Alpaca Wool Yarn

How alpaca differs from sheep's wool

Alpaca fibre is smoother and straighter than wool, with far less crimp. That single structural difference explains almost everything about knitting with it. It is warmer for its weight, because the fibre is partly hollow and traps air. It has a slight sheen and a halo that develops with wear. It drapes heavily and has very little elasticity, so ribbing does not grip and a fitted garment will relax and lengthen. And it contains no lanolin, which is why people with a wool sensitivity often get on with it perfectly well. Baby alpaca, which refers to fibre fineness rather than the animal's age, is the softest grade and the one to choose for anything worn next to the neck.

What to make with alpaca

• Blankets and throws: the drape is a virtue here and the warmth is remarkable.
• Shawls and wraps: alpaca falls beautifully rather than standing away from the body.
• Loose, oversized jumpers: shapes designed with ease, where a little relaxation is not a problem.
• Hats, cowls and mitts: warm out of proportion to how much yarn they use.
• Blends with wool or nylon: the best of both, adding the memory and bounce that pure alpaca lacks.

Tension, drape and choosing a size

Swatch, wash the swatch, and then hang it up with a weight or simply leave it overnight before measuring. This is the step people skip with alpaca and regret, because the fabric grows under its own weight in a way it did not on the needles. If you love a fitted pattern but want it in alpaca, choose a size with less ease, work at a slightly firmer tension than the ball band suggests, and expect the length to settle downwards. For quantity, plan by metres: a shawl from around 400 metres, an adult jumper commonly 900 to 1,800 depending on size and weight, a hat usually one ball. Buy the whole amount in one dye lot – natural undyed alpaca shades vary noticeably between batches.

Alpaca in stitch patterns

The halo softens fine detail. Intricate lace and small cables lose crispness over time as the fibre blooms, so the most successful alpaca projects use bold, simple stitch patterns: stocking stitch, garter, wide ribs, generous cables, big lace repeats. It is a superb yarn for showing off colour, since the sheen gives dyed shades a depth that a matt wool cannot. If you want the drape of alpaca with sharper stitch definition, choose an alpaca-wool or alpaca-silk blend rather than a pure alpaca.

Care, blocking and storage

Block wet: soak in lukewarm water with wool wash, squeeze without wringing, roll in a towel and pat out to shape. Do not stretch it aggressively, because alpaca will happily hold whatever length you give it and will not spring back. Hand wash finished garments unless the yarn is superwash, and dry flat every time; a wet alpaca jumper hung on a line becomes a dress. Store folded rather than hung, with cedar or lavender, since alpaca is as attractive to moths as wool. If it pills at the cuffs and underarms, a fabric comb dealt with gently keeps the garment looking new for years.

Alpaca yarn questions

Is alpaca warmer than wool?

Yes, generally warmer for the same weight, because the fibre traps more air. It is also heavier and less elastic.

Is alpaca yarn itchy?

Much less so than most sheep's wool, and it contains no lanolin. Baby alpaca is the softest grade and the best choice for next-to-skin knits.

Can you machine wash alpaca?

Only if the ball band says superwash. Otherwise hand wash in lukewarm water and dry flat.

What should I not knit in pure alpaca?

Tightly fitted garments and anything relying on ribbing to hold its shape, such as a close-fitting sock cuff. Choose a blend for those.

Where do I browse more?

See wool yarn or fine weights in 4 ply yarn.

Where to go next

Comparable luxury fibres are mohair, cashmere and merino; alpaca is frequently blended with silk. By weight, look at DK, aran and chunky.