BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Spinning What to do about "guard hairs"?

I'm new to spinning so please forgive the constant questions, but I always get answers here, so here's another. I combined llama wool and lamb to get beautiful yarn, but although I tried to remove as many guard hairs as I could, I still ended up with some pricklies sticking out. What did I do wrong or is this okay? What projects would be best to use this for? Thanks.

Questions are never a problem here, that's part of what this forum is all about. Your questions may help many other spinners who are too timid to ask <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't have a lot of experience with llama, I've probably only spun it 5 or 6 times. But I have noticed a huge variation in the quality of the different llama fibers I have spun. Some was as you say, prickly, and some was not. None of what I have spun was de-haired, so I have to think that some llamas have coarse, stiff guard hairs and some do not. De-hairing is the process of removing the guard hairs, it's expensive to have it commercially done and extremely tedious to do it yourself.

So you didn't do anything wrong, that's the good part! In the future, when working with fibers containing stiff guard hairs, try putting only as much twist into the yarn as needed to hold it together. The more twist in the yarn, the more harsh the feel.

And use your beautiful new yarn in something you won't be wearing next to your skin, like a new handbag. (Did I mention that llama felts?!)

If anyone who reads this forum is an expert on llamas and their fibers, please post and share!

Oh, thanks, now you've brought up felting which is something else I've been thinking about but haven't gotten into. Is it something I can learn to do from a book or do I need lessons? Would you know a good book?

I don't have any books on felting, but there are web pages out there I know. Here is one with photos for slippers:
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HI, I just wanted to say I had Llamas for some years, and had my fiber all cleaned etc, by sending it out, then made into yarn also, I know what you mean about the guard hairs, and each animal is different in the llamas I had, I would actually buy my Llamas for what type coat they had.

I remove as many guard as I can by hand. Then I use Louet single row combs. It usually takes about two times thru. It takes some time, but, the ending result is worth it. I usually do this when I am outside with the animals or watching TV.

Nancy