Tag: Fiber Arts Friday

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FAF: The First US Alpaca Industry

Welcome back to FAF.  I hope you have your learning caps on because I’ve been digging into the research again.

This time I wasn’t sure what I was looking for but ended up getting all angry at today’s alpaca industry.  Long story short?  Why is it in the late 1800’s there was a perfectly sustainable alpaca fiber industry in the US without a single alpaca on American soil, yet today there are all these co-ops, registries, organizations and still we’re not getting paid for our fiber raised right here in America? ARGH.  Ok rant done. 

If you’ve read my post about Abraham Lincoln you’ll know that alpaca was his favorite textile but what happened to that thriving industry?  As it turns out around 1865 alpaca fiber was brought to the US and there was a very demanding market for 12 years.   2 alpaca mills were even established in Massachusetts, one in Holyoke and the other in Lawrence and specialized in linings, yarn, and dressed goods.

During its heyday, there was more demand for alpaca than there was availability and in 1875 the first alpacas were brought to the US and resided in the Alleghany Mountains in Maryland.  Unfortunately, as soon as the alpacas got here the demand for their fiber fell.  I guess the trends of the day changed and consumers were after luster deprived fabrics, yuck. 

The small herds of alpacas in Maryland were not doing very well either.  The lush grasses and atmospheric conditions were thought to be the culprit.  If I had $ to bet I’d say it was the M-worm that took its toll on the flock.  The high elevations of the Rockies was thought to be the only place where alpacas would ever survive in the country.

At the time of the writing of the article (1883) there wasn’t a single alpaca living from the 1875 import.  Thankfully, in 1883 another interest by consumers for alpaca was re-awakening and experiments blending alpaca with silk were showing to be favorable.  The author made assumptions that with renewed interest and new favorable locations in Wyoming and Nevada that alpacas would be prominent in America and would rival that of the merino sheep industry.

Well I guess we both know that the US now days is known neither for its thriving alpaca fiber industry nor is it the world leader for merino sheep.  *sigh*

Other than bookworming I’ve been happily working away doing fibery things.  Unfortunately I’m not using alpaca in my projects?! Why? Because it takes between 8-14 months for my fiber to get back from the mill! It’s been so long that I don’t even remember what day let alone month I sent my fiber to the mill.  (Seriously rant over I promise)

I have been working on a baby blanket for a friend of mine and my sock yarn shawl for another.  I also picked up some beautifully green yarn on sale at Joann’s.  Ok I know, its Joann’s but I had a 10% off my entire order coupon and the yarn was on clearance too.

sock yarn shawl

Green yarn

What have you been up to? Be sure to check out these other Fiber Folks.

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Encyclopaedia Britannica 1888


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Fiber Arts Friday: 1st Textile Patent

If you happen to follow me on Twitter or Facebook you’ll know that I usually toss out a “today in history” blurb.  I was inspired by one of these for today’s FAF post.

Monday might have been Valentine’s Day but it is also another exciting day in US fiber history.  In 1974 the first US Textile Patent went to James Davenport of Philadelphia.  His first mechanical invention was used for carding and spinning wool followed closely on February 24th for another patent for weaving and beating sail duck. 

I found an advertisement for the invention and was floored by the use of boys for the labor.  Obviously this was way before labor laws.

The following was from h-net.org

Advertisement in Massachusetts Mercury, Aug. 24, 1798, in William R. Bagnall, Textile Industries of the United States, I (Cambridge, Mass., 1893), 225.

James Davenport received the first patent issued in the United States for his spinning machinery in Philadelphia (1794). He set up his machinery for spinning and weaving by water power at the Globe Mills, Philadelphia. The labor was chiefly performed by boys, one of whom was able to spin 292,000 feet of flax or hempen thread in a day of ten hours.

Spinning by Machinery

Into Thread and Twine

James Davenport proposes to sell or erect his Machine for spinning Hemp, Flax and Tow; he will complete it, and let it to work, and instruct any person inclined to purchase. These who have seen the machine at work will allow that the subjoined statement is strictly correct.

Thread. Two boys and one man can spin from 20 to 60 lb. per day; according to the fineness, regular and even.

Twine, Seine, or Sewing. This Machine will double twist, and finish from 50 to 60 lbs. per day, with 3 boys from 10 to 12 years old, which for regularity and excellence cannot be surpassed by the twisting by hand of the best workmen.

Any person willing to treat for the purchase of this invaluable invention, may hear the terms by applying to J. Davenport, at John Baker’s Hotel, Water-street.

Wanted, A Partner, who will find it advantageous.

While reading away on Mr. Davenport I couldn’t help but notice how his inventions on spinning and carding wool helped our struggling young nation.  Because England was taxing the begeezus out of the colonies the Americans revolted as we all know.  During this time England practically cut off textile imports and the Americans boycotted anything from England anyway making Davenports textile inventions quite the news in its day. 

That was until the greatest textile related patent on March,14th 1794. 
Any guesses as to what it was?

Let’s make it fun…  For anyone who comments below with the correct answer I’ll put your name in a drawing for a surprise handmade goody.  Drawing will be held on Saturday 2-19-2011

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Naturally the ultimate question is what have I been up to this FAF?  Well things have settled down finally and I’ve been hard at work on my shawl which has turned into a shawlette since I ran out of yarn (drat!).  I wasn’t happy with any of the patterns I found so I ended up winging it.  Thankfully I wrote everything down so I’ll eventually have the pattern posted sometime next week.

Here’s a photo of the shawlette finished yet un blocked. 

70% SW Merino 30% Tencel

New on my needles now a funky sock yarn shawl.  Being sock yarn I expect I’ll be at this one quite a while even with #6 needles.

Sock Yarn Shawl

Check out the folks below for more for fiber goodies.

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Fiber Arts Friday – Pay It Forward

Welcome back to Fiber Arts Friday.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re probably aware there was a snow event this week.  I know many of you fiber folks were stuck home and were probably enjoying some down time with your spinning and knitting.

Unfortunately for me, I work for a utility and like the post office, wind, rain nor snow will close my office and I am expected to trek in no matter the road closures. Even with moping around at work and wishing I was home I did manage to get some fiber time in.  Since the week was stressful I found my fiber time very relaxing. 

If you follow Wonder Why Gal or myself on Facebook you know that a while back we offered a fiber pay it forward. For the first 5 people that responded to our posts we would hand make an item for them and in return the recipient should make an item for another 5 people.  For me to make items I need yarn so I’ve been working at spinning away.  I have 3 bobbins going all with different yarn. 

Green/Gold – Superwash Merino / Tencel blend – Hope to make a shawl out of this
Gray – Himalayan Cat / Tencel – Yup, I’m still spinning up even more yarn for my friend
Beige – Alpaca / Mystery Wool / Tencel – Not sure what this will be yet

Fiber Pay It Forward

I’m also working on my first ever knitted scarf.  Just something simple but with some of my spun single ply yarn with some fun colors I used to keep it interesting looking. 

I twisted up some cord and braided a custom dog leash for Wonder Why Gal’s miniature schnauzers which I’m hoping they both enjoy.  I also crochet up a little something for her too since she was one of my hand made gift recipients.  Sorry no photos, I don’t want to ruin the surprise!

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Fiber Arts Friday – Winterfest Demonstration

Welcome back to Fiber Arts Friday!  Link association buttons are now at the end of the post if you were wondering.

This week for the first time ever I got to spend it with other fiber folks!  I was asked by the Genesee Valley Sock Machine Club to come do a spinning demonstration with them at the Mendon Ponds Winterfest.  What a blast!  I came early and set up shop in a corner and helped others unload and bring in all sorts of fiber goodies and got to drool over sock machines and spinning wheels as well as fiber.Dutch Hollow Acres at Winterfest

The demonstration lasted from 11am to 4pm and it was quite a busy event.  The other spinners were working with commercial roving but I decided to be different and it sure paid off for the visitors.  I quickly became a curiosity as I worked from a bag of Himalayan cat hair using hand carders to blend it with tencel and hand dizing it into roving before spinning.  I had some kids (mostly boys) want to help in the process and I let them card some.  They soon found out it is a lot harder than it looks.

Of course once you have roving it’s time to spin.  For my fellow spinners out there you know you can do this mindlessly and can have conversations while effortlessly treadling away.   Folks were of course curious to try and I was the only spinner willing to let them give it ago.  I first showed them how to draft and spin on a drop spindle so they got the idea of how it worked and then I’d let them sit down at my wheel and treadle.  It turns out that’s where most people got frustrated.  It never occurred to me that people just can’t get the wheel going and more importantly in the correct direction!  Once they got the feel of treadling I’d give them a handful of roving and marveled in their lumpy/chunky spin.  They had fun and walked away with a whole new appreciation on hand spun yarn.

I was surprised to find out how many people told me they used to card fiber and spin using drop spindles in grade school.  What school did they go to?! I didn’t get to do anything that cool when I was a kid.

Now my favorite part of the day was looking at other people’s wheels.  I was totally taken back by the Journey Wheel which was just a piece of art in itself.  The whole wheel closed up into its own luggage and the handmade woodwork was breathtaking.  This wheel’s owner is Libby Llop who owns a sheep farm named Inverness Farm not far from me.  She has beautiful fleeces and great handmade goods too.  Check her out!

Journey WheelJourney Wheel Libby Llop

Well I was invited by the Sock Machine Club so it’s only fair we check out them too!  There were several folks who brought their machines and were working on socks and scarves.  I’m horrible with names but this lovely lady was working on making a heel to her sock when I snapped this photo.  

Sock Machine Demonstration

Fred Hauck is the machine master of this guild and such a great guy to talk with. He seems to be quite the master of sock machines and for most of the demonstration he was stripping apart a machine someone brought in, cleaning it and fixing it up to try and get it into working condition.  I’ll have to keep my eyes out at auctions for an old machine.  I’m terrible at making socks and the machines sure do look like fun.

Fred GVSMC

Well that was my fiber adventure for the week.  What have you been up to?  Don’t forget to check out these great sites for other fiber fun.

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