Advantages of Alpaca Wool for knitwear

Imagine yarn so soft it feels like knitting with clouds, yet three times warmer than merino wool. That’s the magic of alpaca fiber—nature’s best-kept secret for any knitwear supplier who demands luxury and performance in every stitch.

Called “The fiber of the gods“, Alpaca yarn was used to weave the clothing of the Inca royalty. The animals are shorn once a year in spring. Typically, no extensive pre-sorting or combining is required, though parts of the guard hair are removed during the carding process—one of the advantages of Alpaca wool for knitwear.

You should also be aware that there are two types of breeds: Suri alpaca with a very long dreadlock kind of coat that can be kept at lower altitudes and warmer climates. And the more common Huacaya alpaca (with shorter hair and a poodle-like appearance) you will see all across the Altiplano at altitudes of 4,000 meters and above.

The Alpaca Advantage Framework

Use this 3-step system to choose perfect alpaca yarn:

Micron Math

• Baby Alpaca (18-22µ): Everyday luxury

• Royal Alpaca (15-18µ): Special occasion

• Superfine (22-24µ): Durable outerwear

Ply Prediction

• Fingering: 4-ply for detailed colorwork

• Worsted: 3-ply for quick sweaters

• Bulky: 2-ply for instant-gratitude scarves

  
  

Blend Balance

• 80/20 Alpaca/Silk: Lace shawls

• 70/30 Alpaca/Merino: Structured cardigans

• 100% Alpaca: Cloud-soft accessories

Knitting with Alpaca: Pro Techniques

Needle Nirvana

Use bamboo or coated needles, alpaca’s low friction causes 23% less hand fatigue during marathon knitting sessions.

Blocking Mastery

For lace patterns: Pin aggressively during blocking. Alpaca grows 15% more than wool when wet but holds shape better once dry.

Yarn Lifehack

Store alpaca in cotton bags with cedar sachets, moths find it 60% less appealing than sheep’s wool.

Alpaca yarn is incredibly strong

One quite surprising fact about alpaca yarn is its sturdiness. In fact, you will read about it around every corner. It is even often repeated that it is 7 times stronger than sheep wool, usually followed by some archeological evidence of 2,000-year-old fabric found in Peruvian tombs.

It is important to understand that the durability of knitting yarn is by and large determined by the spinning, the crimp, and the staple length. And here it has to be said that sheep wool is quite a bit more versatile.

Still, alpaca has a really nice staple length of 3-7 inches and allows for spinning lovely light DK and worsted yarn and also some higher twist socks and even lace yarns.

There are Over 22 natural colors

One of the main advantages of alpaca yarn is the wide array of natural colors and shades. You can find anything from a pure, almost white, cream color up to a dark chestnut kind of dark brown, grey, and even black. So if you love undyed natural yarns, then you probably won’t find a more suitable fiber.

Knitting qualities

Alpaca shows a moderately good stitch definition. It’s probably not the best idea for intense knitting stitch patterns that benefit from crisp stitches. Voluminous stitches, like brioche stitch, can be a fabulous and very warm option

Contact us if you want to obtain alpaca knitwear! We have the certification of Fair Trade Good Practices in Peru and we can help you with any doubt.