Come Join the Fun ................

Shearing Day May 13th  10:00 - 2:00

After many months of careful planning for our big day, 

it will finally arrive May 13th. 

Here is a little about how we expect the day to go. 

Here is the over view from last year. 

Our shearer's name is Mike Bickley. 

He travels all the way from Christchirst, New Zealand. 

This year he will be leaving his new baby son 

for about 3 months to come to the USA to shear alpacas. 

 There are many jobs on shearing day . . . . . . .

We must bring the alpacas in from the field.

It's best to keep the alpacas on green grass.
The grass helps to keep the fleece as clean as can be. 

Next each alpaca is vacuumed to get as much dust, dirt and hay out as possible.
 We want the fleece as clean as possible, as it is much easier to clean it while still on the alpaca.  

After all the cleaning the alpaca waits it's turn to get a spot on the mat with the shearer. 

Each alpaca will need 3 bags. One for the best or prime coat, next for the
neck and belly hairs we call seconds, and another bag for the leg hairs, called thirds. 

Once the alpaca is on the mat, Mike the shearer begins the
hair cut. The alpaca is restrained so not to get hurt or hurt anyone
else. Each alpaca is gentle put down on the mat with many helper
so everyone stays safe.                                                

This is Robbie. He is very happy to have
his coat off. The days are getting warmer
and he was sweaty. Now he looks so
different but the rule is no laughing.
Alpacas have feeling too and are very
sensitive. 

Here is Buddy after shearing.

Here is Buddy's fleece. 

Come on out and have some fun with us on May 13th.                                                                                               

Visitors are welcome 10- 2. 

We will have fleece, roving, yarn 

and many other products and alpacas for sale. 

Visit our website: www.QuarryCrittersAlpacas.com 

Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch 

will return to the Gettysburg Farmers' Market

 Gettysburg Farmers' Market 

Downtown will return to the square 

this Saturday 

 7:00 Am until 12:00 Noon 

Adams County, PA 

Customers use our alpaca yarn to
make warm soft alpaca socks.

Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch will be bringing more
 hand dyed roving in a variety of colors. 

Be sure to come visit and get your alpaca fibers and products
 this Saturday on Lincoln Square, downtown Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, PA
Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch will be outside the House of Bender. 

Hand spun, hand painted alpaca yarn will also be
available Saturday
at the Gettysburg Farmers' Market.

Many hand made alpaca products will
be available. This strange little man is made from
alpaca fibers. It's made by needle felting. 

  

Happy Customer.
She is wearing a hand knitted alpaca hat.
Doesn't it look great on her? 
Special thanks to everyone that has shared our blog with friends. I'd like to encourage YOU to share our content with a friend as well. Thanks for your interest.

Please visit our website.

Let's Paint Roving

Have you ever thought about hand painting fiber? Well we have and it's fun. We started with white roving. Roving is fiber that has been washed and then carded so that all the fibers are aligned. This prepares the fiber to go through the spinning wheel or to be felted.


Next we thought about what colors would be nice together. A color wheel can be very helpful because when you paint, the colors beside each other will mix and blend and you may not want those colors to be brown.  Some people, like Linda here, just have a great sense of color. Some people need a resource, like the color wheel.  


We picked Cushing Dyes in the colors: American Beauty, Turquoise, Violet, and Silver Gray. We mixed the colors with lots of white vinegar to set the color.


Next Linda made a plan as to how she was going to paint the roving. She could make the stripes go towards her or even dot the paint. Linda decided to make short stripes in a pattern. Then she started to paint. 

 Notice that we have laid out the plastic wrap under the roving. It will make it easier once the painting is completed. Watch this next video to see how she made a jelly roll of the plastic wrap. Roll the short sides in and then the roll the long sides over and then make the rest in thirds. Well it's just easier to watch. 

After the roving is rolled up in the plastic wrap it is put into the steamer pot to set the color. A steamer pot has 2 parts, the big outer pot and then a smaller inner pot with holes for the steam to come through. The inner pot keeps the fiber and plastic wrap out of the water. With a little bit of water in the bottom of the pan, turn on the burner and let the water come to a boil and then turn off the burner. Let the roving steam for about 30 minutes.  


There are different ways to steam the hand painted roving but this is the way I prefer. 

After the 30 minutes has passed then rinse the fiber and let sit for another 30 minutes. We added a tablespoon of fabric softener to this big canning pot to make the fiber smell nice and to cut down on the static that may occur during spinning. It really is a step that you can choose to skip if you want. 


We used the spin drain cycle on the washer machine to get most of the water and moisture out of the fiber. Linda put it on a hanger, took it home to hang it in her backyard to make sure it was fully dry. She will bring it back for Knitty Knotty Knight, our fiber fun night. She plans on spinning it then. 




Knitty Knotty Knight is here. . . . . . 

We always have so much fun. 

Here is Linda spinning the roving that she handpainted. I wonder what she is going to make from the yarn? I will have to let you know. Stay tuned. . . . . . . 

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope that you found the information useful. If you have any questions about hand painting roving or fiber let me know and I will help you find the answer. 
http://www.QuarryCrittersAlpacas.com
http://www.JuliesAlpacas.com 
JuliesAlpacas@gmail.co    

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Your thoughts are . . . . . .. .

This blogging stuff is a lot of fun. I started blogging last month. I know that there are a lot of you out there that are reading it. Thanks so much! It really makes me want to keep writing. It would be even more fun if you would let me know what you think of my blog. Do you have questions about alpacas?? How about questions about their fiber?? Do alpacas really spit? How do we make baby Alpacas? What are their mating habbits like?? But they are so cute! Do they make good pets? I've heard that they go to the bathroom in the same spot, is that really true? Maybe you have a funny story or picture you would like to share...

Help me out. What would you like to know about alpacas? Are there any specific educational videos you think would be helpful or fun? I have, if anything, too many ideas I'd plan to share with you and will be sharing with you over the next year or more. I just want to hear from you! Come on, it will be fun. Tell me what you want to see me blog about alpacas. Comment below whereever you are seeing this. Best answer will recieve a 5$ starbucks gift certificate.

  

AND THANKS AGAIN FOR READING! STAY TUNNED.

visit us at www.QuarryCrittersAlpacas.com or
JuliesAlpacas.com
You can send your questions in the text box below or juliesalpaca@gmail.com

What is a micron?

A micron?
When I first started looking into alpacas I kept hearing this word micron. What the heck is a micron? After listening, asking questions and reading research I think I have it figured out. Pretty important word to know as an alpaca breeder.  So here is what I found. . . .

Micron count is a way of evaluating each hair or fiber on the alpaca. So in many ways a micron is a tool. It's a way to figure out  the value of your alpaca's fleece. Like this . . . . .

I shear my alpacas, send the side sample off to Yocom-McColl which is a lab that use microscopes, scanners and computers to evaluate that sample and then tells me the results. Based on the micron count, that they tell me, I then know the best use of the fiber. Like this. . . . . . .

Very fine 20 - 22 micron count

I have an alpaca that has a micro count of less than 20 up to 22 microns then I'll want to make something that is next to the skin and will be gently used maybe a shawl or baby items.

Most versatile 23 - 28 Micron count 

Micron counts that are 23 - 28 are the most versatile and can be used for lots of items that are worn very comfortable next to your skin. Because alpaca is so soft alpaca breeders want everyone to feel this comfortable fiber.

Then there is the higher number of micron count such as 29 - 32  this might start to feel a little less comfortable.  There is still a use for this warm and cozy alpaca fiber and that would be to use it  in batts, felt or outerwear.

What is a micron? 

A micron is a tool that alpaca breeders use, to determine what  product to make from the raw alpaca fiber that comes off their alpacas. A micron is a tool that helps alpaca breeders breed for that product. Do you want your alpacas to make rugs, felt, batts, outerwear OR baby soft blankets and shawl? It's helpful to know this word micron. What is your goal for breeding alpacas?  Now you know, plan accordingly.

         If you need answers to important questions like this then contact

                     Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch

                                                      JuliesAlpacas@gamil.com

                                            

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Julies Alpacas of Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch.

Thank you for visiting our blog and reading all the way to the end. I hope that you enjoy what you find here. Please visit our website to find out more about alpacas and all the fine items and clothing that can be made by their fleece.  

www.QuarryCrittersAlpacas.com 

What's a Knitty Knotty?

        Fiber night is held at Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch every other week. We call this night "Knitty Knotty Knight",  well some of us also call it "Knitty Knaughty Knight".  We come together to  knit and  spin.
         I want to tell you about one member of our group named Linda. She is one of the 2 Linda's in our group. I first met Linda on Lincoln Square in Gettysburg, PA one Saturday morning at my vendor booth for Quarry Critters. I sell my alpaca fleece, roving, yarn  and other items made from alpaca fiber at the local farmers market.  I was sitting and busily spinning away as she told me that she use to love to spin and that she still had her spinning wheel.
       "I'm going to learn to spin when I retire", she would tell me.
So I invited her to our group. She continued to come, as she would sit and knit she kept saying how she had a spinning wheel and wanted to  learn to spin.
     I'm happy to announce that Linda retired  and  she learned to spin.  Yea!!! 
    At our last "Knitty Knotty Knight" she brought her wheel. She showed us what she had spun in class.  Linda had done an excellent job of learning to spin.  Upon filling her spool she asked if she could borrow a knitty knotty, then listen to this, this is so cute,
         then she says, "Hey, that is the name of our group!"
Love that.

Linda is taking her yarn off the spool and winding it on the knitty knotty. 

 After the yarn is on the knitty knotty, 

it is secured in 3 -4 places then taken off

the knitty knotty to make a skein of yarn.   

 Linda is happily looking forward to her new life in retirement and spinning. 

She has her next project already under way. She is spinning blue wool and is thinking about plying it with green wool to create a barber pole effect.  I wonder what she will make with her new yarn she made herself. 

Like us on Facebook to keep receiving this blog. 

Not on Facebook? Want to keep reading about us? 

Then click here to request emails from Julies Alpacas 

of Quarry Critters alpaca Ranch.

Thank you for visiting our blog and reading all the way to the end. I hope that you enjoy what you find here. Please visit our website to find out more about alpacas and all the fine items and clothing that can be made by their fleece.  

www.QuarryCrittersAlpacas.com 

Alpaca Perfect for Spring, Get ready

Alpaca Boucle Jackets for Spring

Everyone says that alpaca is warm. Well it is, yet it breathes too. Thus making it the perfect all year round garment. These Boucle Jackets made from alpaca are lined with silk. They are perfect for the spring as an outer jacket when you need a little something in the cooler weather of spring. They are quite stylish for the upscale event you are attending or for that everyday running around. They look great with jeans or dresses. They have pockets too.   717-359-9989

Now available in white, size small

Now available in black, size large 

Now available in burnt orange, size medium 

Now available in red, size XL 

Call 717-359-9989 to Visit 

Naturally Appealing Boutique at   <--- Click 

 Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch 

Peaceful Day in the Barn

Place yourself here. 

Take a breath and relax.

Enjoy the peace and quiet of 

all those alpacas 

waking up

 this beautiful spring like morning. 

Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch 

Schedule a visit today 

JuliesAlpacas@gmail.com 

Newly Weaned Alpaca Boys

Newly Weaned Alpaca Boys

Written by Julie Wysong

                Today I went to check on the newly weaned alpaca boys. Weaning is when we remove the baby alpacas, called cria, from their mothers. These little guys were doing just fine. They were wondering inside the barn after seeing how windy it was outside.  Let me introduce them to you. Lawrence is the one with multiple colors. You can’t really see from the video but he has gray ears.  Standing beside him is Kimble. Kimble is a fawn color which is a light brown shade. Kimble is the one that is flirting with the camera. He is so curious. Every time I walk near him he will flirt with me. He would flirt with you too. Joshua is about the same color as Kimble. He came walking passed. You can almost see how soft and luxurious his fiber is. Joshua is the biggest of all these jr. hersires. Finally Montgomery got the courage to come in and walk past me.  There will be one more to join this group but for now these 4 little guys will try to get used to not being with their mothers. They are doing just fine.   

Schedule a visit to meet these newly weaned alpaca boys

 Call today 717-359-9989 Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch

 

Meet Asmerelda ........

 Asmerelda - Great Alpaca Mom
   Year after year Asmerelda keeps giving us beautiful crias. A cria
is a baby alpaca. She takes great care of these babies with lots of milk. The pictures here show Asmerelda in a full fleece as well as sheared and with several years of cria.
      At dusk it seems the cria like to run around and "pronk" a jump. Asmerelda has been seen pronking with the cria. She is delightful.

 Franklin and Asmerelda

Asmerelda is a female, bay black, huacaya alpaca. She is from the Sukee von Tr blood line. Sukee was a fiber champion. Asmerelda’s offspring also carry this champion’s very fine fiber some which are as low as  18.3 micros .

Asmerelda, even at the age of 12 years old, has held her micro fineness at 25.1 .

She is a good mom with plenty of milk for her cria and has given birth without assistance time and time again. She has produced all sorts of colors, such as: true black, medium fawn, medium silver gray, dark brown.

Asmerelda is gentle in spirit and walks on a halter. She is easy to doctor on herd health day. She has white around her muzzle and some black that looks like a mustache. She has white on her back hind that looks as if someone with white paint on their fingers painted it there.

Asmerelda would make a good addition to your herd especially if you are looking for color. She could be mixed with other alpacas on our ranch to create a package deal for you. Check out Asmerelda’s son Franklin. He is an up and coming herdsire with fineness of fiber, density and medium fawn color. He will begin breeding spring 2013.

Call today 717-359-9989 Quarry Critters Alpaca Ranch to schedule a visit to meet this gentle loving  alpaca mom, Asmerelda and if your lucky some of her offsprings such as Franklin.