Processing Alpaca- Part 1; Washing, Drying and Picking your Fleece

Welcome back!
Today we are going to start an Alpaca processing journey. This is step one on our way from Alpaca to Sweater!
In this video, we will take the fleece from shearing, and scour, rinse, dry and do the first pick through of the fiber.
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[@doralevitt2879]

How I learned to do it 15 years ago when I first learned to spin was, after the first soak I would gently squeeze the water and make sure that the temp of the first bath your taking it out of is the same temp of the clean water your putting it in to and the same thing for the third rinse if it needs it.
Then id lay out a few layers of paper towels and carefully roll the fiber in it, then gently squeeze the water until most of it is out. When laying out the fiber to dry, it's better to tease the locks out when you first lay them out for more ventilation, and this way it will take less drying time. As the fiber dries and there's still some locks that are damp, I'd keep teasing them open so they completely dry.
Because alpaca, llama, vicuna and other camelid fibers are more full of dust and dirt than lanolin, the water doesn't have to be as super hot as if your doing a sheep fleece which it needs hotter water to get the grease out, but some people like spinning partially greasy fleeces anyway- just my two cents.🤗💖🌹
Oh- can you please tell me where you got your drying baskets from? Thank you!

[@mscarol208]

My apologies, I can’t seem to find part 2. Could you help me out? Just found your channel. Loving it.

[@dshe8637]

th-cam.com/video/UCk0e9quB18/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Bxjsuod5phayDH_Z

[@jeannieteaallaboutyarnknit3564]

This is really nice.
I like how you went threw this process.
So awesome that you are in NB.
Still watching..
Hhave a wonderful day. 💕

[@virginiahammill8037]

Thank you for posting. I was just given fleece from 2 alpaca and am looking forward to washing and carding and hopefully learning to spin the fleece.

[@sandijones4132]

Looking for part 2

[@cherylsmith5307]

Fascinating! Thank you.

[@AlineRobinson-ce4gi]

Part 2?

[@lorrainewatkins8922]

Very informative. Love your videos!

[@jacquerenwick6660]

Dors the new water have to be hot hot too?

[@dshe8637]

I just got some alpaca fleeces and put them into wash.
I should have sorted, picked and shaken them first. It took far too many hot washes to get the water clearer and I now have a mixture of fibre and washed straw😒

[@Costigan.soprano]

Thank you for this - really helpful for someone new who knows very little.
Because I’m in the uk and it’s raining half the time is it possible to dry this in another way? I’ve tried inside but it’s a bit too cold and is taking a long time to dry!

[@GrizzyLemming]

I've seen electric clothes airers suggested, the ones that are heated and have a cover - I've been thinking about getting one myself. I'm in Scotland so appreciate the struggle with damp weather!

[@LorenDraws]

I just bought some alpaca fleece to eventually use for spinning… it has a lot more visible VM than yours does … should I pick out all this very visible VM before washing? Or just go straight to washing then picking after like your video shows

[@careywilliams161]

Great video! Thanks for sharing ❤ Where did you get those drying racks? Those are great!

[@suricatacrafts1754]

Hi Carey! Thanks! I love working with Alpaca! I bought these "Herb Drying Racks" on Amazon. I love that they Zip shut, to keep bug out and fibre in. Also that they collapse down to nothing, really.

[@mscscottage1277]

Ms C here... Very interesting. I have an acquaintance who owns several alpaca and I have never seen this part of the process...

[@suricatacrafts1754]

I enjoyed doing it! So far, I love each part of the process!!

[@makeoneknitwear1174]

Where can we find part 2?

[@lbdental1466]

Can you Save Fiber that filtred under washing

[@patportran4683]

Is there a part 2??

[@Amy-sc8un]

Where can I find part 2

[@skodamum590]

lovely video. Background music made it hard to hear your words

[@gemeire]

I agree. I find it very hard to listen with the music behind so I’m going to search for another channel to learn about this.

[@Hielancoo]

Sheep do have fleece you know 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

[@sandraegger7701]

The music is very distracting so I stopped watching

[@Kate-fr7qc]

I had to quit watching that music was just too loud and distracting

[@patriciakoenig3966]

Where did you get the netted hanging drying bags please.

[@sparks.speaks]

Part 2?