Bambino only 1 hour old It's good to be Fearless Leader! I got a call last Sunday that a brand new baby alpaca was waiting to play. "Bambino" was all of an hour old when I got to the Crimping River Alpaca Farm. If you come to Crochet @ Cama 2011you, too, can meet this little guy, and possibly a new baby will be born around retreat time. Panda, aptly named for her black and white coloring, is expecting and hopefully we'll have a new baby to play with on the day we learn to spin and get to oogle over 50 alpaca! Panda is expecting her baby around retreat time.
Alpaca is great to crochet with! Even though it does have a tendency to grow (meaning it doesn’t hold shape) in a garment if you use a fine yarn and tight tension you can make amazing lace items, and really wonderful hats!
I always crochet a little tighter when I use alpaca, because the stitches invariably relax. When I hand spin alpaca yarn, I have been known to add about 10% wool to the mix to ensure a bit of stretch memory if I want socks or a sweater.
As much as I know about alpaca fiber, I found out I have a lot to learn about these cool camelids! Did you know alpaca are highly social? I mean I knew they were herd animals, I’ve been around plenty of other herd animals and not witnessed anything quite like I did on Sunday.
When a baby is about to be born all of the females surround the mama. Once the baby is born they surround them and greet the newest member of the herd. Now on a farm they give mama and baby a chance to bond unbothered by over broody aunties. But, the “aunties” have full access to say hello. It was quite the greeting ritual!
First Milk Moustache
Panda is expecting her baby around retreat time.
Mama kissing baby to make sure baby ok!
