Spun from 100% baby alpaca, one of the finest grades of alpaca fibre from the Alpaca's roaming in the Peruvian ranging from 21-23 microns, this yarn is amazingly super soft and cuddly and a great alternative for those who may be sensitive to wool.
Baby alpaca is a term used for the finest fleece from the softest areas of the alpacas body 80% of the alpaca fiber produced in the world comes from the Andean regions of Peru.
Alpaca fiber is seven times warmer than wool per weight and highly breathable and moisture wicking making it warm in winter and cool in summer. Its long lustrous fibers resist stain, odor and flame and are naturally wrinkle resistant. The strength and length of the fibers make it less prone to pilling and last longer than other fibers like wool and cashmere and the lack of lanolin in the fiber means that alpaca is hypoallergenic and can be worn by those with wool allergies.
Alpacas are members of the camelid family and are closely related to the camel, llama, vicuna and guanaco. They are gentle and inquisitive in nature and communicate most commonly using soft purring or humming sounds. Actual baby alpacas are called ‘Tui’s’ pronounced (too-ey). Peruvian alpacas inhabit the Altiplano plateau of the Andes and live up to 4000 meters above sea level.
Alpaca fiber has an incredibly light ecological footprint. Unlike cashmere goats, alpacas have soft padded feet which do not damage the grasslands and mountains on which they graze nor do they pull the grasses out by the root when eating, thus preventing damage to the landscapes in which they live.
Alpacas are also more efficient than goats. An alpaca drinks less water than a goat and can easily grow enough wool for four to five sweaters a year. It takes four goats the same amount of time to produce sufficient cashmere for a single sweater.
Because alpaca does not contain lanolin, the fibers do not require the same high heat processing that wool must undergo to remove the lanolin and therefore the manufacturing of the fibers has less of an impact on the environment and the light process means the fibers last longer.
- Composition: 100% Baby Alpaca
- Yarn weight: 8ply / DK / Light worsted
- Size: 50g
- Length: 100m
- Recommended knitting needle size: 4mm
- Recommended crochet hook size: 4mm
- Tension/Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows per 10cm
- Care: Hand wash
- Made in: Peru
Please note: It's impossible to guarantee an accurate colour display for every computer monitor so if you're unsure, we recommend you visit our shop to inspect the yarn personally.
