About

Rob Bruce and Michele Armour started Rosehaven Alpacas, and soon after also started looking into the possibility of founding a fiber mill dedicated to the natural fiber industry, particularly the high-end alpaca fiber market. At the time, there were not many resources or examples to look to in the New York region.

They fell in love with our farm and the quiet country lifestyle it provided, and then came the alpacas, which have captured their hearts more than they could ever have imagined! When we first purchased our alpacas, the farm had a spinning mill. It was so gratifying to get the first yarn back that was from their individual alpacas!

At the time, they knew very little about yarns, knitting, or crocheting, but that did not stop them from their adventure. As they started selling alpacas, they found that many of the buyers were knitters and fiber enthusiasts. Many of their initial questions centered on the fleece and the ways it could be used for yarns and, eventually, garments. Of course, Rob and Michele knew alpaca could be made into exceptionally fine fabrics and yarns that could produce wonderful clothes, but they really did not know much of that process.

When one of the hand-knitters who visited their farm in those early days did a ‘neck test’ with a skein of yarn… and rejected it, it was disheartening, to say the least. The yarn she used was from one of their favorite alpacas, and they thought her fleece was wonderful. Living and learning, they realized then that they needed to know more.

They sought out the best in the alpaca fiber world, which brought them to Wini Lebreque. Her many classes on natural fiber production and management really changed Michele’s world. The first seminar she took with Wini helped Michele understand all the different items that alpaca fleece could be used for and some of the many ways in which it could be manipulated for its finest qualities. Michele has taken many of Wini’s seminars since and am truly blessed by her experience with such a skilled and knowledgeable fiber artist.

As Rob and Michele’s experience and knowledge of alpaca fiber has grown, they have learned about skirting, sorting and grading the fleeces for the highest value. Their efforts are focused on producing the best quality product possible. They were able to guide the mills, and select for the finest quality fleeces. They really started seeing the difference in the yarns that came back from the mill. The quality and the feel of the yarn were immediately apparent. They could really see and feel the ‘fiber of the kings’ through their own yarns. As yarns improved, Michele and Rob explored more ideas, including making natural material in 3 different colors. They had to go to Canada to do it – but they came back great! Rob even had a suit made from it, and it is one of his favorite suits…ever.

As their knowledge of the natural fiber process grew, so did the germ of an idea of starting another business in Sullivan County. They started putting hand-knitters to work. It was great for retired men and women and great for new moms or moms with school-age kids as it provided a great work-from-home option.

But Michele and Rob also wanted to do something for all farms, not just alpaca farms. They had the knowledge, and the experience to produce fine natural fiber products and yarns, but they did not have the mill in which to do this work. Enter “The Mill at Rosehaven Alpacas.” The mill’s mission is not to compete with the other area spinning mills. They have people that are highly trained to spin excellent yarn and Rosehaven Alpacas actually still sold a lot of fiber to them. They decided to focus their mill on benefiting true fiber fanatics! The Mill at Rosehaven Alpacas was set up to card for natural fibers specifically for hand-spinners and felt-makers. It was sold in 2023 but Rosehaven Alpacas continues with specializing both in raising great alpacas and offering beautifully crafted products online to customers.

Our Antique Carder

This was our antique carder. Made in Italy in the 1920’s, it is a small carder and slow – but it started us on this journey. It is presently living its new life on the west coast.