The next project is a hand spun, hand woven cloak for entry into the Fibrefest Fashion parade in Sydney in May.  The cloak will be black alpaca with waft of single alpaca plied with a single of silk.  The cloak has a collar made of cream and mulberry silk/alpaca blend.

Ideal as a gift for that special couple, or just for those who hate the cold!  The next project is a hand spun, hand woven Alpaca Blanket (Queen Bed size).  It will be make in four panels, graduating from cream through light to dark fawn and light brown.  Each panel will have a stripe on either side of the waft, and a two panels at each end of the weft of a contrasting colour.  The cream panel will have its contrasts in light fawn;  the light fawn panel will have its contrasts in dark fawn, and the light brown will have its contrast in dark brown.
Early in the New Year some progress photos will be posted.  Re-visit to see how it is progressing!

First panel (1/4 of the blanket) completed!  Wool making for the contrasts in the second panel under way.  Check back again soon for more progress.

The next project is for my sister who is suffering cancer.  She needs a hat for summer - not too hot but stylish!  I am spinning some baby alpaca with tussah silk - beautiful soft with a lovely sheen in a soft honey colour.  As purple is her favourite colour, I will put a purple passion flower on the side.
Look under Hand Knitted Hats for the finished article 

The next project will be a luxurious scarf made with a silk waft, and weft of 50/50 hand spun baby alpaca and silk blend.  Look under Hand Woven

The next project will be a hand spun, hand woven Alpaca cloak.  The waft and weft will use hand spun alpaca.  The waft will use black alpaca, whilst the weft will use dark grey hand spun alpaca.  The collar will have hand spun white alpaca with two types of silk ribbon around the neckline interspersed with blended alpaca/silk yarn.  Look under Hand Woven

Textured collar in progress - alpaca/silk wool /hand-woven.htmlblend alternated with silk ribbon and woven silk

The final steps in the process are now published on the How to Hand Spin page

Step 2 in the How to Spin information has been added.  This step shows how to prepare the fleece ready for spinning.

Some beautiful Alpaca/Silk and Fine Merino/Silk cowls are now on sale at Secrets

Work is under way on the hand woven rug.  The loom has been "warped" with black and white silk, ready for weaving to begin.  But first, I have to spin some white and black alpaca wool.

A couple of people have asked me to explain how to hand spin Alpaca fleece.  I have started a new How to Hand Spin Wool page under my FAQ section which I will add to progressively.