| Elderberry Creek Alpacas: Home of The Alpaca Blanket Project |
| Peter & Carol Lundberg 10868 Siegmund Road SE Stayton, Oregon 97383 503.769.9466 |
West Coast Alpaca Transport has graciously agreed to transport your fiber to the Alpaca Blanket Project. They have monthly runs along the I-5 corridor from California through Oregon and into Washington State. You can contact them and find out what their route will be and then drop off your fiber at one of their stops. |
The Alpaca Blanket Project has evolved from collaboration with Pendleton Woolen Mills, a superior mill with world-wide reputation. Since
2003, Elderberry Creek Alpacas has been working towards creating a North American resource for the alpaca community to have for the use
of our fiber. The mill spent many months with the Llama co-op developing the methods to process camelid fiber and produced blankets
(throws) made with llama fiber with a mixture of sheep wool. Now we approach providing them with the first run of sorted and graded alpaca
fleece so that throws will be completed in time for the 2008 holiday season. The throws will be approximately 60" by 70". Our desire is to
enable the American alpaca farmer to produce a cost-effective American-made product, and to bring public awareness to the wonders of
alpaca fleece. We do not consider this project to be in competition with AFCNA, but rather another option for the alpaca owner, and one that
we believe will benefit our industry overall.
My wife, Carol, and I will be doing most of the grading and sorting of the alpaca fiber (as well as some of the skirting for the blankets that come
in straight off the alpaca). We attended the fiber grade and sorting class taught by Ruth Elvestad (manager of the Natural Fiber Center at Olds
College in Alberta, Canada) in February/March 2008. Our goal is to teach others to sort and grade, and to offer classes on our farm this Fall.
Pendleton Woolen Mills will do the carding, spinning and weaving.
Q: Where do I send the fiber?
A: Alpaca Blanket Project
10868 Siegmund Rd SE
Stayton, OR 97383
Q: How much fiber donated is enough for a blanket?
Q: Can we get back our own fleece in a blanket?
A: The Alpaca Blanket Project schedule is currently based on the color and grade of fiber of the American Alpacas. Fiber will be sorted by
length, color and grade. For a run of blankets (throws), the mill requires at least two sorts of 400-500 pounds of fiber in the same grade, but
different colors. For example, if the sort is for 20 colors and five grades, there would be 100 different sorts (boxes). Each color/grade sort will
be in a different box. In this example, there might be 5 boxes with 20-30 pounds each, and 8 of 30-50 pounds each, and so on by the time two
boxes of the same grade in different colors reach the amount required by Pendleton. Once the fiber inventory reaches this point, then on the
average, for each 800-1,000 pounds in, the next two boxes (of the same grade in different colors) will be filled and ready for the next run.
Certain colors and grades will fill more slowly and some more quickly, but this initial fill of inventory is necessary to reach this critical point.
Upon reaching this point, the project will be able to pay for fiber rather than relying on donations. Individually, each blanket will take
approximately 2.5-3.0 pounds of fiber. Because of the volume requirements, we can not have a run made from individual alpaca made into
blankets, but each will be sorted into boxes that have the same color and grade (micron count).
Q: What is the anticipated wholesale cost of an alpaca throw produced by Pendleton Woolen Mills?
A: Alpaca throws will be available to those who donate fiber for cost +3%. We anticipate this to be less than $40 per throw.
Q: Will Pendleton Woolen Mills manufacture other alpaca products?
A: At this time they are not set up to manufacture other alpaca goods. The have agreed to work with the Alpaca Blanket Project to use the
woolen process to make throws only.
Q: Will I be able to purchase a blanket at cost plus 3%?
A: Everyone donating at least 10 pounds should be able to purchase a blanket. If the number of blankets produced is less than the requested
amount by those that have donated fiber, those with the larger donations will have the first option to purchase more.
Q: What type of fiber can be used?
A: We are accepting fiber from both Suri and Huacaya. The lower the micron the better, from the blanket and good seconds. We can not use
grade 6 (above 31 micron) at this time. Fiber needs to be at least 2 inches long and preferably not longer than 6 inches. Anything longer than
4 inches will have to be cut by a separate (and more expensive) process.
Q: Will the throws be natural colors, or dyed?
A: To keep the costs down, the initial blankets will be in natural colors. As we progress into later runs, we may decide to try dyed colors.
Q: Will the blankets be woven or felted?
A: The blankets will be woven.
Q: What is the size of the blankets?
A: They should be approximately 60” by 70”
Q: When will the throws be ready?
A: If fiber donations come in as pledged, we should have the first run completed in time for the 2008 holiday season!
Q: Do you have pictures of the finished product?
A: We will have pictures as soon as Pendleton has processed the first run. We have seen blankets made from Llama fiber by Pendleton and
they are very nice (but not as nice as the alpaca ones will be).
Q: Is this a co-op? What is the fee for joining?
A: There is no fee for joining the Alpaca Blanket Project. This is not a co-op, but a networking of contributors with the intent toward a specific
marketable product. One goal is to pay for fleece by the third production run.
Q: Other than being able to purchase blankets at cost & 3%, are there any other benefits to my donating fleece?
A: The ability to pay for fiber is dependent on how soon the inventory can reach the critical point. There is so much alpaca fiber (most likely
millions of pounds) stored in the USA today (and about ½ million more pounds each year and growing) that we will not be able to purchase as
much as will be available. Those that help the Alpaca Blanket Project quickly meet the point where payment for fiber is possible will be the
first to have the option to receive payment for their fiber. We suspect that it will be some time before we will be able to purchase fiber from
those that have not supported the project, but our goal is to have this option available to the entire alpaca community.
Q: Who will sort the fiber for sending to Pendleton Woolen Mills?
A: Trained Alpaca Blanket Project volunteers will do the grading and sorting, whereas the Manufacturer will do the washing, carding,
spinning and weaving.
Q: I have some fiber that is a couple of years old. Will you be able to use it for the Project?
A: Take a sample about as big around as a pencil and pull one each end with the fiber next to your ear. If crackles LOUDLY or breaks, the
fiber is brittle and not usable. Otherwise, it should be fine. Remember, all fiber will crackle somewhat, but we're talking LOUD, Rice Krispies-
type crackle.
Q: How will the fiber be sorted in order to have a favorable hand?
A: We (Peter & Carol) will be doing the bulk of the sorting and grading. We have been through the class taught by Ruth Elvestad at Olds
College in Canada. We will be sorting into the various colors and grades. It is more the difference in fiber (or lack thereof) that makes the
product feel soft than the micron count. A wide span of micron count of fine fiber (say, 16-24 micron - a span of 9 micron) will not have as
good a hand as 24-26 micron (a span of 3 micron). However, since the fiber is being sorted into grades, the grade of fiber will also make a
difference in the feel.
Q: Do you pay for fiber sent to the Alpaca Blanket Project?
A: We are targeting the third run for payment of fiber; we are aiming for $8 to $16 per pound.
The first two runs will ramp up to production in this way: The first run will consist of two colors of 4-500 lbs each of same-grade fiber. We must
collect 6-10,000 lbs to have enough for this first sort. Fiber not utilized in the initial run will be added to and used in subsequent runs.
It is these sort groups that should bring the volume and income to the point where payment can be made for the fiber. The first run will only
use the two largest of these sorts. The second and third runs should follow quickly after the first.
Q: How much fiber have you collected so far?
A: As of May 2008, we have received around 1,200 pounds of fiber and have been pledged around 4,200 pounds to come in during and after
the 2008 shearing season. As you can see, this is less than needed. However, one of the contributing farms has placed an ad in the Alpaca
Magazine that encourages people to visit this Alpaca Blanket Project page, to learn more and to send in a portion of their fiber. Many thanks
for this generous contribution!
Q: What if we want to donate a large amount of fiber? Mailing it can be pricey.
A: We are diligently working to develop avenues to transport fiber from across the US to our farm. One of the alpaca transport companies has
already agreed to pick up and deliver fiber along their route that follows the I-5 corridor from Washington state through Oregon and California.
We endeavor to expand that to other states. If you have any ideas on this, please contact us-we greatly appreciate the help!
Q: What method of shipping should I use?
A: It is our deep regret that we cannot pay for fiber (and shipping) at this time. We suggest that you place the fiber in plastic bags and remove
as much air as possible prior to placing in boxes for shipping. Due to the weight vs. volume of alpaca fiber, the cost is usually based on the
volume of the boxes rather than weight. Removing as much air a possible should reduce this cost. For large shipments, you might try Freight
Center or another of the shipping help sites. You put in your information and they look through many shipping companies and find the best
deal on shipping.
Q: Is there transportation available to transport my fiber to the Alpaca Blanket Project?
A: We completed the sale of our alpaca product business which was the largest in the Pacific Northwest (mainly wholesale to alpaca farms)
on April 5, 2008 to Moss Creek Alpaca Collection.
This difficult decision was made in order for us to have time to devote to the Alpaca Blanket Project. We are working on various methods of
more economically transporting fiber to the project. We welcome any suggestions you may have in this area.
One collection point is Starr Alpaca Ranch in Boring, OR. They will be holding the Boring Herd Sire Showcase & Camelid Conclave on June
28, 2008. You can contact them through their website at www.StarrAlpacaFarm.com
Q: What information should I include with the fiber?
A: Please include your name, farm name and contact information (a business card is great). Also, if you have information easily available
about the alpaca from which the fleece was sheared, it is helpful to have that in the same bag as the fiber for that alpaca. We have received a
number of blankets that have taken ribbons in shows; the show card sent with them has been very helpful. Copies of recent histograms are
also a great help. Thanks!
Q: When can I send fiber?
A: Now is great! We hope to have enough fiber for the first run of blankets by the end of June, with the first run completed in time for this year’
s holiday season. The Alpaca Blanket Project will continue to need fiber. Once enough is available for the first run, we will continue to clean,
skirt, sort and grade as fiber is received. There is a good possibility that the second run could also be completed shortly after the first. This
depends on the amount of fiber that comes in as well as having it come in soon enough to have time to prepare it for Pendleton.
Q: I am a couple hours away from your farm. May I help with the project?
A: We will be teaching several classes a year for fiber sorting and grading. We would be grateful for any assistance that you can give us. The
initial sort for the first two runs (with the build of inventory to meet the critical point where we can pay for fiber), we figure that it will take
around 400-500 hours minimum to grade and sort the fiber and would appreciate your help.
Q: Can I support the Alpaca Blanket Project, even if I don't have fleece to send at this time?
A: With your permission, we would like to list your farm as a supporter of the Alpaca Blanket Project on our website. Contact us at
ElderberryCreekAlpacas@yahoo.com if we may use your logo and place it as a link to your website from the Supporters page. If possible,
please add a link to the Alpaca Blanket Project on your website. Please spread the word about the project. We can send you a file with a one-
page description of the project, or if necessary, send you fliers to hand out. We are attempting to keep costs as low as possible which will
help keep the project on schedule.
Q: Will you link to my website?
A: We are pleased to be able to list alpaca farms (and logo) on the supporter section of our website. Please send us an email with
permission. We are trying really hard to avoid adding expense for attorney fees and thus will only add supporter information upon receiving
written (preferably via email) permission. We appreciate your linking your site to the Alpaca Blanket Project.
Q: Is there anything I can do to help?
A: Your support and donations of fiber are greatly appreciated and it is exciting to how many boxes of fiber come in each week. Your
spreading news about the Alpaca Blanket Project is immensely helpful. We have a flier available to help.
Q: How can I help to get the word out?
A: Let others in your farm connections know about the Alpaca Blanket Project - networking is immensely vital to the condensed time line!
One of our frustrations is that we can not pay for fiber at this time. Once folks learn about the Alpaca Blanket Project, some have asked "what
is in it for me?" Hopefully, the information above will give some of the answers.
Please let us know if you have more questions. Also, we are interested in how you heard about the Alpaca Blanket Project. Email
ElderberryCreekAlpacas@yahoo.com or call 503-769-9466.
We have also been asked "what is in it for you?" Not sure yet on that one yet, but penciled out, we will be earning about $0.90 per hour.
However, It is about the fiber! Both Carol and I desire to be certified as fiber judges and this will take us a giant step in that direction.
Thank you everyone for all your support. The fact that the project is ahead of schedule shows how much help you have given in fiber, time,
interest and support to the project. The quick success we are heading for is thanks to you, the alpaca community!
Peter & Carol Lundberg
Updated 07/19/2008
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Custom Woolen Mills, Carstairs, Alberta, CANADA
