Stone Fox Fibre Works

Llama might be called poor man's alpaca, but in this case there is nothing to be given up. It's not an imitation or a lesser quality fiber. Llamas and alpacas are close cousins and both are native to the Andes of South America. In the South American textile industry, their wool is not sorted and labeled according to the animal it came from, but rather by it's quality. If it is fine enough, it is called alpaca. Lesser quality wool is labeled as llama, though it may have come from an alpaca. Here in North America where the wool Stone Fox Fibre Works uses is grown, many of our llamas are growing alpaca!

Beginnings

I woke up one morning in May of 1981 wanting a llama. I didn't know why. Nor did I have any idea how llamas would change my life. They turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.

One magical thing quickly led to another and before June was over I was the very proud owner of 12 llamas, including 5 bred females. I was so caught up in what was happening that it wasn't until I saw the look on my horse's face as the llamas were led into HIS barn that I realized what I'd done!

My horizons expanded rapidly. Viewing - and more importantly, FEELING - all this wonderful fiber on my critters was irresistable. I'd been a knitter since childhood and now learned to hand spin their wool into a soft, warm, wonderful yarn. Visions of soft, warm sweaters, hats, scarves ear warmers, mittens, ponchos, capes AND MORE all in my original designs danced in my head. Before 1981 was over, I was spinning up a storm.

At first it was just a hobby, but that wasn't enough. Soon I was taking in work from other llama owners, happily transforming their piles of fluff into something useable.

But that wasn't enough - I had to make what they wanted. Art shows became the answer. Years of putting up my little store at shows around the Midwest taught me how much others also appreciated the uniqueness of my original designs, the character of this natural fiber and the quality of the workmanship. But that still wasn't enough!

Today, Stone Fox Fibre Works advertises nationally and on the Internet. Whether it is a finished garment, a Kit-to-Knit or yarn to satisfy your own creative instincts, Stone Fox Fibre Works is bound to satisfy. That's a guarantee!

Nancy Fox