I Get Excited About Alpaca Yarn

     Years ago, when I was 9 years old, I won a knitting kit when I submitted a drawing of a horse's head in a Curley-Q contest.  (For those who do not know what a Curley-Q  is, it is creating a picture from a random shaped line)  I guess I can say this was my first art contest I won!  The kit came with one pair of size 5 plastic needles and a few balls of colored yarn, and my mother taught me how to knit.  I have loved knitting and yarn ever since and have made countless projects, for myself and others.
      My dream for years was to knit a sweater from hand spun wool, and my dream came true when I found a spinner at the Spencer Fair several years ago.  I discussed with her spinning for me, and 6 months later she had my yarn ready!  I purchased it and knitted a very difficult cardigan for myself with this yarn.  My fingers felt so good while knitting from the lanolin.  I totally love this sweater, it keeps me very warm and even dry as it repels water with the natural oils, and this sweater won me a 2nd place ribbon at the Spencer Fair! This is my forever sweater.
     And, then I discovered Alpaca yarn and these beautiful animals!  I went to the Woodstock Fair in Woodstock, CT, and found people with an alpaca farm and that spun their own beautiful, very soft, yarn.  I bought some natural brown yarn and knitted the softest, warm mittens I ever had!  I discovered some local alpaca farms near me and have had the pleasure to speak with these remarkable people who spend their lives doing something they love.  Yesterday at the Spencer Fair, I found a woman spinning her alpaca fleece into yarn, she dyes it and is learning to knit.  This couple own 6 alpacas and you can see that they love what they do.  The woman did admit that they both work, but I admire that they both find the time to make this artistic endeavor an importance in their lives.  I have their card, will find them again and I will, of course, blog to you what I have found and what I will do!