Holiday Open House is Just Around the Corner!
November 9th, 2018Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio and Maple View Farm Alpacas will host its annual holiday open house on November 24 and 25 from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. Guests are invited to learn about alpacas, raised for breeding as well as their luxurious fiber. Visit the fiber mill and see a demonstration of the FeltLOOM, used to create felt fabric. Then browse the farm store for great holiday gifts made from luxurious alpaca. It’s always a fun weekend!
Production Cycles are Full into 2020
May 10th, 2018Thank you all for keeping us steadily busy!
The mill works with production cycles and we take reservations. We are full for the remainder of 2018 as well as 2019 and into 2020.
If you want roving, rug yarn or batts (jobs that are just wash, pick, card), we will be accepting limited jobs to our work-in list mid year and later 2018 and into 2019. We work these jobs in when we are backed up at the spinner. Email vtfibermill@gmail.com if you are interested. Jobs larger than 20 lb and/or wanting other services, like spinning, dyeing, separating or felting should be scheduled in a cycle.
If you would like a recommendation for a mill that may be able to accept your fiber, please email us at vtfibermill@gmail.com.
Maple View Farm will be at the Fiber Festival of New England
October 29th, 2017Maple View Farm Alpacas will once again be at the Fiber Festival of New England in Springfield, MA. Great time to start thinking of those holiday gifts! Stop by and see what’s new. We have a good supply of our yarn spun at VT Fiber Mill. http://www.easternstatesexposition.com/p/fiberfestival
Maple View Farm will be at the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
September 25th, 2017Maple View Farm Alpacas will once again be at the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival on October 5 & 6 in Tunbridge, VT. It looks like it will be a beautiful fall weekend, perfect for buying alpaca yarn or an alpaca vest for these cooler days. We have a good supply of our yarn spun at VT Fiber Mill. Stop by and see what’s new! http://vtsheepandwoolfest.com/
Maple View Farm will be at the Adirondack Wool and Arts Festival
September 17th, 2017Maple View Farm Alpacas will once again be at the Adirondack Wool and Arts Festival (Formerly the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival) at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Greenwich, NY. We have a good supply of our yarn spun at VT Fiber Mill. Stop by and see what’s new! http://www.adkwoolandarts.com/home.html
Fall Open House
September 13th, 2017Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio and Maple View Farm Alpacas will host its annual fall open house on September 16 and 17 from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. Guests are invited to learn about alpacas, raised for breeding as well as their luxurious fiber. Visit the fiber mill and see how yarn is made. It’s always a fun weekend!
Production Cycles are Full into 2019
September 11th, 2017Thank you all for keeping us steadily busy!
The mill works with production cycles and we take reservations. We are full for the remainder of 2017 as well as 2018 and into 2019.
If you want roving, rug yarn or batts (jobs that are just wash, pick, card), we will be accepting limited jobs to our work-in list late this year and into 2018. We work these jobs in when we are backed up at the spinner. Email vtfibermill@gmail.com if you are interested. Jobs larger than 20 lb and/or wanting other services, like spinning, dyeing, separating or felting should be scheduled in a cycle.
If you would like a recommendation for a mill that may be able to accept your fiber, please email us at vtfibermill@gmail.com.
Prepping Fiber and Tender Fleeces
April 22nd, 2017For many it’s shearing time! Followed by preparing your fiber for processing. Just a reminder about proper prep of your fiber (see skirting below) but also a particular comment about checking for tender fiber. This occurs most often in cria/juvi fleeces but can occur in any. If your cria fleeces are extremely fine, then a very small micron change can make them tender, i.e. a 17 micron fleece will need less change to be tender than a 24 micron fleece. It could be caused by weaning but also showing, drenching, transport/moving properties, drought, etc. UV damage or not shearing a cria shortly after birth may cause the tips to be damaged and tender.
While a tender fleece may be able to be processed, it will easily nep, creating slubs and imperfections in your yarn. When you pull at the fiber, if it readily breaks it is tender. This can occur any place along the staple. We receive some that are literally tender all along the staple and I describe them as “shredding”. If you have any questions about the fleece, don’t mix it with others as the entire batch becomes impacted. If you have tender fiber and still want it processed, it’s probably best to do by hand.
Thanks for reading and we look forward to receiving your fiber!
Skirting:
Lay out fleece on skirting table – cut side up
– Gently bounce fleece to remove dust
– Remove second cuts
– Test fiber for soundness by snapping lock of fiber between hands to check for tender breaks
– Remove any leg/neck/belly fiber around edges that is not same quality as prime blanket
– Remove any fiber too short to process
Turn fleece over – cut side down
– Gently pick out debris
Holiday Open House is Just Around the Corner!
November 8th, 2016Vermont Fiber Mill & Studio and Maple View Farm Alpacas will host its annual holiday open house on November 26 and 27 from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. Guests are invited to learn about alpacas, raised for breeding as well as their luxurious fiber. Visit the fiber mill and see fiber demonstrations: FeltLOOM both days and hand spinning on Saturday. Then browse the farm store for great holiday gifts made from luxurious alpaca. It’s always a fun weekend!
All 2017 and 2018 Production Cycles are Full
September 13th, 2016Thank you all for keeping us steadily busy!
The mill works with production cycles and we take reservations. We are full for the remainder 2016 as well as 2017 and 2018. 2019 will not open up until 2017.
If you want roving, rug yarn or batts (jobs that are just wash, pick, card), we will be accepting limited jobs to our work in list late this year and for into 2017. We work these jobs in when we are backed up at the spinner. Email vtfibermill@gmail.com if you are interested. Jobs larger than 20 lb and/or wanting other services, like spinning, dyeing, separating or felting should be scheduled in a cycle.
