There’s a particular kind of energy on the farm in May—part spring fever, part countdown clock.
As the pastures green up and the snow becomes a memory, we start the big shift from winter hibernation to summer readiness. That means mucking out the barn, tuning up fences, sweeping out the dye studio, and bracing ourselves for one of the biggest days of the year: shearing day.
It’s a mix between a spring deep clean and our annual harvest—but with a lot more fluff.
Shearing isn’t just about giving our alpacas their annual haircut—it marks the beginning of an intricate process that transforms raw alpaca fibre into the beautiful, hand-dyed yarns and soft roving you'll find in our farm shop or online store. Each fleece carries a story, and shearing day is where that story begins.
Prepping the Barn and the Alpacas
Before a single fibre hits the bag, there’s work to do. Shearing prep begins weeks in advance, even before the buzz of spring visitors and baby watch begins (we’re expecting at least one cria this year!)
We start by deep cleaning the barns. Clearing out the winter bedding—an aromatic blend of straw, dust, and poop. Lots and lots of poop! And, of course, whatever else has accumulated since late fall. Then we sanitize the shearing area, rearrange gates to create an efficient flow, and roll up our trusty rubber mats and replace them with our cushioned shearing mats.
Two stations take centre stage:
- The shearer’s mat – where the magic (and the mess) happens.
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My workstation – a slightly chaotic but functional hub with:
- Pre-printed ID cards for each alpaca
- Medical supplies for any treatments
- DNA blood card and microchipping supplies for animals awaiting registration
- Fleece bags, labels, and sharpies
- Phone, charger, snacks, coffee, water… and Advil
Let’s be honest, my body isn’t 30 anymore (heck, it's not even 60 anymore!). I usually start the day with popping a couple tablets and humming my theme song:
“Hello Advil, my old friend,
Shearing time has come again…”
And by day's end, I’m fantasizing about a hot bath, someone else - anyone else - doing chores, and perhaps a massage from a very strong, very silent farmhand. (A ol' girl can dream, can't she?)
Alpaca Shearing: What Happens First?
Shearing day is a team effort. Every member of the crew has a role, from moving animals to sorting fleece. We work with a professional shearer who knows alpacas and shearing inside and out—both literally and figuratively.
Each alpaca is brought to the mat one at a time and gently restrained. The process takes just 12-15 minutes per alpaca but yields a fleece that can weigh 4–8 pounds.
We begin by collecting a 2"x2" fibre sample from the mid-side of each animal. These samples are stored for later testing to assess fibre grade and fleece quality.
👉 Fibre testing 101 - How to read a histogram.
Then, the shearer removes fleece in three sections:
- 1st cut (blanket): the prime fleece; typically the finest fibre on each animal, from the back and sides.
- 2nds (neck and hips): often coarser and shorter, but still usable.
- 3rds (legs, head, tail): trimmed, but not collected.
Note: We don’t skirt fleeces on shearing day. That happens later, when the fibre is dry and open.
What is skirting? It’s the process of removing coarse, dirty, or undesirable fibre so only the best parts are used for yarn. Not glamorous, but essential. Arguably, the dirtiest job on the farm... and we scoop a LOT of poop... so that's saying something!
From Their Perspective: A Strange, Naked Day
We bring the alpacas into the barn the night before so they’re dry and ready. After each is shorn, they’re released into a paddock with hay and fresh water—thoroughly unimpressed.
Then comes the flopping. The rolling. The stink eye.
They don’t look—or smell—the same, and their herd mates often don’t recognize them right away. It’s awkward. It’s adorable. It’s part of the rhythm of farm life.
From Fleece to Yarn
Fifteen minutes on the mat… and then what?
Each fleece goes on its own journey. Some head to the mill. Others stay here for washing, carding, and hand-spinning. Every decision we make—about blending, dyeing, or labelling—is shaped by the personality of that individual fleece.
This is slow fibre. Small-batch. Purposeful.
👉 What makes alpaca fibre so soft?
You’ve Met the Alpacas—Now Meet the Yarn
We know a lot of visitors and fibre lovers are looking for yarn that comes specifically from our animals—and we love that. Our alpacas are the heart of what we do. But with a herd of just 35, there’s only so much fleece to go around each year.
We’ve made a conscious choice to stay small—because keeping that close connection with both our herd and our community matters more to us than scaling up. To help meet demand and offer a wider range of colours and yarn weights, we also source fibre and yarns from other trusted small producers and mills who share our values: animal welfare, craftsmanship, and care for the fibre.
All of the yarns in our shop start with a real animal, a real farm, and a whole lot of love. When you see names like Royal Birch or Lady Slipper on the label, that means the fleece came directly from our herd here at Green Gable Alpacas.
Every skein—no matter the source—is hand-dyed by me, right here in our studio, using colour recipes I’ve developed over the years. It’s a process I take pride in, and one that allows me to stay connected to the creative heart of this work.
We’re proud of every skein we carry. Each one is part of our fibre story—and a little piece of Prince Edward Island.
Shearing only happens once a year, and it’s carefully timed to give the alpacas plenty of relief from the summer heat while still allowing their fleece to grow back in before the chill of winter sets in. It’s a turning point in our farm season—a day full of energy, fibre, and a fair bit of dust.
And just like that, the cycle begins again. One fleece at a time, one skein at a time—until next shearing day rolls around.
Join Us June 18 – Alpaca Afternoon: Breezy & Bare
Want to see the transformation for yourself?
Join us on June 18 for our first Alpaca Afternoon of the season: “Breezy & Bare: Life After Shearing”. It’s part of our relaxed drop-in summer series.
You’ll meet the herd, see what post-shearing care looks like, and explore how fibre is prepped for spinning and dyeing.
📍 Drop in any time from 1:00–4:30 pm
🧁 Bonus: There may be snacks (for the alpacas)