OUR SMALL HERD

Our original four boys came from Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire. We are not alpaca breeders and have our boys purely as pets. Our experience is that you don't need to be a breeder and that a 'batchelor herd' can give much pleasure to the owner. We have 5 acres including our big garden and grazing for the boys, 15 miles north of Inverness, Scotland. I spin, knit, felt and crochet with the fleece from the boys.

Clicking!!

Just a reminder that clicking on (most) of the photos will show them greatly enlarged.

Sunday 20 September 2009

Knitting and crochet


Last Saturday I attended the Highland Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers knitting and crocheting workshop and learnt to do lobster braid as well as trying spinning from the point on the Great Wheel brought in by Gill of Artisan Threads. I also tried my hand at knitting with giant needles. Yesterday, I attended another knitting and crochet workshop organised by Gill and saw her many fleeces, wools and fibres which she had spun and dyed and all the many items she has produced from them. I came away with many inspiring ideas! (picture shows scarf I produced)At home Gully and Gaucho are settling in well with the rest of the herd.
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous23 September 2009 at 15:30

    So! I guess in just a few days you will be knitting or crocheting something wonderful from Gully or Gaucho right!?? lol I tried my hand at knitting about 100 years ago while I was in college and in the end had my hubby's grandmother finish it. I was all thumbs and all it did was make me frustrated and cry!! lol I'm sure I'd do better now if I tried! So! What are you going to make first??? ...debbie

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  2. Shirley27 September 2009 at 10:53

    Hi Debbie
    I have been very busy with knitting and crochet this week I have croched a hat from Fergus's white fleece and put a flower on it using the black from Fyta. It is lovely to use the yarns from the animal you care for.

    Shirley

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  3. Joyce @ Alba Yarns3 October 2009 at 12:22

    Love your scarf, Shirley. Have you got a pattern? If you write it down and are willing to share with the world I will post it on the woolly website.
    We are redoing the website and would love to feature a picture of some of your flock if you willing to give us a pic. (we were going to use sheep - but definitely not so cute!) Love to you both and all the critters.

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  4. Shirley5 October 2009 at 12:56

    Hi Joyce, The scarf is 'freeform' so there is no pattern. Basically I knit to shapes which I just think of and see how it develops, so each scarf is always going to be different. Next one I do, I'll keep a note and let you know. Basically its casting on and off at random to produce whatever shape you want. Nothing is right or wrong! What will the world think of that? We'll gladly sort out pictures of the boys and send them via email later. Shirley

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