Alpaca Wool

Aug 25, 2022

By Birds of Fabriclore

What is Alpaca Wool?

The fibers that occur naturally on alpacas are the source of the wool that is known as alpaca wool. Alpaca wool is a form of wool.
Camelids are the collective name for these animals because of their resemblance to camels; alpacas are indigenous to South American countries.
The Huacaya alpaca and the Suri alpaca are the two kinds that are available of this animal that has four legs.
The different kinds of wool that can come from these different kinds of alpacas are highly sought after for many different reasons.
The vast majority of alpacas are of the Huacaya subspecies, and the huacaya fiber has a springy texture with a natural crimp to it. Because of the way the fiber is textured, it has a naturally stretchy quality, which makes it an excellent choice for knitwear.
The Suri alpaca is characterized by having long, silky hair that is tangled up in a dreadlock-like fashion. Due to the absence of crimp in its fabric, suri alpaca is a superior choice for use in weaving.
Alpacas of the Suri breed are more difficult to find than those of the Huacaya kind since, in Incan times, the Suri breed was reserved for nobility.

The indigenous people of the Andean highlands in Bolivia and Peru, where the alpaca's progenitor, the vicuna, was originally tamed, are credited with inventing the use of alpaca fiber.
Following the selective breeding of the vicuna in the Andes, the Inca people produced the alpaca as an essential component of their continued existence.
The animals were kept not just for their fur but also for their flesh when they grew up.
Members of the royal family were the only ones who could wear clothes made from alpaca fiber.
After the Spanish conquistadors entered the region and decided that the Merino sheep were of more value, a large number of the alpacas were wiped off. However, in the 1800s, the English rediscovered the alpaca fiber, which led to a surge in demand for the product.
For the purpose of harvesting their fiber, alpacas are kept as livestock in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Despite this, alpaca fiber from Peru remains the most sought-after on the market today.

Texture	Although it is equally as warm as sheep's wool, alpaca fiber has a softer, silkier texture.
Hypoallergenic	Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin, which is a natural wax generated by certain wool-producing animals that humans might be sensitive to, and consequently, it is inherently hypoallergenic.
Water Repellent	Due to its very low water retention rate, alpaca fiber is inherently resistant to moisture.

Clothing	Sweaters, Cardigans, Socks, etc.
Home Furnishing	Bedsheets, blankets, mats, etc.
Accessories	Mittens, gloves, hiking socks, fleeces, etc.

It is not recommended to wash alpaca wool in a machine since doing so may cause the wool to get ruined.
Garments made of alpaca must be cleaned by hand at all times. In a sink, soak your alpaca clothing in a wool soap that is on the gentle side.
After the item has been allowed to soak, give it a little agitation and then rinse it while being careful to maintain its weight so that it does not expand.
Squeeze out the excess water, but don't wring it out, as this can cause it to lose its form.
Place the garment in a flat position to dry, being careful to reshape it once it has dried.
Place the iron on the wool setting.