By KELLEY HOBART

The art of hand spinning yarn has been around for thousands of years and recently has made a resurgence among fiber arts enthusiasts who yearn to take their knitting projects back to the very source they originated from. Hand spinning is the art of twisting fiber, fleece, or roving of wool, silk, alpaca, angora, mohair, etc. into a continuous thread by using a spinning wheel or drop spindle. Both methods let you transform your raw fiber into a spun yarn you can then craft into a unique knitting or crochet project.

Many people learn how to spin fiber on a drop spindle since this method is very economical and also is a great way to get kids started in the craft. We posted a YouTube video on this technique and have had over 195,000 people watch and learn online from one of our instructors. (Our Channel with over 20 free videos is "Alpaca Direct" on YouTube). As you experience spinning on your own, you will be taking a step back in time to when the rhythm of life was a little simpler and results of your work on a project was easier to see and enjoy.
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Living on our Alpaca ranch, we had the opportunity to experience the full circle of life when it came to fiber. It began with breeding and raising the alpacas then shearing them once a year for our annual harvest of Alpaca fiber. Through this process it was apparent that the quality of fiber was a direct result of the care we gave the Alpacas throughout the year as their health had a huge impact on the fiber quality. After shearing we skirt, clean and card (straighten) the fibers so they are ready to be spun into yarn. Each spring our staff at Alpaca Direct spends a few days out in the sunshine next to our warehouse skirting the fiber from the latest shearing as they participate in the transformation of fleece to spinning fiber and yarn.

In addition to the fiber from our ranch we sell a large variety of Rovings (fibers ready to spin) in our store and on our website. We currently carry one of the largest selections in the USA with over 130 colors available in Merino wool, Corriedale, Alpaca, Silk and even exotic fibers like Yak. We also have a great selection of drop spindles and spinning wheels available for crafters who want to take spinning to the next level.

Spinning can also be a great craft to share with kids. If you want to create your own colors you can dye it yourself with Koolaid or RIT dye available at the supermarket. We taught our daughter how to spin when she was 11 years old and she has enjoyed the craft ever since often spinning up a new yarn while watching a TV show in the evenings. Spinning has also been incorporated into classroom curriculums where teachers have taught kids how to spin and then let them spin away during lectures. This approach engages the kids hand, eye, foot coordination and incorporates both sides of their brain. The results are still coming in however some teachers showed improved learning and retention around the material covered while teaching using this method.

We hope you get the chance learn the art of hand spinning yarn while taking a step back in time when the cadence of life was a little simpler.

In case you have not heard about us, Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high quality yarn, apparel, gifts and socks. We stock a full line of fiber art accessories, including hundreds of needles and thousands of yarns. Our unique selection of products also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, cuddly alpaca teddy bears and unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. We are located on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Highway 95 at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Our Alpaca fiber experts are on call 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday. Visit us at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. or online at www.AlpacaDirect.com - your local destination for luxury yarn, apparel and gifts. "Like" us on Facebook and Yelp for exclusive coupons, product spotlights and news.

The Alpaca Blanket Project Has New Owners!

Who We Are
Paul and Erin Egan of Offbeat Acres Fruit and Fiber Farm in Cottage Grove, WI have taken over the Alpaca Blanket Project from Peter and Carol Lundberg.  We started in the alpaca business in 2008, and currently have over 30 huacayas.   We have focused on fiber as a key component of our farm since the very beginning.  We do our own shearing and skirting, and enjoy working with fiber.  We are members of ABP, and were disappointed by the news last fall that ABP was ending.  Our customers LOVE the Pendleton blankets and scarves, and we are passionate about creating American made alpaca products, so it was an easy decision for us to buy ABP.

Our Plans for 2013
Our goal for this year is to collect as much fiber as possible, ensuring a seamless transition for current members.   We are seeking new members as well, waiving the membership fee for 2013.  We will follow the same shearing protocol, and will pay the same rates for fiber as Peter and Carol did in 2012.  The most noticeable change is that you’ll be sending your fiber to Wisconsin instead of Oregon!
Peter and Carol will also stay on in 2013 in a consulting role, providing mentoring as well as training on their sorting techniques.

Pendleton
The relationship with Pendleton will continue as well.   Paul toured the Washougal mill (where the blankets are made) and met one of the Pendleton owners, Charlie Bishop.  We are also in communication with the other major players at Pendleton as well.
We will have the blankets and scarves available for purchase sometime in early April.  Right now, they are getting packed up for their journey from Oregon to Wisconsin.

Fiber Collection / Where to Find Us
You can meet us in person at the Great Midwest Alpaca Fest in Madison April 26-28, or at the AOBA National show in Denver, CO, from May 16-19, or at Fiber University in Lebanon, MO on July 13-14.  We will be accepting fiber at all of these events.
We are in the process of setting up regional collection sites for 2013 and will keep you posted.   Other pickups are also being planned.  New collection sites are welcome!

Thank You
Finally, we would like to thank Peter and Carol for entrusting us with ABP.  It has been an honor to get to know them over the last few months.  We will strive to continue this business with the same integrity and passion.

Contact Information
Paul and Erin may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 608-669-6651 or 608-219-6369.  You can also check out our website for current information www.alpacablanketproject.com or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AlpacaBlanketProjectLLC for the latest news.