Let me tell you the story of my drive home from Virginia. I got a decent start at 8:30 loading the car and grabbing breakfast. Feeling ambitious, I asked the front desk about the local alpaca farm that was supposedly "minutes from the hotel." The lady told me some easy directions that I thought I could handle, and then some directions to a larger farm further down the freeway in the direction I was heading to get to NC. So I started off to the local place since I didn't want to make a day of it. The winding road was scenic and full of farms, but none that indicated an alpaca residence. The nicely paved road suddenly turned to dirt, but I persevered until it dead-ended at a busy cross-street that was not supposed to be there. In the end, I turned around and headed back to the freeway leading to home.
As I drove along, I kept my eye out for this other larger farm that was supposed to be outside of Lexington, off the freeway-- so close you can see it as you drive by. By the time I got to the heart of Lexington I had still no sight of an alpaca farm nor any signage. However, there was a sign that led to the visitor's center of Lexington, and as I'm not one to give up on a mission once it's in my head, I had to find out from the center if there was indeed a farm nearby.
At the visitor's center, a kind lady named Naomi told me that yes, there was a farm back up the 81 freeway (from the direction I had just come) and she drew on the map how to get there. During the conversation I found out she has a herd of Finn sheep which she shears and sells the wool. So I got her info in case I may someday like to try spinning Finn sheep wool. I got back in the car and debated whether it was a good idea to hunt down this farm or not. Since I've already invested some time, might as well. It was only 20 minutes of backtracking...
40 minutes later I was on another country road that had narrowed down to one lane and felt the intuitive feeling that I have somehow missed it. Noticing a car close behind me, I pulled over to let them pass, but the lady pulled up next to me and rolled down her window. "Honey, are you lost?"
"Yes," I laughed, "I'm looking for an alpaca farm. Do you know where one is?"
"Oh mercy, no. But I'm heading to a yarn store down the lane. Follow me and we can ask there."
So we drove another 10 minutes or so down the country lane. We drove across a very narrow bridge with no railings, over a very small creek, and I thought I was going to either break the little bridge, or miss it altogether. But me and the car made it across in one piece. I got out of my car and the woman was waiting with her hand stretched out to shake mine and introduced herself as Libby. The owner of
Orchardside Yarn Shop, Carole, came out and Libby introduced her to me.
Carole invited us both in for a cup of tea and a visit of the shop. Libby brought her knitting in for Carole to help her with and I looked around at all the fabulous yarn and patterns. In the end, I got an easy sweater pattern to attempt my second attempt at making Paul a sweater (my first sweater attempt had built-in biceps and a crooked neckline), and the required knitting needles. Before I left, Carole informed me that I had passed the alpaca farm on the way and told me to go back along the road but turn left into the driveway past the bank and the fire department in town. My downfall was I guess I had not realized that that was "town" and had gone sailing right past it!
After saying my goodbyes and many thanks, I hit the road in search of some alpaca fiber to make the sweater in my newly purchased pattern. Although I found the farm with no problems the second time around, no body was home but the alpacas. The sweet animals were very hospitable and came over to say hi, but they couldn't help me with the fiber aspect.
Now feeling like this was a challenge to be met regardless of whether it was supposed to be an all-day event, I called the backup number that Carole gave me of yet another alpaca farm. Shirley was home, bless her, and said, "come on over." She gave me directions which led me back down the 81 in the direction towards home, covering the area that I had just backtracked. After more winding roads and more detailed directions such as turn left at the bus stop past the shack, I made it there in 40 minutes.
A bit frazzled but happy to have conquered the quest, I arrived at Misty Farms and was greeted by alpacas and many miniature dogs yapping happily at my feet. Shirley graciously invited me into her home and studio and brought out bags of alpaca fiber, mohair, merino and then showed me all different uses for the different fibers in the shape of hats, scarves, sweaters, socks, mittens, etc. I chose a very nice grey alpaca blend and some white 25% alpaca/75% merino blend to blend with the alpaca on my drum carder. Shirley suggested that for making a man's sweater with some shape (hopefully not so much that it has it's own biceps), I should blend alpaca with wool. Alpaca drapes and is 7 times warmer than wool, but the wool holds it's shape.
In the end, I was at Shirley's for about an hour, learning new spinning secrets and checking out her many spinning wheels, fiber and fiber-related gadgets. I was on the road again by 1:00 and made it home by 6:00. From Fisherville to Charlotte, it should have taken my 5 hours, but I made it a 9.5 hour journey. It was so fun, and what a beautiful drive it was!
Here is the lovely alpaca fiber I bought from Shirley at Misty Farms. I sneeze every time I open the bag because it is alpaca fiber in the raw and needs a bath. Tomorrow night when Paul is in Ohio I will commence the washing ritual. This is not the most fun part of fiber preparation and I would personally skip this step and go straight to the clean stuff, but 1) it's cheaper to buy it this way 2) alpaca is pricey 3) it's a relatively clean fiber as it has no grease and so is not too labor intensive. Shirley gave me some simple instructions for washing it in the washing machine, leaving out the agitation step to avoid felting. I'll post the steps tomorrow so you can see.
