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Why I can say "Our Fleeces Went to Market" Last year after sheering season, looking at a trailer full of freshly shorn fleeces, I was in a frustrated tizzy as to what I was going to do with them. We have been raising alpacas since 1997 and we have always tried to do something with our fleece. In the past we have sent fleeces to AFCNA, had yarn, batting, and rovings made, and offered fleeces for sale. We have a farm store, and I hand make several items for the store and to take to local craft shows. Looking at my current inventory of yarns, roving, and battings, I quickly realized I did not need to invest in having more of the same made from our current harvest. I started researching different options for our fiber but was very frustrated with the lack of options I was finding. I did not want to send my fleece somewhere, only to have to buy product back in return. After having a discussion with a client that moved out of state that had the opportunity to attend a seminar on Fiber Sorting for Maximum Profit presented by the Course Broads Inc., I became very intrigued. At the time, I could not really comprehend what sorting had to do with finding an outlet for our fiber. After listening to what he to say, I took his advice and checked out the North American Alpaca Producers. www.naafp.us, and the Coarse Broads Inc. www.fibersorting.com websites. BAM! There It Is… The excitement came! Here is an opportunity to not only get products made from our fleeces here in the USA, but to gain invaluable information on fleece information for our breeding program. One of my pet peeves is that visitors would came to the farm and say that they were interested in raising alpacas, but were told by other farms that there was nothing to do with the fiber. I would take them into my store and they were amazed and baffled as to why breeders would say those things. Owning a farm store is not for everyone, but being able to communicate that there is an outlet for having items made and sold by others to make a substantial profit from their fleece once again became a sales tool for us as breeders. It was not long after reviewing these sites that I found myself wanting to know more and wanting to share this opportunity with our clients and other local breeders who continually ask us "What should we do with our fiber"? Last November we hosted a seminar presented by The Coarse Broads in the hopes of getting all our questions answered and to learn more on how fiber sorting could benefit our breeding program. We were blown away to say the least. We used to take our fiber to the mini mill and say "here make us some yarn". Well, not any more. Wether our fiber is going to be sent to the NAAFP, sold, or taken to the mini mill it is going to have a purpose.
Watching Robyn and Carrie sort and evaluate fleeces as part of the seminar was the explanation point we all needed. Watching them grade and sort by sight, a fleece from a single alpaca, and put it into 2,3,4, or even more bins destined for different uses based on the fibers length and diameter (micron) was amazing. It all made so much sense, that I decided that I needed to learn how to sort alpaca fiber. In March I traveled to Harrisville NH., along with two others that had been at the seminar, to take the Coarse Broads 4 day Certified Sorting Class. Since the seminar in March I have had over 300 fleeces cross my sorting table. I now look at alpaca fiber in a totally different manner. We used to just throw away older fleeces or put them in with the 2nds to make felts. Not anymore, some of those fleeces are going to be made into duvets. We can offer our fleeces for sale, saying that you are buying a uniform all grade 3 fleeces that you can spin into a beautiful sport weight yarn. If we decide to take our grade 2 fleece to the mini mill, we can tell the mills that we want a super-fine light weight yarn made that would be great for a fancy shawl or scarf and that will be superior to any yarn we would have had made by just sending in fiber and saying, "make us some yarn". The end products will now be superior in quality and in wear ability because it is now uniform as a result of being sorted.
There are so many benefits from certified sorted alpaca fiber. Unlike micron testing that only evaluates a 4 inch sample of the alpacas blanket, a sorter will grade the entire blanket and neck of each alpaca giving the breeder a individual alpaca sort record with data that includes the weight of each fleece by body area, grade of each area, comments on luster/brightness, density, and uniformity of crimp, crimp style or lock structure, test for tenderness, and sorter comments on the fiber. By having the fiber sorted every year, we can see how each alpaca fiber changes. Does it change in weight, micron grade or fiber length. The sorters will also provide the breeders with a herd summary report that lets them know how much fiber their herd produced in each, color, grade, and processing length. Before taking the sorting class I never paid much attention to length of our alpaca fiber. I did not realize there were different processes and uses for the different lengths. Alpaca fiber that is between 1.5" and 3.75" inches in length should be used in a woolen process, and fiber that is 3.75" to 6" in length should be used in a worsted process. This report gives us at a glance where we not only need to improve, but also aids in suggested uses for the fiber. Ultra-fine: Grade 1 fiber having less than 20 microns is best used for making items that will be worn next to the skin, baby items, underwear, etc. Super-fine: Grade 2 fiber having a micron of 21 to 22.9 for gently used items, scarves and shawls. Fine: Grade 3 fiber which is the most versatile grade having a micron of 23 to 25.9 can be used for yarns, socks, and knitted ware. Medium: Grade 4 fibers having a micron of 26 to 28.9 can be used for socks, throws, yarns, outerwear, or felt. Intermediate: Grade 5 fiber having a micron of 29 to 31.9 can be used for Batts, duvets, outerwear, and felt Robust: Even fibers form the leg belly and chest with very high micron can be used for making beautiful alpaca rugs or for insulation. Sorted fiber results in less waste. Mills usually charge by weight of unprocessed fiber. Sorted fiber has 10-15 percent less loss in the mill than unsorted fibers. A huge benefit to certified sorted alpaca fiber and the answer to my question of what sorting had to do with finding an outlet for our fiber is the North American Alpaca Fiber Producers or NAAFP. Here was a co-op that was developing products made from all grades of alpaca fiber to be processed in the USA utilizing already existing commercial mills and processors. A co-op that would allow us to not only take advantage of reduced processing cost, but also offers retail outlets and marketing for the items made over and above what I feel I can sell out of our farm store. It offers those without a farm store the means to make a profit off their fiber who do not wish to sell products themselves.
I encourage anyone who is looking for an outlet for their fiber and wants to support a USA fiber based industry and make a profit off the fiber produced on their farm to do as many others are doing and start having their yearly fiber clip sorted and taken to the next level of being made into quality yarn and finished products. Quit stumbling to answer the question of what you do with your fiber. GET YOUR FLEECES TO MARKET.
To inquire on fiber sorting services Jody Hezoucky 330-627-6000 or call North American Alpaca Fiber Producers (NAAFP) to find a certified sorter or apprentice in your area | |||||||||
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