Are you someone that finds wool to be just too darn itchy for your sensitive skin?
Do you wish there was a soft and luxurious fiber like cashmere that didn’t require a bank loan to afford?
And wouldn’t it be great if it came from an animal that is as cute as a button?
Well mine friends there is such a thing, and its name is Al…
…paca.
Alpaca.
What exactly is an Alpaca?
The Alpaca is apart of the Camelid family which contains other animals like Camels, Vicuña, Guanaco, and Llama.
It is native to South America and believed to originate in Peru.
While it is often confused with the Llama, it is considerably smaller and was bred specifically as a fiber animal.
There are two types of alpaca, Huacaya and Suri.
Huacaya are more common and often have the poodle like appearance we associate with alpacas.
Suri on the other hand have ringlet like coats that look like dreadlocks.
They only make up about 10% of the South American alpaca population.
A brief history of Alpaca fiber
Alpacas have been raised in South America for well over 5,000 years.
Because of its luxurious qualities, Alpaca has been referred to as “The Fiber of the Gods.”
Like many highly prized fine fibers, it was originally used to make clothing for royalty.
It was not until the Spaniards made contact with the Incas in the 1500s that the fiber found its way to Europe. From there it worked its way up through France and Germany.
Once it reached England in the early 1800s it was deemed unusable as a spinning fiber. That is until 1836 when Sir Titus Salt, a Bradford manufacturer, developed a method for weaving alpaca into fabric.
This development drove increased demand for the fiber around the world. But supply had difficulty keeping up and several attempts were made to acclimatize the animals to the European continent.
While there was limited success with these initiatives, today alpacas are being bred all around the world.
Although there are many alpaca farms throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe, 80% of the world’s fiber production still comes from Peru.
Why knit with alpaca yarn?
Alpaca is a great alternative to wool for a number of reasons.
Here are a few of them:
It’s softer than Merino
With high crimp fibers that are longer and smoother than wool, alpaca feels almost like silk on the hand. Interestingly, baby alpaca is a classification based on micron count, and does not actually come from baby alpacas.
It’s hypoallergenic (sort of)
Alpaca’s produce considerably less lanolin than sheep. This has led to the myth that they are hypoallergenic, but that may be more a result of their smoother fiber hairs causing less irritation.
It’s more resilient
While there isn’t any strong scientific evidence that alpaca is “stronger” than wool, one study did show that is may hold up better to wear and tear. This could be due to the long staple fibers being resistant to pilling.
It’s more sustainable
Alpaca can be grazed on land that is not otherwise productive for agriculture. That combined with their light footprint on the earth means they’re pretty good for Mother Earth! And since they must be shorn every spring you can count on 5-10lbs of new alpaca fiber every year.
It’s (relatively) affordable luxury
While alpaca yarn is not cheap it has a luxurious feel that is often compared to cashmere. High quality alpaca may run north of $30 per skein, but that’s still half that of other luxury fibers.
Drawbacks of alpaca yarn
Despite its many advantages, alpaca yarn also has a few drawbacks:
It has mediocre stitch definition
The smooth fibers of alpaca don’t hold their shape as nicely as wool or cotton. The yarn also has a tendency to halo after washing, so textured patterns are not going to show up with as much detail.
It has a bad memory
No, it isn’t forgetful, but those smooth fibers are prone to stretch, which means garments may lose their shape over time. Unlike wool, which will retract some with the application of heat, once alpaca has stretched it’s probably staying that way.
It can be eco-unfriendly
If environmental impact is a concern for you, most alpaca is shipped from South America, giving it a large carbon footprint.
Our Favorite Alpaca Yarns
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Natural Alpaca Tweed by Mary Maxim
Worsted (CYC #4) | 77% Acrylic, 20% Alpaca, 3% Viscose (262yds/100g)
Warm, soft and surprisingly light, with little flecks of color. It comes in nature-inspired solids plus a few self-striping shades.
Get it at Mary Maxim -
Touch of Alpaca by Lion Brand
Worsted (CYC #4) | 90% Acrylic, 10% Alpaca (207yds/100g)
Just 10% alpaca, but it adds a soft, silky touch. The acrylic makes it durable and machine washable, in neutrals and jewel tones.
Get it at Amazon -
Andean Treasure DK by Knit Picks
DK (CYC #3) | 100% Baby Alpaca (110yds/50g)
100% baby alpaca at a very friendly price. The heathered colors have a lot of depth, and they look great in colorwork.
Get it at Knit Picks -
Simply Alpaca Aran by Knit Picks
Aran (CYC #4) | 100% Superfine Alpaca (246yds/100g)
No dye at all, just the natural colors of the alpacas themselves. If you want to know what alpaca really feels like, start here.
Get it at Knit Picks -
Ultra Alpaca by Berroco
Worsted (CYC #4) | 50% Wool, 50% Alpaca (215yds/100g)
Half wool, half alpaca, and super soft. The wool helps it hold its shape, so it's a great pick for sweaters, cardigans and hats.
Get it at Jimmy Beans Wool -
Baby Alpaca Chunky by Cascade
Bulky (CYC #5) | 100% Baby Alpaca (108yds/100g)
100% baby alpaca in a bulky weight, so it knits up fast. A great pick if you can't stand an itchy sweater.
Get it at Jimmy Beans Wool
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