Monarch butterfly photo by Dianna Troyer
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The Ferbraches turn their affectionate alpacas’ wool into clothing By Dianna Troyer As Tussy Ferbrache calls to her dozen alpacas, they hurry toward her, jostling each other for attention and a treat of grain pellets. They coo and hum softly as they chew. “Aren’t they adorable?” she says, introducing Cassidy, Sampson, Infinity, and St. Francis. Their dark, kind eyes seem to welcome visitors. “They’re so affectionate and low maintenance. I feel honored to care for them and fortunate to see them every day.” In the spring, she and her husband, Andy, who live near Paul, Idaho, hire professional shearers to harvest the wool, which they send off for processing. “Their wool comes in 22 basic colors,” says Tussy, 62, as she finishes feeding her flock and heads inside to show a few garments she has made. She has a spinning wheel in her living room and knits the yarn into scarves, hats, and mittens and makes durable rugs on a loom. “This is from St. Francis,” she says of a soft, lightweight cream-colored scarf she knitted. The wool feels as soft as cashmere. “And these mittens are from Buster Brown.” The wool on alpacas’ backs is called blanket hair and is made into scarves. The fiber along their legs and necks is sturdy and ideal for socks and carpets. The Ferbraches sell alpaca garments and rugs at their shop, Frontier Enterprises and Upholstery in Paul. Alpaca wool is ideal to wear for them and repeat customers. “Alpaca wool isn’t scratchy,” says Tussy, “so it won’t make you itch. People who are allergic to sheep wool often find they can wear clothing made from alpacas.” Andy and Tussy wear alpaca wool socks yearround because the wool does not make their feet sweat and is lightweight. “The socks are comfortable in any season,” says Andy. “When you wear them, it feels like you’re walking on a cloud because they’re so light and soft. A BLM firefighter buys only alpaca wool socks because they wear so well when he’s out on a fire.” The Ferbraches attribute their affection for alpacas to their three-acre lawn near Paul. “It’s so large and was taking a lot of time for us to maintain,” says Tussy. “We wondered what to do with all those grass clippings. Someone suggested alpacas. Plus, I wanted to find some nice yarn for knitting. Alpaca yarn is considered the Rolls Royce of fiber among spinners and weavers.” In 2009, they found an alpaca breeder in Emmett, who advised them about fencing and how to care for the fluffy creatures. (Continued on page 20)