Graustark's Fiber Products

Our llamas produce soft, silky fiber which we use in various felting, spinning,
and weaving projects. 
Our finished products  take time and care to be created.   Items are normally one of a kind and colors, yarns etc. cannot always be reproduced as an animal only produces limited fleece a year and the fiber quality and color changes with the animal’s age.  Colors are all natural and vary from llama to llama and from year to year as does the softness and texture. We can make no guarantees as to exact color, softness or pattern as the fiber availability varies so much.


Linda is now using her handspun llama yarns combined with some lovely commercial tencel to create overshot scarves and throws in various lengths and designs. Some of our original designs are still occasionally available.


Please visit and checkout all our new wares by appointment at the farm or at one of our vendor events this year!

Prices do not include shipping fees.

 

Contact us at: ljb@graustarkllamas.com

Handspun and Handwoven Items For Sale

vshawlfront
cross pattern on back        
vshawl front
straight pattern on front panels
Vshaped Shawl - $350
woven in one piece
with no seams

fiber scarves    skinny scarves   
Woven Scarves         $125
8-10” X 65-80”
Choice of 100% llama or 90% llama with
colorful ribbons & yarn accents

Skinny Woven Scarves
$65          4” X 65-80”
Skinny scarves may also be woven with 50% llama and 50% other fiber.

Woven Table runners      $60-$75
(24-36 in. long/ 10 in. wide)

tencel scarves
Woven Overshot Scarves with
Tencel and Llama


$145
scarf with fringe 8" X 72"
and 8" x 72" mobius

$75
8"X 45" short mobius

various colors of variegated tencel and dyed or natural colored handspun llama fiber


      shawl

Woven Shawls
$200 - $250
(approx. 24 X 72 inches) 

Afghan or Throw $300

40 in. wide  by 45 in. long

  ruana

Ruana Wrap
with sleeves
and contrasting binding   $350
(back length approx. 35 -40 inches) 

poncho front
poncho back

Woven Poncho
$400
closed front & back with open sides
approx. 45” length and 44” width

brim hat

Rolled brim hat

tassel hat
Side tassel fringe

Woven Hats
$65
rolled brim, side tassel fringe, or side button accents (button hats are ajustable)
All lined with acrylic fleece. These are available seasonally.

Woven hats may include ribbon or other
novelty fibers

beanie
Knitted Beanie Hat $45
knitted with double strands of yarn -
no lining
 

Processed Roving

For Sale

 

I have finally acknowledged that there is no way I can hand process all our fiber. This year we sent over 100 pounds of raw fiber to Sugarloaf Alpaca Farm Processing mill and had them wash, dehair and card it into luscious roving. This has speeded up the hand spinning tremendously and we can now offer it to other hand sinners as well. I have found that I can spin 4 oz. of fiber into a 180-200 yard sport weight 2-ply skein!

4 oz.bags of Processed Roving in natural colors $15.00




Camelid Fiber Processing
 


After the fiber is sheared from  the animal, it must be processed into yarn. .  Fiber processing by hand is labor intensive.  This could be done by sending the fiber to commercial processing mills, however, part of the joy of working with the fiber is taking it from start to finish. 

 It all begins on shearing day…    Here at the farm, we try to blow much of the debris out of the llama’s coat before shearing.  We sometimes brush the animals as well, but weather and time constraints usually make shearing something to be accomplished as quickly as possible. Remember, the llamas are sheared for their comfort—the fiber is just a by-product.   We hand shear our animals while they stand tied to a fence or on a small enclosed area.  A bag of hay makes the process easier for everyone.  For us, shearing involves cutting the fiber from the animals using Fiskar© spring loaded hand shears. This leaves a nice 1 inch length to help prevent fly bites and sunburn.

 A normal show cut takes about 20 minutes with a full body shear doubling the time.  The fiber is then  bagged and labeled.  
 

When we are ready to use the fiber, it is carded using a  drum hand carder before it is washed.  Llama fiber contains no lanolin like sheep wool so it  is not greasy or sticky to work with.

 It is then hand spun on a spinning wheel and plied.  After plying, the yarn is washed in normal hair shampoo and a cream rinse is sparingly applied. After the yarn is dry it can be used for weaving, knitting or crocheting projects. 

 Finished projects are washed again in shampoo and cream rinse and the excess water is spun out in the washing machine.  The product is then dried in a machine dryer on low heat to  full the fabric.   Llama fiber does not shrink much, but should not be agitated or it will readily felt.

 All of our items are produced  at the farm.  Many of our products are standard, but we occasionally have specialty items available or these can be ordered.  These may include:  Ear Warmers, Purses, Felted pictures or other Felted Items and  Felting Needles and Kits.

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