Spin Offs…. I LOVE EM !! I don’t think they are as popular as the halter shows just yet and they surely are not as much fun. You don’t get to meet new people or go to new places.. but they are a good low cost way to get a an opinion of the value of your fleeces from the hand spinners perspective. It’s just them and the fiber and that’s what really counts doesn’t it, the quality of the fiber and what it feels like, looks like and performs like when spun into yarn. No matter if you use the yarn yourself or sell it to another crafter or knitter… you want it to be a nice yarn that works well into that special project or gift for someone.

I just started doing spin-offs this year and what a great year we have had. My first spin off entry with cria fleece from Americano’s Dreamweaver, was the 2009 Virginia Classic. This entry was returned with a 2nd Place RED Ribbon and lots of comments. The most memorable comment was “crusty tips”… ah yes all that mud and dirt on those cria tips !! I was very pleased with this result anyway as this was the exact same fleece he was wearing in 2008 when he placed 6th in the halter competition in the same show. I was not daunted, but persevered and learned my lesson on preparation. From then on I searched and plucked and primped the fleece to remove as much of the “crusty tips” as I could find. However, by the time I had received this feedback, I had already prepared and sent in two other entries to other shows, the MAPA Jubilee and The Great Western Alpaca Show. I began to worry about what horrid feedback I would get from those judges about my “crusty tips”. However, my worries and fears were quickly put to rest as the other boxes arrived following the shows. Another RED Ribbon for 2nd Place in the MAPACA Jubilee and a Pretty Yellow gingham check one from The Great Western Alpaca Show !!! I was on a roll and I didn’t want to quit !

After the spring shearing I started entering more spinoffs and this time I entered all 3 of my boys, Dreamweaver, Presidente and Trueno. Dreamweaver moved up into the Yearling class with the others in the Juvi White and Fawn classes. As each show date arrived and passed I grew more anxious for the boxes to show up in my mail. The first of these shows was Alpacamania. Dreamweaver did not disappoint and brought home the WHITE 3rd place ribbon in the Yearling Male Class. Trueno did very well getting a RED Ribbon for 2nd in the Juvenile White Male class. Presidente did not place… which saddened me because by this time we had lost Presidente. Within a month the next show was on our calendar, The VAOBA Alpaca Expo. These people wasted no time in returning the entries as the box appeared within 4 days of the show. Once again I opened the box to find a single ribbon, A bright YELLOW 5th place one for Dreamweaver…. and nothing for either Trueno or Presidente. I remained hopeful for Presidente as I had one more show entry out and it was for the MABA Alpaca Celebration for November 14 & 15. Shortly after Thanksgiving that box arrived. As I opened the box there were layers to peel back, beginning with the copy of the ARI that I had sent in… then the ziplock bag of fleece with a ribbon. The first layer revealed a RED Ribbon for Trueno, 2nd place out of 6 entries. The second layer rewarded Presidente with a RED Ribbon, 2nd place out of 2 entries. The last layer was what everyone wants to see… BLUE !!! Dreamweaver had place 1st out of just 2 entries. It was a small show and this was their first spin off and I was just not sure about it… but you never know unless you try !!! 3 RIBBONS !!! What an exciting day it was for us. What an exciting year it’s been. I can’t wait for the next shearing!!!