The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival Fiber Demonstration Area

updated 4/30/10
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fiber demonstration Mary Sternitzky, Fiber Demo Coordinator
608-835-2674

Look for the Fiber Demonstration Area to the right on the Mezzanine level as you enter the coliseum throught the Main (East) Entrance. Be sure to stop by and visit with the fiber artists. Alpaca fiber is lovely to work with!

Demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the show. We also feature educational displays.

We ask that children be accompanied by an adult in the Fiber Demonstration and Fleece Areas.

If you have a particular fiber talent and would like to participate or volunteer to be a part of the Fiber Demo Area, please contact Mary.

Each year, local farms have donated raw fleece for a "Fleece to Fashion" display. Members of the Madison Fair City Spinners are given raw fleece months before the show and are asked to make an item or two for display at the show. Come see what they create for 2010! Fiber for 2010 is provided by County Road Alpacas, Pacesetter Alpacas, Sauk Creek Alpacas, and Timber Ridge Farm.

Fiber Demo Schedule

Saturday
9-5 Spinning Wheel Spinning
  9-10 Drum Carding
9-10 Hand Carding & Combing
9-11 Machine Knitting
10-12 Needle Felting
10-12 Hand Loom Weaving
11-12 Skirting a Fleece
12-1 Lunch Break
1-2 Inkle Loom Weaving
1-3 Drop Spindle Spinning
2-4 Machine Knitting
2-4 Needle Felting
4-5 Skirting a Fleece

Sunday
9-12 Spinning Wheel Spinning
  9-12 Drop Spindle Spinning & Hand Carding
  9-10 Drum Carding
9-11 Machine Knitting
10-11 Skirting a Fleece
10-12 Needle Felting
10-12 Hand Loom Weaving
11-12 Inkle Loom Weaving

Members of the Madison Fair City Spinners will demonstrate spinning wheel spinning continously during the show, from 9-5 on Saturday and 9-12 on Sunday.

Talk to one of the spinners if you'd like to give spinning a try!

Ashley Huibregtse, Wisconsin's 61st Alice in Dairyland, learns to spin with guidance from Lil.

Ginny Olson (Fevolden Farm Alpacas) demonstrates how to skirt a fleece. County Road Alpacas and Sauk Creek Alpacas provided fleece for skirting.

Barbara Bahr (Falcon Quest Alpacas) demonstrates machine knitting.

Fern demonstrates drum carding.

Jane demonstrates hand loom weaving on a variety of looms.

Drop spindle spinning with Erin and Huan-Hua.

The Alpaca Fiber Co-op of North America (AFCNA) display, showing those fabulous Extreme Alpaca Socks and alpaca yarn made with 100% North American Alpaca fiber!
Many alpaca breeders belong to this coop and provide fleece and purchase products for resale from the Co-op.
Shop at the online AFCNA Store, "America's Alpaca".

The colors of alpaca - raw fleece display. Long View Grange Alpacas provided fleece for this display.

Suri and Huacaya fiber displays.

Fiber to Fashion 2009

Raw Fiber was provided by Pacesetter Alpacas, Sauk Creek Alpacas, and Token Creek Alpacas. Apparently, 2009 was the year of the scarf! Click on the project image to view a larger version.