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, 19 February 2012

Work in progress and rainbows galore!

Over the past couple of weeks I've been experimenting with my spun fleece to see if I can knit some alpaca images.  These knitted squares can be stitched for instance onto cushion covers.  The squares are knitted using yarn from Fidget (white) Gaucho (brown) and Rufus (dark brown)  and these are just laid on a cushion for effect, they are not stitched on. 
This is definitely 'work in progress' but I think you can see what the finished square will look like once the lettering is finished and the ends stitched in!
This probably gives a better impression of what I'm aiming for.  For those interested in this type of work this was knitted using Fair Isle technique whilst the previous picture of the alpaca head was done using 'Intarsia' technique (you can Google it!)  I got the alpaca ideas from the web site:  http://www.mountlehmanllamas.com  which shows some vintage camelid photos, knitting, toys etc - a very informative web site.
Outside in the paddocks the weather has generally been kind to us over the past week.  There is a heavy dusting of snow around today but the sun will soon shift it.  One day last week, under a threatening sky a rainbow appeared in the bright sunshine as a shower of rain passed.  Here are, from the left, Gully, Rufus, Fergus, Fidget, Wee Eck (front) and Gaucho.
Gully (left) and Fergus
From the left, Gully, Fyta and Faro
"ello, 'ello, 'ello - wots goin' on 'ere then?"    If there was a prize for nosiness, Wee Eck would win it every time.  As soon as a camera is produced he has to stick his nose and dental features into the aperture!

5 comments:

  1. Lovely photos and your cushion motifs are gorgeous! Lovely ideas...always nice to see fleece used for more interesting creative things!

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  2. Ditto...I was just about to type Judi's comment myself...love the rainbow photos and very clever designs too!

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  3. LOVE THE RAINBOW PICTURES!!! So pretty!! The last photo of all the teeth made me laugh out loud!! Your pillow is just lovely. Looks great on your chair! You did a great job making a picture of the Alpaca!! Your getting pretty tricky these days!! ...debbie

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  4. Very creative indeed, can't wait to see the finished article.

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  5. Looks like you have been busy....crafting...lovely hand made cushions, the boys are looking in good fettle !.....Jayne

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