My trip to TOFT Alpacas

Last weekend, I got to do something I've wanted to do for ages: head up to TOFT Alpacas! I've been eyeing up their crochet forever - Kerry Lord has a great classic style for her amigurumi, and the collection is vast! - but this was all about the alpaca (well, at least until the end when I popped into the shop). Wanting to get a better idea of actually owning my own alpaca, I thought attending the husbandry workshop would be a great idea, and it was such a good experience!

The workshop was run by the owners of TOFT Alpacas (separate from the yarncraft business), Rob and Shirley Bettinson, who are lovely and approachable - in fact, I'm pretty sure I tried to ask every single question that came into my head, but I'm sure they're used to it after 20 years!
We came in a little late (bus, train, bus, walk...) but thankfully Rob and Shirley held the start for us so it wasn't too bad. They talked about the background of alpaca and the difference between camelids (alpaca, vicuna, etc.), and then we went out and took a look at the maternity paddock and some lovely little cria. After that, a wee walk, some tea and cakes, then another walk but this time with the boys (stud males) who were up in a separate paddock.

Of course by then it was raining (welcome to England), but even still, it was such an awesome day. All the alpaca were pretty calm and easy to handle (aside from one girl who'd lost an eye, but that's understandable - if you can't see on one side of your body, it definitely makes you nervous!), and even their kicks weren't too hard to deal with.

The area was gorgeous as well, and it was so nice to spend a few hours strolling around with alpaca in that countryside, even if it did take us ages to get there and back. We also nipped into a local pub, the Dun Cow, for lunch on Shirley's recommendation, and it was excellent!
And of course, I did buy some yarn - DK wool in Mushroom, and laceweight alpaca in Mushroom as well - and I've already cracked into it for a test knit for Kalurah at While They Play Designs, so stay tuned for that FO; it's going to be gorgeous, I can tell already! If you're keen to check out my progress, you can find me on Instagram at thereandbackyarn :)