Monthly Archives: January 2012

Mom’s new barn cat

Posted on January 31, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

The other new kitty is finally out of hiding. Zipporah is much more timid, and not quite friendly, so it took her much longer to get out into the open. This kitty’s semi-official name when she arrived at the barn … Continue reading →

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Excuses are like armpits…

Posted on January 30, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

…everyone has two of them and they both stink. Somedays, I sit down to write a blog post and I can think of at least three different topics. I should write those ideas down, since there are other days where I can’t … Continue reading →

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Cabled yarn: phase one (also, a note on twist)

Posted on January 27, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

When we spin thread or yarn, we add twist to loose fiber to lock it together. This twist pulls the fibers closer, and the microscopic scales on the hairs rub against each other, catching and holding. To create beautiful yarn, you must … Continue reading →

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Two-ply: not just for toliet paper

Posted on January 26, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Mom asked me the other day if I ever thought about making a three-ply yarn, instead of my usual two-ply. I said, “Of course. Then I thought about the extra 33.3333333% more fiber we’d have to skirt, pick, wash, card … Continue reading →

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Alpaca bio: Bravado

Posted on January 25, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Bravado may be my favorite of our alpacas, and it has nothing to do with his fiber (which I haven’t even spun yet). He’s a suri alpaca, unlike the rest of our herd, who are huacayas. Instead of being fluffy his … Continue reading →

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Losing the twist

Posted on January 24, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

People are always surprised to hear that I like to do all the spinning on a project within one or two days. Making yarn doesn’t seem like it should be a time sensitive endeavor. Since I’ve been in a sorta … Continue reading →

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The parts of a spinning wheel…

Posted on January 23, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

…have hilarious names. I couldn’t decide which was funniest, so I decided to share them all with you. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up. The twist in yarn is originally generated by your foot pressing the treadle. My wheel only … Continue reading →

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Sciatica, carpal tunnel, and crafters: a public service announcement

Posted on January 20, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Most crafts (and jobs for that matter) involve some repetitive motion that can take a toll on your body over time. If you take nothing else away from this post, please remember this: if it hurts, stop doing it. Carpal … Continue reading →

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But no blue ones

Posted on January 19, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

According to the ARI (Alpaca Registry, Inc.), an organization that tracks the lineage of American alpacas, there are a whopping 16 recognized colors of alpacas. The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association recognizes 22, the other 6 being combinations of the solid colors like “pinto” … Continue reading →

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Alpaca bio: Morocco

Posted on January 18, 2012 by cliffhousealpacas

Morocco reminds me of the quiet kid in class. You know the one that sits in the back and doesn’t talk much, but you’re pretty sure he’s either the smartest kid there or a sociopath. Yeah, that’s our Mo.

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