FIBER PAGE

QUICK FACTS ABOUT FIBER

Alpaca comes in two distinct phenotypes.  Huacaya is crimpy, warm, and extremely soft, and Suri, which has long pencil-like locks and is silky and lustrous.

Considered a luxury fiber, alpaca is best known for its luxurious, soft and sensual feel, is warmer, stronger and more resilient than wool, contains no lanolin, is readily combined with other natural fibers, and is hypoallergenic.

It comes in a full spectrum of natural colors ranging from white to caramel, red-brown to coffee, rose to grey, and jet black.  22 natural colors have been identified.

Alpaca is easily dyed, especially the white, but beige, fawn, and grey can also be over-dyed for some great color outcomes.

Alpaca is said to be more difficult to spin than wool because of its slippery nature.  However, once you master the technique, the possibilities are endless.  Huacaya and Suri require different preparation techniques prior to spinning.  Huacaya should be carded utilizing hand carders or a drum carder.  Suri is better combed and then spun.  Whether hand-spun or machine spun, both can be made into the finest of yarns, from gossamer to lace weight, to a sport or bulky weight.  Suri is used most often in a finer weight to create beautiful lacy scarves and shawls. 

Alpaca also felts easily utilizing two different methods:  Felting the raw fleece into hats, purses, or large widths which can then be cut and sewn to make vests and jackets; or begin by first knitting a garment and finish by machine felting.

Because of its versatility and wonderful hand and draping qualities, it easily lends itself to different fiber preparations, spinning styles, construction techniques and garment types.

Whether you knit, crochet, felt, weave, spin, etc, Alpaca is today’s luxury fiber with endless possibilities, your imagination the only limitation.

FIBER ARTS

Please check back soon to see Fiber Arts information.