🍂 FROM THE FARM TO THE FIBRE — A FALL UPDATE FROM HAUN FARM 🦙
Well, it’s been a busy spring and summer, and somehow we’ve found ourselves right in the middle of fall!
Wow, has there ever been a lot happening over the last few months!
We’ve sheared our alpacas, welcomed 13 new cria babies into the world, added 10 registered Shetland sheep to the farm, and adopted two new llamas, Darrell and Bruce. Our fibre has been sent away to be transformed into a new batch of socks, and I’ve been busy carding, spinning, crocheting, weaving and knitting every chance I get!
You know, there really isn’t a dull moment in our lives here at Haun Farm. ❤️
Our days are full of muddy boots, curious animals, fibre-covered clothes, new projects and a whole lot of life. And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
The other evening, I was walking with my son as we prepared for his very first alpaca show. We were talking about the experience when I stopped for a moment and said to him, “You know, we should really take this all in.”
Not many children will grow up being able to look back on their childhood and say, “I grew up on an alpaca farm. I got to lead my alpaca around while my mom walked beside me with her llama.”
How special is that?
Life moves so quickly. Our children grow up before we know it, and sometimes we get so caught up in the work of everyday life that we forget to stop and appreciate the very life we are working so hard to build.
I take great pride in teaching my children the knowledge that has been passed down through generations — how to care for our animals, understand where our food comes from, work with natural fibres and create the very clothes we wear.
There is something incredibly meaningful about knowing the journey of something from beginning to end. From an animal growing its fleece, to shearing, skirting, washing, carding, spinning and finally turning those fibres into something beautiful and useful.
These are skills that sustained generations before us. They connect us to the land, to our ancestors and to the people who came before us, who worked with their hands and made the most of what they had.
The words “be the salt of the earth and the light of the world” are not something I take lightly. I believe we are called to keep our faith close to our hearts, to cherish the gifts we have been given, and to share our light through the way we live, love, work and care for others.
For me, that light shines through our family, our animals, our farm and the knowledge we hope to pass on to the next generation.
These moments are precious. And while farm life can be exhausting, messy and full of hard work, I hope my children will always remember how rich their childhood was in experiences, connection and love.
Because a life well lived isn’t measured by how much we accumulate, but by how deeply we experience the life we’ve been given. 🤎
🧶 OCTOBER: A CELEBRATION OF NATURAL FIBRE
October is commonly celebrated as Wool Month, and although alpaca fibre isn’t technically wool, I like to think of this time of year as a celebration of all natural fibres — the animals that grow them, the people who work with them, and the incredible traditions behind them.
One of the most important is called a micron. A micron is one-millionth of a metre, and in the fibre world, it measures the diameter of an individual fibre. The smaller the micron number, the finer the fibre generally is, which often means a softer feel against the skin.
But fibre quality is about much more than softness alone!
We look at fineness, uniformity, staple length, strength, lustre, crimp and the amount of coarser fibres in a fleece. Each characteristic influences how the fibre feels, spins and performs in the finished product.
Here at Haun Farm, we are passionate about breeding for quality and learning as much as we can about the fleeces our animals produce.
And let’s talk about crimp!
Crimp is the natural wave or waviness in a fibre. In Huacaya alpacas and many sheep breeds, you can see these beautiful little waves when you examine the fleece closely.
Crimp can help fibres trap air, contribute to loft and elasticity, and give yarn that lovely spring and bounce. When a knitted garment is stretched, the structure and elasticity of its fibres help it recover its shape — something fibre artists often describe as memory.
More crimp isn’t automatically better in every animal or every type of fibre, but the right crimp, combined with fineness, consistency and strength, can be a wonderful quality to select for.
And when you spend your days working with fleece, you begin to appreciate just how much information is hidden in every little lock!
🦙🤎 Did you know alpaca fibre typically ranges from 17–30 microns, depending on the animal, genetics and fleece qualityThe smaller the micron count, the finer the fibre generally feels against your skin!
Alpaca fibre is loved for its softness, lightweight warmth, natural lustre and ability to help regulate temperature. It contains very little lanolin compared with sheep’s wool and comes in a beautiful range of natural colours, from creamy white to rich browns, greys and black.
We are passionate about breeding for quality fibre and transforming our animals’ fleeces into beautiful, useful creations. Every fleece tells a story, and we love being part of the journey from pasture to yarn to finished garment. 🤎
🐑 MEET OUR SHEtLAND SHEEP
This year, we welcomed 10 registered Shetland sheep to our farm, and we couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter in our fibre journey!
Shetland sheep originated in the Shetland Islands, a rugged group of islands north of mainland Scotland. For centuries, these hardy little sheep have adapted to a challenging climate and become treasured for their fine, soft fleeces and remarkable variety of natural colours.
Shetlands are considered one of the Northern European short-tailed sheep breeds. Their fleece is particularly exciting for handspinners and fibre artists because it can be soft, lightweight, versatile and wonderfully suited to creating beautiful yarn.
A typical Shetland fleece may measure around 20–25 microns, although individual fleeces vary depending on genetics, age and the part of the body the fibre comes from. That’s a lovely range for making soft yarns, shawls, hats, scarves and garments.
Their wool also comes in an incredible range of natural shades, from white and grey to moorit browns, blacks and beautiful mixed colours. Some of these colours can be blended together without dyeing, allowing nature to create the palette.
And that is one of the things I love most about natural fibres: the possibilities are endless, and nature has already done so much of the work for us.
Shetland sheep are also a rare heritage breed in the sense that their distinctive characteristics and traditional fleece qualities are worth preserving.
From alpaca to Shetland wool, each fibre has its own story, its own qualities and its own place in the world of textiles.
And I feel incredibly fortunate that we get to be part of that story.
As we head into fall, I hope you’ll take a moment to appreciate the natural fibres that keep you warm, the hands that worked to create your favourite garments, and the generations of knowledge woven into the clothes we wear every day.
Because behind every skein of yarn, every knitted hat and every pair of warm socks, there is so much more than meets the eye.
There is an animal. There is a farmer. There is a craft. There is history. There is time, patience and love.
And here at Haun Farm, that’s exactly what we hope to share with you. 🤎
Haun Farm — raising the fibre, preserving the knowledge, and creating with love.
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