Tricksee

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of Illini Alpacas. Her name is Tricksee. She is my Christmas present from my wonderful husband, Darrell. I know I always say how girls like shiny things and they especially like to get shiny things for Christmas, but--come on! Look at her! She is better than any shiny thing. And she will keep giving back to me for years to come. Her color pattern is called harlequin appaloosa. She is a smoky black color (that's the best I can describe it) with caramel and grey spots. She is just beautiful!
(Thanks, honey!) The first day Tricksee arrived, she made herself right at home with the girls like she had been with them since the day she was born. Yes, she was meant to be here. Many times, new females in a herd are loners for awhile. But not her. She was named Tricksee because she was born on Halloween. How fun! She is a larger girl, full peruvian and 3 1/2 years old.

She has been bred to Griffin, our appy boy, and that will make a rare appy to appy breeding if it takes. I'll find out in the spring. In the meantime, she is adding her genetics and personality to the farm. Tricksee is friendly enough, following me around but not fond of being touched. I'm working on that. Every day we get to know each other a little more. That's part of the fun of owning these animals. Talk to you soon,
Tammy

A New Hat For A Little One

I spun a three ply cria alpaca yarn from Tabitha a couple of weeks ago. It is a nice grey color. I loved spinning this fiber! And I loved knitting with it, too. I am looking forward to spinning some more of it. It has a wonderful handle to it and seemed to spin itself.

To the right is the hat I knitted for my Grandson, Eagan. It is a pattern I got off Ravelry call Aviatrix. It is the cutest hat! It knitted up rather quickly, too. I used a small pewter button for the closure. I understand that most 1 year olds don't like to keep a hat on their head, but I'm hoping because this one is so soft he might leave it on when he goes outside. Here's hoping, anyway!
I've added a picture of Tabitha from this summer. She is 3 years old and looks rose grey but her fiber is definitely grey. I love her fiber and look forward to shearing this spring. Not sure yet if I'll be selling any of it though! Talk to you soon,


Tammy

Better Late Than Never

So, I finally finished the Christmas present for Sarah! It is a neck scarf made of hand spun alpaca. The yarn
was core spun from a roving (the last of the batch, actually) I dyed 2 years ago. It was fun to knit and it is
incredibly soft. The pattern is by Robyn Diliberto for Make One called the "Flower Scarf" I used a vintage
button instead of the knitted ball for the closure called for in the pattern.                                                                                

 Above is a picture of the yarn before knitting.

And I added matching knitted mitts. The pattern is from a class I took two years ago at the Jefferson City Fiber Retreat with Kathy Harberbarger. I did add the knitted thumbs as my thumbs tend to get cold so I figured Sarah's would, too. It was a fun class with Kathy and I enjoyed it very much. She is a wonderful teacher! So, there is my better late than never Christmas present to Sarah! I hope you were able to finish all your Christmas presents, too!

Talk to you soon,  Tammy