A Note on Fiber Statistics
I am aware of a thread on a knitting/spinning discussion board about the fact I have included fiber statistics with some of the fleeces I have for sale. Do you find this helpful? Do you know enough about alpaca fiber statistics to understand the information? Is there some background you would like I'd love to hear from you on this topic.
It is fairly common practice for alpaca breeders to have fiber samples analyzed. This is part of the process of making breeding decisions. We have chosen to take fiber samples from each of our alpacas every year so we can not only look at the fiber quality of young animals, but watch how the animals do (or don't) maintain fiber quality over time. Some breeders don't take fiber stats and many only take fiber stats from young animals. With all the fiber stats out there, I don't understand why more breeders don't advertise fiber statistics with their fleeces – or why it took me so long to do so. The stats are used to advertise the animals – why not the fleece? One must use caution to ensure the fiber statistics are for the current year's fleece. Some breeders will quote yearling statistics for a ten-year-old's fleece – which reminds me, I really must re-write that Blue Ribbon Brillo Pad story for public consumption – but I digress.
Anyhow, I'm writing this to let you know you can ask about fiber statistics when purchasing fleeces from other breeders and I'm writing this to ask if you find the fiber statistics useful and how I can educate spinners and knitters to find the fiber statistics more useful.
It is fairly common practice for alpaca breeders to have fiber samples analyzed. This is part of the process of making breeding decisions. We have chosen to take fiber samples from each of our alpacas every year so we can not only look at the fiber quality of young animals, but watch how the animals do (or don't) maintain fiber quality over time. Some breeders don't take fiber stats and many only take fiber stats from young animals. With all the fiber stats out there, I don't understand why more breeders don't advertise fiber statistics with their fleeces – or why it took me so long to do so. The stats are used to advertise the animals – why not the fleece? One must use caution to ensure the fiber statistics are for the current year's fleece. Some breeders will quote yearling statistics for a ten-year-old's fleece – which reminds me, I really must re-write that Blue Ribbon Brillo Pad story for public consumption – but I digress.
Anyhow, I'm writing this to let you know you can ask about fiber statistics when purchasing fleeces from other breeders and I'm writing this to ask if you find the fiber statistics useful and how I can educate spinners and knitters to find the fiber statistics more useful.
posted by Upper Alpacas | 10:47 AM
2 Comments:
Yes yes yes! I am very happy that you provide the stats (and I very much appreciate the explanation that you emailed me before). I wish more fiber folks did that - not just alpaca, but for wool, mohair, etc. An educated consumer is the best kind of consumer, imo.
I do quite enjoy seeing current fibre stats, while shopping around for fleeces. I do a lot of looking around alpacanation, and really wish more people would get around to getting regular stats up. A lot of people, will only look at the micron count (oh, 21 microns!) and not the standard deviation or overall comfort factor, which can end up in a bit of wondering when they receive the fleece and it prickles ever so slightly as a scarf, so it would be great, if you had a short explanation on your fibre selling page! Another thing i really like to see, is the fibre history of the parents, just to give a little bit more idea where the alpaca will be headed in it's later years. obviously a snowmass alpaca is going to keep softness for a lot longer than a common backyard one! Another thing i cannot recommend enough, is taking a picture of a lock, next to a ruler, and posting that. it's great to see colour, and crimp! hope this helps
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