Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: .....skirting and preparation of fibre :)
Hello Heidi,
I didn't skirt as they were being sheared (sorry if I gave that
impression). When they were sheared, the blanket fibre goes straight
into what we call a 'boot liner', that's a square sheet of plastic mesh
with handles at each corner, and they can be bought fairly cheaply from
somewhere like Roses (where you are). They are the liners that you put
in the trunk of your car!
With the blanket spread out on this (you need two people really at
shearing time to manage it), it is then rolled up from one corner until
about half way, then the sides folded in, and rolled up the rest of the
way. There you have it; it's simple but effective. All the leg and neck
fibre goes into ordinary bags, labelled of course!
Only when the shearer has finished and gone (and I have the time), do I
choose each one in turn from the pile of boot liners and roll it out
onto the sorting table. From there you can get to see it's proper shape
and discern where the edge of the blanket and the real blanket fibre
begins. Peel off the edge and without fear of loss, you will end up with
bags of a consistant quality of fibre, labelled appropriately so that
hand spinners can know exactly what they are getting. This ensures they
will not expect premium quality alpaca fibre of uniform lengths and
quality, and instead find different qualities and lengths of fibre in
the same bag. As a hand spinner, this can be very disappointing
especially if you have a particular project in mind that needs
consistency. It doesn't matter so much for felting, but for knitting,
or weaving soft shawls, blankets, etc., then it most certainly does.
And I do want my customers to want to come back to me for their fibre.
I label the skirtings of the blanket as just that, saying that it's
suitability is for handspinning, felting or dyeing and I make sure there
are lengths long enough to spin even if the quality is not the softest
parts, and I charge it at the same for adult alpaca (over 40 micron), as
I grade all my prices according to quality and appropriate purpose.
You will no doubt know from your own customers, the feedback you get
from them is important and will inform your own fibre preparations, with
future sales! in mind, and happy customers that want to come back to you.
Anyway, must get on ... more fleeces to prepare today. I'm about a
third of the way through, that's 5 down and 9 to go.
Have a great day with fibre, and good luck for shearing on Saturday.
Watch out for the rain. I don't know where you are but if the weather
is at all cold with the rain, then have an eye for the alpacas feeling
really cold. In England up north this year, apparently one breeder lost
two females to hypothermia because it rained after shearing, and the
whole herd had to be put under cover to warm them up!
Very Best Wishes
Amanda Poyner
Barton Alpacas
Somerset, England
Radched@aol.
> Excellent ideas Amanda. We shear on Saturday (its supposed to rain!),
> and this is the second shearing for me. Last year I missed it, but
> took the boys down to be gelded so had them sheared then, and did the
> girls by hand. I am excited to try the "skirt as you go" this year.
> The first year I was pretty much saving every precious bit of fiber
> (except the poopy parts), but this year I hope to be a bit pickier.
> Skirting on the fly might not work because our shearer shears them
> standing, so it all happens pretty quickly, but I am going to be more
> brutal with my selection once its home. I find it hard to add that 15
> or 20 dollars that a "professional skirter" would add, but am more
> than willing to muddle through myself
>
> Heidi Christensen
> WingNut Farm Alpacas
> Graham WA
> (253) 846-2168 or (253) 592-0200
> www.wingnut-
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amanda Poyner <amanda@bartonalpaca
> <mailto:amanda%
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
> Sent: Thu, 7 Jun 2007 2:05 pm
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: wow.....
>
> I'm with you Rachelle,
> Life is just too short. I am expecting 7 cria this year, but I said
> that last year and ended up with 3! The sneaky ladies had re-absorbed
> their pregnancies. So, We will see exactly how many we get when
> they're on the ground and healthy.
>
> I have been up to my elbows in wonderful fibre these last few days.
> I've spent hours and hours in a quiet barn, preparing my fleeces for
> showing and for sale. It's just the 4th shearing for us now, and I'm
> beginning to get it, about fibre.
>
> It's one of those things that gradually and over time, filters it's
> way into the fabric of your daily life. So this year I decided to show
> a couple of fleeces instead of animals, and for the first time really
> spent some time (a day to do two fleeces) pouring over unrolled
> blankets of fibre on the sorting table.
>
> First I skirted the edge of the blanket, shoulders and rump, skirting
> very carefully around the shoulders and rump, ending up with the shape
> of the absolutely prime blanket.
>
> With one fleece, I started skirting with the cut side down. It was
> easy enough being careful not to tear the fibres apart. On another
> fleece today, I did it the other way up, with the cut side up. It was
> so obvious where the true blanket fibre was and a dream to flip over
> the edge to that point and peel away the outer, courser fibres. Those
> will do for spinning up for weaving. Leaving lovely uniform and
> consistent fibre catching the light crimpily, all ready for the
> softest projects.
>
> Anyway, I ramble on and I'm supposed to be doing some editing on a
> spinning tuition booklet, but time is going on and I'm ready for bed.
>
> And to anyone who's still listening, remember that there's more in
> Heaven and on Earth to worry about :-)) Life is often brief.
>
> Best Wishes to all,
> Amanda Poyner
> Barton Alpacas
> Somerset, England
>
> ____________
> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free
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>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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posted by Chaddo at 11:14 PM
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