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 We offer Spinning, knitting, felting and dyeing lessons. Contact us for more information. Fiber Studio - overnight accommodations. Llama herd evaluations Fiber Articles - What to do with your fiber and Why exhibit your llama fiber
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Back Porch Fibers. We offer Spinning, knitting, felting and dyeing lessons. Contact us for more information....select Photos and products Back porch memories Do you have back porch memories? Growing up my grandmothers back porch was a gathering place for neighborhood kids. The painted green porch swing was a place to sing, tell stories, eat lunch and decide what we wanted to be when we grew up My cousins and best friend Gina would play on that porch all summer making flower and clover chains from the wealth of colors found growing in our yard. We would take scraps of yarn and make chains that would become bracelets and decorations for the glass horses we so carefully played with. Such simple innocent times never to be forgotten. I did grow up and my memories are still alive on my own back porch. Gathering with family and friends, as we laugh, share stories and make beautiful colors as yarn is made from the spinning of the wheels we treadle. Now we invite you to share in our memories as you visit, Llama fiber is one by-product of owning llamas that is very enjoyable and useful. There are many ways you can use llama fiber. Some of the ways we have used our llama fiber is shared on the following pages. These are things that we have learned and experimented with. We are by no means fiber or spinning experts but we wanted to share some helpful hints, ideas, and mistakes we have experienced. We have started a local fiber guild , visit our River Cities Fiber Clan site Because of her love of fiber Judy has achieved her dream of becoming a llama fleece judge with ALSA and the ILR-SD. Judy provides workshops and individual farm assessment of llama fiber. All three of us have tried
working with different types of fiber and wool. Judy and I spin, knit, crochet
and felt.
Dyeing with natural and chemical dyes to produce beautiful colors has allowed us
to showcase the versatility of llama fiber. Tom has developed into quite an accomplished needle felter and
he is now learning to weave. Heartfelt thanks for you who have mentored us: Susie Smithers, Rollicking Hills Farms; Chereen Thompson, Midwest Fiber Company; LeeAnn King, Midwest Fiber Company; Judy Smith, Five Points Llamas; Greta MacIntyre, Firethorn Farms; and many ORVLA gals. Special thanks for the master spinner, weaver, and fiber guru, Billy Bannerman. (our tribute to Billy) Billy worked with Judy and I for over two years. She was a wonderful teacher and friend. Billy taught us many things about spinning, weaving, animal and organic fiber use, and perseverance. All of the hard work from the ladies mentioned above has paid off. I am no longer spinning “Santa beards” but real useable yarn. Judy is actually moving her arms as she spins. Tom made some really cool Christmas gifts. My hope is that some of the information shared will be of help to someone who has wanted to try fiber arts or a novice like me who is just learning. This information has been shared from numerous sources and collected into my “spinning notebook” of things I have learned. My advice is don’t give up, keep practicing and trying new things. It took me a long time, working with several teachers, and trying different techniques before something in my brain clicked. Now I can actually say, I work with fiber! Enjoy your llamas and their llovely fiber! Mitzi,
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