This is The Yarnist. The daily newsletter that makes you love knitting the same way Half Asleep Chris loves incredible cat tech.
Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links. When you buy using them, you support our work here at The Yarnist, as we get a small commission.
Knitspiration
🦙 Alpaca: The best wool alternative?
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
"The Alpacas" by Joseph Wolf (circa 1860s)
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?
Raw alpaca fiber
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
Alpaca does great all on its own or blended with other fibers.
Plus it comes in more than 20 shades of natural color.
Remember how alpacas have to be shorn every spring? I always wondered how you get one to sit still long enough for a haircut. Turns out there's a trick to it...
Deal of the Day
Caydo Electric Yarn Winder (12% Off)
Most alpaca yarn comes in hanks, so it has to be wound before you can knit with it. This electric winder does the cranking for you and holds up to 7oz.
Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs:
Here's some ways to take our relationship to the next level:
☕️ Buy us a coffee (Now accepting PayPal!) Each of our emails is the culmination of many hours of research and lots of cups of coffee. If you want a simple way to show your appreciation you can buy us a coffee here.
🗝️ Become A Yarnist Insider Unlock exclusive bonus content in every issue, listen to long lost interviews, and get early access to new videos. All for under $2 per week! Become a supporter today!
Your Email Preferences:
You're receiving this email because you signed up for the Yarnist, a daily digital newsletter for Fearless Knitters.
If you don't remember doing that, you might have had a little too much wine that night...or it could be Gremlins. Can't stand those guys. Always causing mischief.
Your email address is Reader and your first name is Reader. To update your info click here.
