I was inspired helping shear some alpacas this week, while I was primarily a paper pusher and organizer it was quite interesting all the work that alpaca farmers put into shearing them for us to have such a luxurious yarn for knitwear in our lives.
Shearing the alpacas:
Sorting alpaca fiber by coarseness for the mill to make various products including yarn or rugs:
Processing alpaca fiber at a local mill:
Knitting into garments on knitting machines - home studio and industrial:
Finished alpaca apparel (Cleveland):
*Editors note that no alpacas were or are injured while being shorn, they actually are much relieved to have pounds of fiber shorn off them in preparation for the summer months.
