Tour De Fleece, D.3 Update

So far…so good.

Upon our return from Kansas, I continued spinning with the baby alpaca. I have spun up all the rolags I had carded. While reviewing my brand new “Start Spinning”, I learned from Maggie about teasing my cleaned fleece.

I teased it mercilessly. I said it had nappy hair. I called it names. I mocked and taunted the poor fleece. I am not sure the reasoning behind these actions, but I persevered. Upon reading further, I discovered what Maggie intended. Oops.

After teasing and some carding, I now have more to spin tonight. And more to card, as well. I think the teasing was beneficial. The carding worked better, or maybe I am getting better. Or maybe both.

A couple weeks ago, while watching me work the alpaca, Wonderful Guy asked me what I had learned from the process. The learning curve has been steep.

I am glad I started with lanolin-free alpaca for the washing.

I have learned about examining the fleece thoroughly for vegetable matter. I will be ruthless in that regard in the future. And I was when deciding on the Jacob fleece at the Estes Park Wool Market.

Overall, I am pleased with the quality of this alpaca, and believe that I will have some delightful yarn when all is done. It is the first shearing from this particular fellow, after all. I may have spent a bit more than necessary, but not outrageously so. And with more experience, I might discover, not overly much for good clean fleece. It is good fleece, just maybe not so free of the VM.

There is a voice that is saying perhaps fiber prep is not for me. There are many outlets that offer wonderful and beautifully prepared roving and top. This is hard work, after all. Yet, I am finding it satisfying. So far.

Finishing a knitted object with it will be very telling.

Anyway, I am on track with my TdF personal challenge, working daily on the alpaca, making good progress, learning and refining techniques, and I think the 3 finished skeins is an achievable goal.