Another Great Suri Network Fiber Seminar
I was so jazzed to be able to participate in the Suri Network’s latest fiber-centric educational seminar, “The Facts about Your Fiber and Its Success in the Marketplace”. The seminar is being held at Suri Alpaca farms across the United States in order to give as many Suri breeders as possible the opportunity to participate and learn. I attended the seminar on Saturday, December 5 at Ravada Hills Suri Alpacas in Portland Indiana, hosted by owners Sandy and Hendricks. Fortunately this seminar was only a 2 hour drive away from Cincinnati, and even more fortunately for me it was being taught by The premier Suri fiber *Goddess* in America, Mary Lou Clingan. In my opinion, Mary Lou is a true Suri Fiber Diva, and I am convinced *no one* in America knows Suri fiber better than her. Mary Lou has been the manager of Alpaca Jack’s Suri Farm Country Store since the store opened in 1999. She is also the head of the Fiber Department at Alpaca Jack’s, responsible for all fiber and fiber related activities, on and off the animal, as well as special fiber projects such as skirting, sorting / grading, and preparation for processing. Each year Mary Lou typically prepares 30 – 50 Suri show fleeces, collects 400 representative fiber samples for micron testing, and shears and skirts 400 + fleeces for distribution into yarn, roving, and fabric. Mary Lou serves on the AOBA Judges Training and Certification Committee and is the past chairperson of the Suri Network Product Development Committee. She is currently on the Suri Network Research Committee working on the Suri Luster Study. Mary Lou provides workshops and seminars on a regular basis.
The seminar is a one-day course designed for us Suri alpaca breeders to give us a better connection between the fiber animals we produce and the end product that is sold in stores. It is a very “hands-on” course that covers several topics to give an overview of the entire fiber production process. We looked at individual locks as well as whole fleeces to understand uniformity, microns, lock structure, guard hairs, and other aspects of the raw fiber. We also studied the process of turning raw fiber into yarn with actual examples of fiber through every step of the milling process. Additionally, we received an overview of histograms and how they play a role in improving fiber production. We also reviewed negative fiber traits such as fiber breakage, too many guard hairs, lack of uniformity, etc and how these traits negatively impact the end product.
It was an incredibly fun, educational and invigorating day for me. As always, is was wonderful to be in the presence of a group of passionate Suri breeders, and intoxicating to be physically immersed in scrumptious, silky and lustrous raw Suri fleece all day. Those who know me are aware that I have a serious disease – its commonly called “Fiberholism”, and I seem to have a particularly severe reaction around anything Suri J Aside from leaving Sandy and Ron’s farm fiber drunk and happy, I also came away with a greater sense of how the decisions and direction of my breeding program will positively or negatively impact our national fiber clip.
Grand Opening of the Brush Factory!
Finally, and happily, the Brush Factory at 2019 Central Avenue in Brighton staged its grand opening on Friday, December 11. The opening was a huge success, with attendees and well-wishers jamming the rafters (literally!) – There was barely room to move. Owner/Founder Rosie Kovacs’ response? “It was AWESOME, amazing… there were SO many people there, and I don’t know where they all came from. Most of the people were complete strangers to me!” Apparently many came through word of mouth, which in my opinion is sometimes the best form of advertising. Additionally, the opening spurred requests for interviews and more information by several major Cincinnati media players. I was extremely happy that my hand spun Suri alpaca and 
other exotic fiber yarns were displayed beautifully, and *all* of my hand felted soaps sold out that evening as well!
The Brush Factory is open Monday through Friday, 2 – 9 PM, Saturday from Noon till 9 PM, and Sunday from 2 till 8 PM.
Stop by to shop, commission a garment, jewelry yarn or fiber arts piece, or to have a garment altered and support an important and vital fashion artist forum in Cincinnati!
Introduction to Knitting
This is an on-going class taught in a four week rotation, which gives the students time to practice during the week in between classes. In addition to an introduction to basic knitting techniques (knit, purl, garter stitch, stockinette stitch, seed stitch, cast on and bind off and reading patterns), the class also includes finishing techniques like pom poms, tassels and fringe. The final goal of the class is for each student to complete, or at least have had a start on, a scarf, a hat and wrist warmers. Class is suitable for tweens and teens as well as adult beginners.
Not So Beginner Knitting
This class is a natural progression from the Intro to Knitting class, and this class is run the same way, except with more advanced projects and techniques including pattern work and cables, ribbing, the various increases and decreases and color changes. This class is also be good for those that have had a little previous beginning knitting experience elsewhere and is suitable for intermediate tweens, teens and adults.
Intermediate Knitting
This class is a natural progression from the Not So Beginner Knitting class, and this class is run the same way. This class is also good for those that have had a previous experience knitting pattern work and cables. Topics include knitting in the round, knitting on double pointed needles, pick up and knits and intro to knitting socks. This class is also be good for those that have had a previous experience knitting pattern work, cables, ribbing, various increases and decreases, and color changes. Suitable for advanced tweens, teens and adults.
Facts About Your Fiber
The Facts About Your Fiber and Its Success in the Marketplace
December 5, 2009
Sponsored by the Suri Network Product Development Committee – Portland, Indiana
www.surinetwork.org
Felt Loom Studio & Tour
November 16, 2009
The Felt Loom studio and factory tour and meeting – Sharpsburg, Kentucky
www.feltloom.com
OABA AlpacaFest
I will be attending the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association (OABA) AlpacaFest on November 7 & 8, 2009. It will be held at the Columbus, Ohio Exposition Center.
From Pia
Pia’s Blog will be full of advice, stories, and helpful hits from Pia. She will share her experience in alpacas, fiber arts and life…
Alpaca Fiber Symposium
I will be attending the Alpaca Fiber Symposium from October 23 – 25, 2009. It is being held in Denver, Colorado at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Hope to see you there.
This picture was taken at last year’s Alpaca Fiber Symposium taken at the Gaston College fiber mill.