Every product in the SHED carries a story that begins not in a warehouse, but in a field in Prince Edward County — with an alpaca named Chester, or Clarice, or Leila.

We think you deserve to know that story.

The Herd

Our alpacas live on the rolling farmland of Chetwyn Farms, just outside Picton in Prince Edward County, Ontario. These are Huacaya alpacas — the fluffy, teddy-bear-faced breed whose dense, crimped fleece is prized by fibre artists and luxury makers the world over. They graze, they hum, they occasionally steal your hat. They are, in short, magnificent.

Each animal is known to us individually. Many of our yarns and products carry their names — Clarice, Earl Grey, Chester, Leila — because we believe the provenance of a fibre matters as much as its softness.

Shearing: The Annual Harvest

Once a year, in late spring, each alpaca is shorn by a professional shearer. This is not a stressful event — it is a relief. Alpacas carry a full year’s fleece growth into the warmer months, and shearing keeps them cool, healthy, and comfortable. A skilled shearer works quickly and calmly, and most animals are back on their feet and grazing within minutes.

The fleece that comes off each animal is called a blanket — the prime cut from the back and sides, which yields the finest, most consistent fibre. This is the fleece that becomes your socks, your yarn, your throw.

Sorting and Grading

Raw fleece is sorted by hand. We separate the blanket from the neck and leg fibre (which is coarser and used for different purposes), and we remove any vegetable matter — the bits of hay and grass that inevitably find their way in. The fleece is then graded by fineness, measured in microns. Baby alpaca — the finest grade, typically under 20 microns — is extraordinarily soft against the skin. Adult fleece, while slightly coarser, is remarkably durable and still far softer than most wool.

This grading determines what each batch of fibre becomes. The finest clips go into our baby alpaca scarves and next-to-skin garments. Heartier clips become hiking socks and work socks built to last.

Processing: Washing, Carding, and Spinning

Sorted fleece is sent to a small-batch mill for washing (scouring), carding — a process that aligns the fibres into a consistent, airy preparation — and spinning into yarn. Unlike industrial wool processing, small-batch alpaca milling preserves the natural loft and character of the fibre. No harsh chemicals. No unnecessary additives.

The result is yarn that knitters describe as a dream to work with: smooth, consistent, with a natural sheen and warmth that synthetic fibres simply cannot replicate.

From Yarn to Product

Some of our fibre becomes yarn sold directly to knitters and fibre artists — in weights from sock weight super-fine to chunky Lopi — each named for a member of the herd or a place on the farm. Some is knitted into our signature alpaca socks, woven into throws and blankets, or felted into insoles and slippers.

Every step — from the field to the mill to the finished product — is traceable. That traceability is not a marketing claim. It is simply how we work.

Why It Matters

In a world of fast fashion and anonymous supply chains, knowing where your fibre comes from is a quiet act of resistance. When you wear a pair of Chetwyn Farms alpaca socks, you are wearing the work of a specific animal, on a specific farm, in a specific county in Ontario. That connection — between maker, animal, land, and wearer — is what we mean when we talk about slow fibre.

Come and meet the herd. Book an alpaca encounter, or stay a few nights in The Cottage and wake up to the sound of alpacas in the field. The story is better in person.

Further Reading

• Huacaya vs. Suri: The Two Breeds of Alpaca and Why It Matters for Your Fibre
• The Alpaca Grading Guide: What Microns, Baby Alpaca, and Fibre Clips Actually Mean
• How We Farm: The Sustainability Practices Behind Every SHED Product
• Why Not All Alpaca Is Equal: Small-Farm Fibre vs. Commercial Alpaca Explained