Alpaca is the crème de la crème of fiber. Suri and Huacaya alpaca breeds produce fibers that respond differently when knit or crocheted. Suri is soft, sleek and silky and grows in locks. It produces lovely clothing with lots of drape. Huacaya fiber appears similar to merino sheep in that it's crimpy and grows out away from the body. Huacayas have the appears of a teddy bear before they are shown. Huacaya fiber is more lofty.
Huacaya alpacas are more common than Suris. Their fibers can be used separately, carded together or mixed with other fibers, such as wool, silk, mohair, bamboo, etc.
At Cribleman Fiber Studio, the fibers are handled carefully and thoughtfully combined for the hand spinner, weaver or needleworker. The fiber is either sent to a mill to be made into yarn, or processed in my own studio. Here, after the fiber's been washed, it may be hand dyed. Then it's carded into batts for the hand spinner. Yarn returned from the mill is often hand dyed by a variety of methods. Occasionally I hand spin my own fiber into yarn. Local knitters occasionally produce articles that I sell in my farm store.
As a fiber artist, I also weave using my own yarn as well as other fibers. Scarves, shawls and placemats are often available for sale and by special order.