Distinctly Montana Magazine

Hat from Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool Company President of the Yellowstone Alpaca Breeders Association — and owner of Northern Rocky Mountain Alpacas, which has the more world-rare suri alpaca (think long, lustrous, human-like hair) — Dennis L. Duenas says, "Most of the good fiber from South America goes to Korea, Italy, or China, where it's used in high- end fashion. Here, it's still a cottage industry." Erv Lischke of Rocking L Alpacas admits his best- selling items are imported. He says 99% of the camelid garments sold in this country come from Peru, Bolivia, or Chile: countries with mil- lions of animals, commercial mills, and low-wage workers. Here, in the US, there are about 350,00 alpacas and llamas; big mills are geared for wool; and hand knitters are hard to find. "This makes Montana a quality bou- tique market," says James Budd, owner of Alpacas of Montana with his wife, Sarah. Recently successful in their quest to wash and dry their fiber without shrinkage (a world feat that has them in high-level talks), they sell online and collaborate with upscale retail stores. Annually, they use about 2,000 pounds of fiber, create a line of socks and long underwear developed for the industrial commercial market, and they employ some 30 Montanans to knit individually unique alpaca hats, gloves, scarves, rugs, and baby products. "We use three different mills and the old-school hand- spinners to make the yarn," explains Sarah, "and then we send it out to knitters throughout the state and encourage them to knit as fast as they can." A passionate industry advocate, Diana is one of those knitters. She's also a certified judge of most fiber, includ- ing cashmere and mohair. She says "The best mohair I've ever seen is" at Wolverton Mountain Montana. Pleased by the compliment, Debra Wolverton explains that she and her husband, Laramie, raise angora goats and process their fiber near Arlee, and that mohair is nick- named The Diamond Fiber because of its luster. She says, "It takes dye beautifully. No two skeins of handspun yarn are ever alike. That's the mark of true value for those wanting something totally unique, or those wanting to get their hands on this fiber to build something of their own." Becky Weed of Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool has been raising sheep with her husband, Dave, for 25 years near Belgrade. They got into the business because they wanted to spin yarn in Montana. Today, they "spend a lot of time processing for other growers." Whether sheep, alpaca or bison, Becky says, "I really like the idea of making it possible for other growers to add value to their fiber. It's a lot of work, and we're not going to get rich doing this, but I'm fascinated by all the diversity that grows on grass." Cormo Wool Yarn from Raven Ridge Fiber Arts So is Rickie van Berkum of Raven Ridge Fiber Arts near Missoula. Like Diana (who is known for her blend of bam- boo and alpaca), or Debra (who mixes mohair with wool and camelid fiber), Rickie is an inventor, but her specialty is color combinations inspired by the Montana landscape. Woven rug and llama from Going To The Sun Fiber Mill Cashmere hat from Pine Needle Farm Mohair baby booties from Wolverton Mountain Montana "I work with shepherds," she says, "to dye wool for hand-spin- ners and yarn for knitters. It's excit- ing to be part of the process." Erv says, "It's not just women and knitters who want to touch and feel the [alpaca] fiber. It's men. Guys will come in and squeeze skeins of yarn" at the farmer's markets and fairs that he and his wife, Maureen, attend. "Spinning is a young kid and an old-guy magnet," agrees Debra Wolverton. "The old guy is trying to figure out how it works, and kids want to know what you're doing." "We're very much a networking business," says James, speaking of camelids, but also about Mon- tana's fiber industry, including the sheep ranchers, who are expe- riencing something of a rebound. "We have to grow together, busi- ness to business, farm to farm." Accordingly, visitors are welcome, partic- ularly during shearing. And fiber producer- artists are eager to meet those who might get into the business some day. Says Debra, remembering a recent after-school program, "There's nothing better than when a six-year-old tells you he's just gotten the best gift ever" by learning to spin fiber. "When they get their hands on it," she says, "that's when you got 'em." Glenda Wallace is a western Montana writer who loves warm, beautiful, soft things, which is why she feeds her cat and will wander through fiber- fabric venues with her generous gift-giving, knitter-friend Melee. www.distinctlymontana.com 61

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