Category Archives: fiber art

stuff I make and sell

From start to finish: Step 2 – Skirting

Posted on August 30, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

Part two in our “From start to finish” series is skirting. Some people break this step into two, skirting and sorting, but they seem pretty insepperable to me. Skirting sounds like what you’re doing when you dance around an awkward … Continue reading →

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From start to finish: Step 1 – Shearing

Posted on August 25, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

This post is the first in our “From start to finish” series, in which I’ll take you through our 12 step program for fiber addicts. Actually, it’s more like 6 steps, but that’s not as catchy. These posts take a … Continue reading →

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Artist show recap

Posted on August 18, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

Sooooo. Here are the long-promised pictures from the Cimarron Sky Dog Artist Benefit Show. Nice, right? We had over 100 products, all hand-made at some level, all done this summer. We most definitely pulled out all the stops. It was … Continue reading →

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On letting go

Posted on August 17, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

You all remember the prayer shawl I just finished? The one I crocheted from my own handspun yarn? Here’s what happened when Mom, Aunt Geri, and I went to put a price on it for the show: I’d just driven … Continue reading →

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How-to: hand card alpaca fiber

Posted on August 15, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

Note: I’m out-of-town this week, so this post is going up automatically. A long time ago, in a small apartment in northern Colorado, I processed four alpaca fleeces without a drum carder. It was…time consuming. I often spun from the … Continue reading →

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“Going Out” prayer shawl

Posted on August 6, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

It is done. My first ever crochet project with yarn I made myself. The pictures are a little iffy, but have a look! We have so much time invested in this shawl. Mom designed the fiber blend. She washed Brittany’s fiber … Continue reading →

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How-to: Andean plying bracelet

Posted on August 2, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

On Sunday night I spun another 150 yards of “Dark Heart” yarn. Usually I’m pretty good at ending up with two bobbins that have about the same amount of yarn on them, so I don’t have leftovers after I ply. … Continue reading →

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Knit, Spin, and Crochet

Posted on August 1, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

We’ve been busy, busy bees! Over the weekend we made sure we had pictures of everything, and updated our business cards and portfolios. Check out some of my favorites. Baby alpaca yarn is wonderful, and Mom knits the thickest, warmest … Continue reading →

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Making marled yarn

Posted on July 29, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

It’s a not-very-secret secret that I am bored easily. Spinning doesn’t seem like a natural fit for a fickle crafter, and it probably isn’t. I usually get halfway into spinning one bobbin of singles before I am absolutely sick of … Continue reading →

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A weaving experiment

Posted on July 27, 2011 by cliffhousealpacas

I guess I thought I didn’t have enough hobbies. After all, I only spin, knit, crochet, felt, and quilt. Also, incongruously, I play video games *shhh, don’t tell Mom*. But a friend was biking to work the other day when he … Continue reading →

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