“It’s all about the fiber.”
It is not only breeding decisions, which “criate” better fiber producers with each succeeding generation, but also what we do with our annual harvest of all that fabulous fiber that sets us apart from so many farms and ranches that focus solely on selling breeding livestock.
Every spring we realize a year’s worth of breeding, nutrition, and animal husbandry decisions when we harvest our alpacas’ fiber and ship it off to be processed into yarn and other finished goods. In years past, we sent our best blanket fiber to mills to be spun into yarn, while the neck fiber was either felted or thrown out with the leg/belly/chest fiber. Beginning in Spring 2008, our fiber will be sorted as soon as it comes off the animals, offering us a more uniform raw material and a wider range of processing options.
What is Fiber Sorting?
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ADVANTAGES OF SORTED FIBER:
- Having your fiber sorted results in more usable fiber. More raw material available to you makes for more profit.
- Sorted fiber has less waste in processing. This means more end product for you and again more profit.
- No more bags of fiber taking over the guest room, hayloft, or cellar It’s ready to go!
How does “sorting” differ from “skirting”?
Skirted fiber has had the strongest fiber and most obvious contaminants (such as vegetable matter and dung tags), removed –- mostly from around the edges -- whereas sorted fiber from many alpacas of one color is actually placed in separate bins according to length and grade.
DEFINITIONS:
WL: The Woolen method of processing utilizes fiber that is 1.5 - 3.75 inches in length and produces lofty yarns. High amplitude crimp adds loft.
| BEST USES:
Medium to bulky weight knitting yarns for sweaters, hats, scarves, etc.
Higher grades make wonderful duvets, rug yarns, and are good for felting and fulling. |
WR: The Worsted method of processing utilizes fiber that is 3.75 – 6 inches in length. An extra combing step is added to align the fibers. Worsted yarns are smooth with a tighter twist. Low amplitude crimp works well.
| BEST USES:
Lighter weight knitting yarns such as fingering, lace, DK and Sport for knitting and weaving.
Higher grades are also good for sock yarns, rugs and felting. |
Grade: Fiber diameter range of 3 microns; grade 1 being the finest (<20 microns) to grade 6 being the strongest (>32 microns).
Certified Sorted™: Fiber has been sorted by a certified sorter or an apprentice according to standards and practices developed for efficient and accurate sorting.
OPTIONS:
Once your fiber is Certified Sorted™, you can have your harvest processed on your own, you can pool it with others who have Certified Sorted™ fiber, or do a little of both!
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1. Join the North American Alpaca Fiber Producers Co-op (which accepts only Certified Sorted™ fiber) for yarn, socks, duvets and other products. You pay the production (as low as $9.00/lb) and shipping costs. As a member, you may sell products yourself or sell them to a distributor or wholesaler and they will sell it for you. As an apprentice sorter I will be happy to help you with your sorting needs. Visit www.naafp.us for more information.
2. Send your sorted fiber to the mini-mill or spinnery of your choice to be processed into yarn, rovings, batts, etc. Please remember to blend only like grade and like processing method, i.e. WL3 with WL3, but not WR3 with WL3 or WR4. Make sure any additives such as merino, silk, bamboo, tencel, etc. are also of like grade and length.
3. If you don't want yarn or other finished goods returned to you, paying for sorting doesn't make sense. Instead, join the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA) and ship them well-skirted fiber. They will sort, wash, and process the fiber into socks and combed tops. You pay only to have the fiber shipped to AFCNA. All profits from the sale of the finished goods are shared by those who contribute fiber.
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If you don't want yarn or other finished goods back, paying for sorting doesn't make sense. Instead, join the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America and ship them all but the dirtiest fiber. They will sort, wash, and process the fiber into various items which they wholesale to farms and sell to the public on their website. You pay only to have the fiber shipped to AFCNA. All profits from the sale of the finished goods are shared by those who contribute fiber.
SORTING FEES:
Longwoods Alpacas Sorting Service will charge the following:
Live sort (on shearing day): $7.50/fleece – includes blanket, neck, and leg/belly/chest
Out of the bag: $10/fleece
Out of the bag, blanket only: $8.50
In addition, you agree to pay $0.55/mile travel expenses or plane fare. If you are more than 3 hours from Cumberland, ME, you also agree to provide meals and overnight accommodations. If you prefer, you may mail your blanket and neck fiber to me at 135 Main Street, Cumberland, ME 04021. It costs about $1.00/lb to ship fiber, and I will forward the sorted fiber directly to the mill or coop. Shipping will be added to your invoice.
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Still have bags of fiber hiding under the dining room table or covering the guest bed? Do you dread the thought of adding more come shearing day? CALL ME at 207-829-4159! I offer 30% off the above prices – only $7.00 per fleece between January 1st and your shearing day.
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 Why should you consider paying someone to sort your fiber?
Each customer will receive the following:
1. Yearly harvest of fiber sorted into grades by color and length.
2. An individual sort record for each alpaca -- useful for marketing, breeding and general management decisions.
3. A "Sort Summary" for the entire clip, allowing producers to track their farms' productivity.
4. Increase in usable fiber (typical waste per alpaca is less than 8 oz.)
5. Increase in potential profit due to:
| a) | less waste per fleece |
| b) | superior products created from sorted fiber command higher prices and encourage repeat customers |
| c) | sorted fiber has less loss during production -- some mills have commented that the loss from processing is about 10-15% less than usual |
| d) | the opportunity to participate in Fiber Pieces’ Commercial Yarn Program which ONLY uses Certified Sorted™ fiber |
| e) | the opportunity to become a North American Alpaca Fiber Producers Co-op member, which ONLY accepts Certified Sorted™ fiber. Co-op members have access to finished goods at cost rather than at wholesale |
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