A VISIT BY TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Today we hosted a visit by Paso's Trinity Lutheran School 5th & 6th grade classes of Mrs Kratz and Mrs. Gaudi. The students are studying the Incans, so they came to Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch to see alpacas up close. Photos taken by student, Grace F, unless otherwise noted. Enjoy the day with us:

INTRODUCING ALPACAS:

Sandra explaining shearing day - and wearing alpaca red felt cowboy hat.

WHERE DO ALPACAS COME FROM?

A little alpaca history and geography

FIBER art TECHNIQUES:

Spin with spindle

Knit I-cord to felt into leashes and lead ropes

Yarn for alpaca horse cinches - 8 ply worsted, mixed colors.

Wet felt bag

THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH ALPACA: Spin, Knit, Crochet, weave, felt- wet, needle and knit felt, sew fabric, latch and locker hook rugs, embroider, weave, use for stuffing....wear it, use it, touch it!

PREPPING FIBER:

Combing washed fiber - "hackling"

KOOL-AID DYEING:

We felted soap next and everyone took turns felting the fiber onto the bar of soap, adding bright dyed pieces for decoration.

The student's finished felted soap bar with orange Kool-Aid dyed fiber-wet & madder dyed fiber-dry. Photo by Sandra.

DYEING WITH PLANTS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO:

Fiber mordanted, then dyed with fennel flowers...grows wild in San Luis Obispo. Photos by Sandra.

Madder can grow in our region...it takes a few years growth, then roots are dug up, cut, ground to small bits and used for vat dye...fiber is mordanted first, to set the dye.

Correopsis is a common garden flower and the species with the most petals is the best for dyeing. We briefly talked about dying with natural dyes, as well as doing our simpler Kool-Aid dyeing.

FUN WITH ALPACAS: Introducing Calypso