Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alpaca?
Alpaca is a natural fiber obtained from Alpaca animals. Each year the Alpacas are shorn without harm, and the fleece is used to make yarns suitable for knitting and weaving. Alpaca is a luxury fiber comparable in quality to cashmere. Unlike wool, Alpaca does not have guard hairs or lanolin, both of which can cause the 'itchiness' of other fibers. The luxury products made from Alpaca are durable and long lasting with wonderful thermal properties.

What types of yarn are there?
The most usual unblended Alpaca yarns, are available in 2/16 or Lace Weight, 3/10 or Sport Weight, Worsted & DK.
2/16 or Lace Weight is suitable for very fine knits or weaving and is a 2 ply yarn.
3/10 or Sport Weight is used for lighter knitted products and is a 3 ply yarn.
Worsted is commonly used for hand knitting and is a 4 ply yarn.
DK weight is popular in Europe and is being used more frequently in the US and is also a 4 ply yarn.

Can I buy blended Alpaca yarn?
Alpaca can be blended with silk, cotton, acrylics and wool. It can be blended with Nylon to make boucle yarn for example. You would usually only blend Alpaca with a complementary fiber to retain the exceptional softness of the Alpaca.

What qualities of Alpaca are there?
The finest quality Alpaca is called 'Royal Baby' and is of a very fine and soft nature. The most widely used high quality is 'Baby Alpaca' and like Royal Baby can be worn next to the skin. Superfine is a good high end yarn and can be used to make fine quality garments. There are other qualities that are coarser in nature and can be used to make blankets and felt products.