Saturday, April 9, 2011

My favorite kind of washing!

Today started early for me.  I'm an earlybird and love the quiet time I have in the morning while the rest of the family is sleeping- I seem to get tons done and don't feel too guilty for taking some me time.
 I decided to start washing some of the Alpaca fleece that I purchased when I went to the last Fiber Arts meeting.  I have sorted most of it and decided I want to try spinning some.....it still needed to be washed, so that's what I spent my morning doing.  When Alpaca is dry it has virtually no smell, but peeeewww, it had a VERY different smell when it was wet.  Now that it's dry, the smell has gone away, but it was kinda stinky! :)

I have about the same amount left to wash as I did wash today....but I think I have enough cleaned to get started.  Now to decide if I am going to mix it with some Merino or just spin it on its own.  Any suggestions out there?  I've decided not to dye this batch....maybe the next batch.
Ramblings by at
Labels: ,

6 comments:

  1. Deb at Merciful Hearts FarmApril 9, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Both the llama & alpaca that I have worked with are easily spun without washing first - they don't have a lanolin or grease as sheep do & usually dust is the biggest problem. I love to just spin as is & wash the finished yarn well. It does look like you have a pretty assortment of natural colors!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WonderWhyGalApril 9, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    ooooh, to blend or not to blend, that is the question. The colors are lovely. I guess you should decide what your end product will be. The 100% Alpaca will make a product with more drape. The wool added will give a bit more structure and lighten the yarn (Alpaca tends to be more dense)

    tehehehe, we Alpaca breeders laugh at our wet barn smell after a good rain.

    ReplyDelete
  3. KellyApril 9, 2011 at 8:52 PM

    I came home with a pound of each of the 4 colors! They were really dusty, so I wanted to wash them before I did anything with them. I will be going back on Saturday, and they will be shearing Thursday...so I am sure I will get more. Lordy I better get busy.....all of this wonderful fiber is bringing out some hoarding tendencies in me!!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. vilterietjeApril 10, 2011 at 2:47 AM

    beautiful natural colours:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Felted HouseApril 10, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    Just to say thanks so much for your message about Archie - we're all still in shock right now and so sad, but it helps to know people care.xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Heather WoolloveApril 11, 2011 at 2:21 PM

    Kelly--What pretty colors! Do you have a knitted project in mind? (It might help you decide whether to leave it 'as is', or not.)

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)