury, softness and warmth of alpaca but with just enough wool to give the yarn definition and structure. It's a 4ply worsted to heavy worsted yarn because that is the yarn that I personally turn to most often,(when I am not knitting hundreds of super bulky cowls!)the work horse of any stash I think. I've maintained Indy and Hayden's fawn/caramel coloring but the yarn has flecks of natural wool in it for a subtle tweed effect.
Look at these guys! They are mighty proud and they should be. Both the shearer and the mill owner said that their fleece was among the nicest they've seen. My plan is to have different weights spun from year to year so for now there will be a very limited amount available in the shop of what I am calling the indy hayden twenty twelve worsted blend. One skein is plenty to make a hat or a pair of mitts or, dare I say, a cowl. If you happen to end up with a skein or two, I hope that you love it as much as me. I can say that it is a true pleasure to knit up.
Hi Love the alpaca wool. I'm trying to convince my husband to let me have a couple here at our place in France. Also love the knitting patterns in the Vintage Pattern book but I don't seem to be able to download or buy it. Can you give me more information as I would really like to knit come of the patterns. Thanks, Shelley
Posted by: shelley | February 11, 2013 at 01:31 AM
me again......I've found the book at loopknitting shop online. They are going to send me a copy from the UK.
Also contacted my local alpaca breeder and planning on visiting his farm (I'm going to drag my husband along!) Just a couple of other questions if you didn't mind? How many skeins of wool do you approx. get from one alpaca? Also how many chickens do you keep? I love the blue eggs - are they Legbar chickens? Thanks, Shelley (love your blog by the way, if that isn't already obvious.....)
Posted by: shelley | February 11, 2013 at 04:18 AM
Oh my goodness, I am so excited to see your whole venture come full circle! The yarn looks delicious; you must feel so satisfied! I can't wait until the day we have room for some wool-producing critters and can participate in the whole cycle ourselves.
Posted by: Amy@ProgressivePioneer | February 11, 2013 at 11:42 AM
thank you so much, Amy! it seems like a long while ago when i did your interview. it is lovely and overwhelming to watch dreams materialize. when the time comes for you to have furry beasties don't ever hesitate to ask questions! so happy we're on this journey together! much love, abi
Posted by: Abi | February 13, 2013 at 02:08 PM
Hi Shelley :) So happy to hear from you from France!! One of my dream locations to visit some day. My dad used to live there and I used to own an old Citroen. Ah, anyhow. The pattern booklet. That's a good question. It doesn't seem like you can order through Berroco but I would go to their site and try to locate a yarn shop in your area that carries their yarn and booklets. I bet that's how you'll be able to find one or perhaps a US yarn shop that ships internationally :)
Posted by: Abi | February 13, 2013 at 02:15 PM
Woops. Just saw this now. Glad you found a copy :) As far as the alpaca fleece goes it really varies and unfortunately there isn't any reliable formula to calculating output. I can tell you that two years of fleece only yielded 40 3-oz skeins. Not much at all. The first year's fleece, the year we got the boys, was barely usable because there was too much veggie matter in it and it was too long. The farm we got them from had never shorn them. Small scale farming is not "profitable" at all but it's self sustainable if that makes sense. My boys keep roughly 2 acres "mowed" without having to use fossil fuels or my own labor beyond the daily chores they require which is minimal compared to equipment land management. They are a pleasure to have and so easy to take care of!
My chicken flock ranges between 50-200. I keep both egg layers and meat birds (50 a year/1 roaster per week). The blue egg layers are Arauncana. They are the best!! You have to have a few in any flock.
Best of luck! Ask away if you have more questions! xoA
Posted by: Abi | February 13, 2013 at 02:23 PM
Thanks Abi, you're the sweetest!
Posted by: Amy@ProgressivePioneer | February 15, 2013 at 10:36 PM