These are so fun to make, and I'm telling you - I would not get through a Vermont winter without mine.  When Mark received his first pair years ago, he said I should label them with a warning:  "Caution!   May cause drowsiness!"  He didn't want to go to bed because he didn't want to take them off.  I made these for Brian (red size 9) and Jessica (brown size 8).

It's ridiculous how big they have to be knitted before they're felted down to tight wonderful cushy wool (which is SO nice on the feet).  Felting is not an exact science, but I think these sizes are very close.  I'm sure there's enough winter left to enjoy them!  There's really nothing like wool.  Such a gift.  So here are the before felting and after felting photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay.  It's not clear in these shots what a difference the felting makes.  But they're fun to look at anyway.

Here's to warm toes, Jessica.  Thanks for the order!  As soon as they're dry, they're in the mail.

Gossamer angel fiber!  Kami's alpaca yarn turned into this ruana.  Here are the finishing touches.

 

 

Twisting fringes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding the right buttons.  I settled on coconut shell.  Just the right size and color.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crocheting around the whole piece with strong silk to create button loops and a more finished edge.  Button closures down the front as well as both sides make it versatile - as a poncho, jacket, shawl, cowl scarf, vest...  with or without a belt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washed, now hanging to dry.  This shows the basic shape of the ruana, but it's magic - especially with the buttons, it can be worn several ways!   It's woven to have smooth contour around the back of the neck, with fringes cascading from the neckline down the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, so cozy and luscious.  Warm and classy!

 

I hope I've done justice to Snow Angel Alpacas, all those beautiful animals, 

Blaze, Talon, King, Ultimo, Charlie, Layla, Derby, Chickie, Daisy, Mayhem, Madigan, Reigh, Rocky, Nina, Quince, Moe, Corazon, Ambigue, Lily, and Mischief, and their loving human keepers Kami and Kevin.  Next is a scarf for Kevin, but he doesn't know it yet, so don't leak the surprise.  It's on the loom now.

Setting out the balls to get ready to measure the warp. 

Now that I have my hands on this luscious, lustrous yarn, I can barely contain myself.  This yarn is silky gorgeous!









This is the cross on the warping mill.















Warp chains hanging on the front beam.  See the static electricity causing the ends to stand out?

Dressing the loom - sleying the reed.















Now sleying the heddles.















Ready to beam it.





























Weaving!!

This is going to be one soft and warm garment. I love the rich heathered effect of all the various natural colors blending, and the herd blend yarn in the weft (in the shuttle) pulls all the colors together beautifully.

The weaving is slow going, being careful of the handspun and lace weight yarns in the warp, and all the static electricity!  I could power a light bulb with all the zapps coming off this!  It's funny.  

Kami loves her alpacas, and it's no wonder why.  They are beautiful animals, gentle and soft, each having his or her own personality.  And they produce such luscious yarn!  Kami carefully wound her precious skeins into balls of yarn, some of them spun by her own hands,  and put them in my care with great trust, for me to weave her a ruana.  She labeled each baggy... she knows exactly which ball of yarn came from which animal.  This garment will warm her body as much as her heart.  I hope I can live up to this trust.  Here are the names listed on all these little bags of yarn:  Blaze, Talon, King, Ultimo, Charlie, Layla, Derby, Chickie, Daisy Mayhem, Madigan, Reigh, Rocky, Nina, Quince, Moe, Corazon, Ambigue, Lily, Mischief.  I told Kami I hoped to have this ready for her to wear by the end of this month, but I haven't managed that.  Just now beginning to get the warp measured.  More pictures of progress to follow!  See photos of these precious angel animals on Kami's site: Snow Angel Alpacas.   A couple of them will be visiting us in Jamaica for our Fiber Festival on May 21 - great opportunity to meet one up close!