Averaging over sixty alpacas, Andre's Alpacas shears the annual harvest of fibre on the long weekend in May.   Henry is the shearer but has a team of trusted helpers with varying roles from “head man” to hug the alpaca's head, another to trim toe nails, one to hold the alpaca's hips down for security, another to remove fibre to the fibre room.   In the fibre room, a team headed by Dee Graham (a certified classer of alpaca fibre) skirts and grades the fibre, bags and tags the contents and records weight, grade, staple length and writes comments on a recording sheet to assist in batching the fibre in preparation for the mill to process into yarn.  Henry is also a certified classer of alpaca fibre.

Karen is active in deciding the type of yarn to be made from each batch of fibre based on the grade.  She manages the team of knitters as well as deciding on the end product to be made from that yarn.  All of the scarves, shawls, Thrum mitts, toques and hats available from our store are made from the alpaca fibre generated from our alpacas.   Alpaca socks and insoles are bought wholesale.  Teddy Bears and alpaca throws are brought in from Peru to complement our inventory.

You can find them at many local craft shows or you may visit the farm and check out the inventory.  Please email or call ahead of time.