January 14, 2016
I am so excited!  My alpaca yarn just came in!  Beautiful yarns and roving, sleek and shiny and very soft!  I am also expecting two new animals in the beginning of February.  Little Buddy (light fawn) who turned one in August and Luke (white accoyo) who is two and 1/2.  More yarn to be had.  Yay!  Stop in and check it out!  :)

May 17, 2014   Hello!  Excited for this year's shearing.. I haven't gotten the date as yet, but I'm guessing the first week in June.  Not only will I have some excellent blankets from Maximus and his mom, Lanette Purl, but I am also excited about my new true black's blanket. Diesel is only 3 years old with a dense, crimpy and extremely soft fleece..more black yarn!  Then there's little Jasmine, my maroon cria.  Nice staple length and ohhh so soft!   I will try and post some pictures on here. Until then, stop in at Nanette's Knits and Gifts and say "hey!"  I have some yarn from last year's shearing that is gorgeous!

The shearing went well!  Here are some pictures of 'before' and 'after' shots.  The fiber is now ready to be skirted, then sent away to the fiber mill to be made into yarn. 
It takes approximately 4 months to get back.  The fiber mill cleans, cards, spins and plys the fiber into beautiful yarn.  Sometimes I have it dyed.  This year I will leave most of it natural with a few pounds dyed into beautiful colors that will knit up wonderful sweaters and other garments.  Stop in and see these wonderful animals.  Most of my foundation animals were transported from Oregon and Washington.  All are ARI registered.  Some will be for sale this summer.  Sundays are the best days for a farm visit (906) 364-4752 

Hi there!
My animals are all scheduled to be sheared on Wednesday May 29th at 7:00 a.m!  I was very thankful they weren't sheared last week as the temperature got down to 28 degrees!  I don't have any adult coats, just cria coats and they would have been shivering for sure.  Call me and I'll schedule a farm visit for a Sunday.  Most of my animals are for sale, so stop in and check out the beautiful, gentle and calming alpacas of Orchard HIlls!  (906) 364-4752

Nanette's Knits and Gifts is tentatively opening the summer of 2013!  It is located at 501 Sunday Lake Street, just a few blocks south of our beautiful Sunday Lake, in our small, but quaint town of Wakefield Michigan.

Nanette has been knitting since she was a little girl.   When she brushed out her freshly bathed collie, she would save his fur in baggies, not knowing why, only knowing that she loved the soft fluffy texture.  Little did she know, when she grew up, she would own an alpaca farm and soon to be... knitting and gift shop! 

She has her animals sheared every spring and sends the fleece to a fiber mill to be made into yarn.  Alpaca fiber comes in 22 natural colors that are recognized by the textile industry, and there are many blends in addition to that. 

The fiber of alpaca is softer than cashmere or angora, and lighter weight than wool, without the prickle factor that some wool has.  Since alpaca has no lanolin, it is easier to process and is hypoallergenic.  

Nanette will offer yarn made from her animals along with other quality yarns, notions and craft supplies.  Also, she will carry beautiful alpaca clothing, hats, gloves and accessories, along with unique gifts.  So keep checking back, where updates will be posted.

Lanette Purl only a few days before shearing!