Textiles – An Epiphany

I’ve been spinning over a year now.

Today I needed a leader for the bobbins I purchased at the Woolery this week, I used a bit of cotton that was sitting on the table. That cotton was spun by a friend of mine on Thursday. Instant leader, on the plying bobbin. As I wrestled with a 3-ply yarn in red and gray – I realized, once again, just how old this art form really is.

We are surrounded by textiles. Rugs, curtains, upolstery, the clothes we wear, sheets, towels and pillow cases, socks(!) everything is made from textiles. Yet, not even 100 years ago, most of these textiles were made by hand.

Can you imagine how fast these textiles would vanish if the textile industry shut down tomorrow? Today’s fabrics are really flimsy, they don’t last long at all. The simplest things are completely out of our grasp. Very few people know how to sew, knit or crochet, let alone spin or weave. I might have enough clothing to last me a couple of years…until I look at socks.

Everybody knows how uncomfortable is it to wear shoes without socks.

I’ve never worn a pair of knitted socks. I’ve seen sock yarn, needles to make socks and pictures of socks. But I’m completely unable to make a sock without help.

If the Zombie Apocalypse hit tomorrow – how much would a pair of hand knitted socks be worth?

Grumpy Chasing Trouble

“Hey dog, those are MY chickens!”

The New Guys – Photos

I’ve been busy, and haven’t posted pictures of the new Alpacas.

As you can see, they were sheared in late summer or fall. There’s not so much fleece on them. There are a lot of burrs, too. As usual, they aren’t the kind of guys to stand still to be groomed.

But I WILL work on that. I prefer my ‘llamas’ as well mannered as my horses. This is going to take a LOT of treats.

Also, I’ve got to get them off the expensive Senior Feed that goes to the old horses.

Got to cut corners where I can.

My New Guys – Update

Life has been hectic – nothing new there. The New Guys – Tribute and Armand  give off mixed signals. They LOVE grain – but don’t want to come in to the barn at night. They’ll dart in and out five or six times before they’ll settle down to eat.

Getting them into their pen is yet another matter.

Well, after 2 days of getting 2 out of 3 into the pen – I hit the jackpot tonight and got all three alpacas inside. I’ll be the rain had a lot to do with it.

The new guys really need to be sheared all over. They’ve got burrs and matted hair – it’s a mess.

I’m looking at Grumpy, wondering how much fleece I can get off him. Maybe a sweater??