Above, some of the crafting areas and resources
at the retreat, and an example of mixed media. Just
above, fi nished alpaca fi ber and a bowl of dryer
balls, created from discarded wool from the carding
process.
Sitting in a basket on the table was a bowl of what
appeared to be balls of wool. We were told they
were dryer balls, made from the coats of their four
alpaca friends.
Dryer balls are made from the short fi bers that
come out of alpaca wool when it is “carded.” The
balls are used instead of dryer sheets, and they are
supposed to help clothes dry more quickly and take
away static cling. The balls can be scented as well,
with essential oils. They don’t wear out, they just get
smaller and smaller. Some of the dryer balls they have
are six years old.
Jerry brought out a bag full of alpaca wool that had
come from one of their animals. To begin the process,
he fi rst washes the fi bers with a special soap that has
no bubbles. Then he lays the fi bers on a table to dry,
then fl uffs them. He then starts the carding process,
and usually does each section four times. Older
methods of carding involve a board with nails in it,
but Jerry uses a machine with a large cylinder, where
you lay the mass of fi bers, and a smaller wheel called
a “licker” takes out all the short hairs. Those are the
short hairs he uses to make dryer balls.
“The carding process lines up all the fi bers,” he said.
“Then it can be used for crafting. We aren’t selling it
right now, as we’ve only had two years of shearing.”
If you’re really adventurous, you can spin the fi ber.
Becky sat at a modern-day spinning wheel, which
looks complicated … she said it’s actually more
complicated than you even think it is.
The wheel spins as two foot treadles are pushed at
different intervals. Becky admitted she is just getting
started on her spinning journey, but she has friends
that are at expert level.
58 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE May/June 2020