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Alpacas in New England are raised to sell off their offspring, and
to produce their very soft fleeces that are shorn once a year usually
in May. New England alpacas produce anywhere from three to ten pounds
of raw fleece worth about $40/lb. Sheep's wool by comparison, might get
in the range of $4/lb and has significant amounts of waste material as
well as lanolin. Alpaca fiber will be stronger (more crimp) and more
resilient than the finest sheep's wool, warmer by weight, and more
highly prize for its unique silky feel.
Here in New England, the hand spinners, weavers and knitters are
particularly attracted to the natural colors...snow white, coal black,
rose gray, reddish brown and cream...some 32 distinguishable colors in
all. Most of the fiber produced by New England alpaca farmers is
processed at mini-mills which custom process lots into yarn and
roving...often as small as five pounds. There are more of these mills
in New England, and in particular in Maine, than anywhere else in the
United States.
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