In this 2-hour workshop, alpaca breeder and fibre fanatic Rita will show you how to prepare raw alpaca fleece for various fibre and craft projects. Whether you have alpacas and want to use their fleeces, or you are a fibre enthusiast who wants to learn how to buy good quality alpaca fleece and prepare it well, this workshop is for you!

What you will learn:

- How to assess alpaca fleece and decide its suitability for projects such as spinning, yarn, felting, etc.

- How to skirt and clean alpaca fleeces before starting a project. 

- How to properly store your fleece to avoid moths and other disasters.

- How to use coarse fleeces and pieces, so that nothing is wasted.

Our workshop includes a delicious morning tea and a show bag with samples to take home. 

This workshop focuses solely on choosing, preparing and cleaning alpaca fleece. It will not involve the creation of projects. However, you will get hands-on experience learning the importance of correct fleece preparation, saving you time and money when you start your projects.

Venue:

The workshop is held at our farm in Harcourt, next door to Castlemaine, about 15 minutes south of Bendigo and 1 hour and 20 minutes north of Melbourne. This workshop will be conducted in our airy alpaca barn. Please wear appropriate closed footwear and dress for the weather. In case of extreme weather (e.g. heavy rain, high fire danger rating, etc.), the workshop will be postponed to another date or you will have the option of receiving a full refund.

Children:

This workshop is not suitable for young children. Minimum age: 15 +. An adult must accompany any underage child. If you have a child younger than 15 that you wish to bring, speak to us first before booking.

The presenter:

Rita Soares manages a small alpaca farm in Harcourt, focusing on high animal welfare, ethical, and sustainable principles.  She is an Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) member. Rita has participated in various professional development courses with the Australian Alpaca Association and externally, volunteered at large alpaca farms, participated in alpaca shows, and loves continually learning about alpacas and increasing her knowledge. She held volunteer roles at the Victorian Central Region of the AAA and is currently the Social Media Coordinator for the association. Rita and her partner currently have around 30-40 alpacas on their 25-acre farm in Harcourt, where they live.