Gaston College

The Alpaca Fiber  Symposium

SIXTH        Waite Hill Fabrics  

I was very happy to learn of Waite Hill Fabrics.  I have a personal friend who lives nearby and designs beautiful clothing.  She has been looking for a producer of alpaca fabric to use in her clothing.  A year or so ago I  put her into contact with some names that I had received via an alpaca networking group, but she didn’t get very far in her search for fabric.  Now I have a new place I can lead her to.

Waite Hill Fabrics are designers and producers of exclusive US alpaca yarns, fabrics and apparel.  They custom process fiber in their 100% worsted spinning mill with a quick turn around time.  They are not a mini mill.  They are the American alpaca textile commercial industry producer of light weight alpaca fabric and apparel from your fiber or theirs – all done in the USA.

They call themselves the ‘new kid on the block’, but with their production techniques and network of textile companies, they can produce virtually any weight, finish and design of fabric in alpaca and alpaca blends. 

Waite Hill Fabrics is in the process of expanding it’s spinning mill so that they will be able to produce 32,000 square yards of light weight all natural alpaca fabric.  They will be producing American made alpaca long underwear, t-shirts, and light weight knitted women’s tops. 

Linda and Bruce Bennett have been raising alpacas for over 12 years and now have a herd of about 40 alpacas.  During the years they have been loking for ways to improve the alpaca itself and the alpaca industry in general.  Bruce has over 30 years experience in manufacturing with 35 plus years experience in design.  Linda has over 35 years experience running numerous businesses and non profits and over 17 years experience in fiber arts and design.  Linda and Bruce have also developed an all natural alpaca feed supplement that boosts the immune sustem and helps fight external and internal parasites all naturally.

Gaston College

The Alpaca Fiber Symposium

FIFTH        NEAFP or New England Alpaca Fiber Pool has been around since 1997.  They are a fiber pool and help farms profit by pooling small lots of fiber into large lots thereby gaining access to commercial US manufacturers.   The products are returned to the farmers for resale in their farm stores and other retail places.

NEAFP has a Fiber Bank in operation which helps to speed up the order fulfillment process and cut down on shipping costs.  Farmers are encouraged to send in all their fiber at once, get credit for it, and order throughout the year using their fiber credits in the fiber bank. 

There are no membership fees or sign ups.  Any alpaca farm who wants to embrace the fiber side of their business can submit fiber to the pool and take advantage of NEAFP’s services.  The Fiber Pool is committed to helping farms succeed in their fiber endeavors and offers monthly business advice and resources in their newsletter.

NEAFP offers products like socks, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, afghans, animal coats, yarn and fabric. 

One item I saw that I thought was really cute was this tote bag.

This would make a great overnight bag or a knitting bag.  Maybe even a carry all for books.  Very cute and colorful!

Read here for a blog entry about The Alpaca Fiber Symposium from NEAFP’s blog.  

In NEAFP’s brochure they offer as their Core Values the following;

1.  Only US manufactured products
2.  Strong commitment to quality
3.  Dedicated to offering tools and resources to insure customers success
4.  Utilize all grades of alpaca fiber
5.  Choose eco-conscious and green manufacturers (whatever that means)

I do commend them for the work they are doing and really think their product has improved over the years.  It’s great to have another choice or venue for processing our beautiful alpaca fiber.

Gaston College

The Alpaca Fiber Symposium

FOURTH       NAAFP or North American Alpaca Fiber Producers  is an agriculture cooperative that was created to establish the highest level of quality alpaca products produced in North America.  This service is for alpaca fiber producers who have had their fiber sorted by a Certified Sorter using the Certified SortedTM System.  

NAAFP answers the question that many of us have – What do you do with the fiber?  They have developed products for all grades of fiber matching the specific qualities of that grade to the proper product use.  If you have a ranch store at your ranch, you can sell your products there at a set retail price.  If you can’t or don’t want to sell your products, NAAFP can sell them for you at their retail outlet.

Robyn Kuhl and Carrie Hull, also known as Coarse Broads, Inc. trains Certified Fiber Sorters at Robyn’s ranch in Sandpoint, ID and various other ranches across the country.  Check here for their 2009 schedule.

There is a membership fee to be a part of NAAFP.  They have regional collection sites for the fiber around the US in order to keep shipping costs low.  The Certified Sorter comes to your ranch to ’sort’ the fiber as it comes off of the alpacas.  There is usually a fee of around $15.00 per animal to have this process done.

I am anxiously awaiting the first shipment of finished products from our 2008 shearing.  I’m sure it will be wonderful…

Gaston College
The Alpaca Fiber Symposium

THIRD    The Shepherd’s Mill, Inc  is a custom processing mill located in Phillipsburg, Kansas (my home state)!  They will take your beautiful alpaca fiber and turn it into lovely yarns, rovings, batts, or whatever to your specifications.  Like I said they are a custom processing mill.

 This mill has been opened since March 2004 and they do custom spinning and weaving at their mill.  They produce about 200 lbs of roving and yarns a week.  They are now in their second year of production weaving and are adding staff to continue growing this side of their business.

Sally Brandon owns and operates The Sheperd’s Mill along with her husband, Jay, and a staff of six. 

Besides doing farm-specific throws, scarves, ruanas and shawls, they have also been working to produce small runs of fine fabric.  One thing I specifically wrote in my notes about The Shepherd’s Mill is that Sally would like to see more consistancy in the grading of alpaca fiber.  There are a few groups that grade fiber and I don’t think their processes are alike and that can cause inconsistant products in the end.

Gaston College

The Alpaca Fiber Symposium

SECOND     The Back to Back Fiber Products, LLC  is a company using North American Alpaca Fiber in their non woven products.

Two sisters with an entrepreneurial heart – one a fiber artist, the other an animal lover and alpaca breeder – and from that a great non woven product called Pacafil quilt batting. 

They also have PacaFluff that you can buy in beautiful bright colors.

Sue Bunch, the fiber artist and Linda Lundstrom of Zodiac Ranch, the animal lover, have been in business since 2004 after discovering at the 2003 AOBA Fiber to Fashion Conference that there had to be a way to bring alpaca fiber to the quilting world.  Now that’s fast work!

Their desire was to develop a way to take the shorter huacaya fibers and use them for quilt batting, but it wasn’t easy as there were many hurdles to e crossed in this new industry.  As they learned the many way fibers can be transformed into non woven products their very own Back to Back Fiber Products business began.

Their current products are marketed to quilters and to the craft market – a multi-million dollar industry.  Their vision for new non woven products will soon move into home decor and outdoor sports products.  Sue and Linda are confidant that there are many new and unique markets for their  non woven product. 

They are inviting any North American Alpaca Breeder to join their team of over 300 farms that now are a part of their fiber collection and exchange program.

Very exciting stuff ladies – way to go!