Are you a fan of knitting? Want to try another material other than sheep's wool or acrylic yarn? Alpaca yarn is a good option to consider!

Once you start knitting with alpaca yarn you'll find it a real treat. The yarn is amazingly soft to the touch but also remarkably durable. The softness of the fibres makes it very appealing to people who find wool too scratchy, and because it doesn't contain lanolin, those who can't wear wool can wear alpaca. Still not convinced? Here are some great reasons for you to try knitting with this yarn.

Durable

Alpaca yarn has proven to be seven times stronger than sheep wool. In fact, it's considered the most durable fibre of any mammal in existence. This means that alpaca yarn lasts longer than many other luxury fibres such as wools, cashmere and silk. Its durability makes sense if we start to think that the alpaca has evolved to live in the harsh environment of the South American Andes.

Garments knitted with the Inca alpaca yarn have been uncovered in almost perfect condition despite having lain dormant for many hundreds of years. With proper care, any garment knitted with alpaca yarn can last for many years.

Great Insulator

When it comes to insulation, alpaca yarn takes the gold medal. Laboratory testing has shown alpaca wool to be three times warmer than sheep's wool. Alpaca years have tiny hollow cores that contain microscopic air pockets, much like polar bears. it's these air pockets that provide excellent insulation by holding in your body heat, thus keeping you warm during cold winters. These same air pockets that keep you warm in the winter will also provide outstanding breathability to the garment during the summer, thus keeping you cool.

Colourful

When shopping for alpaca yarn online, you'll find them in many different colours to create your projects. Aside from the 22 natural colours the yarm comes in, ranging from white to cream to grey to brown and black, these shades can be mixed to create new tints or can be dyed easily in a wide-ranging selection of colours.

Lightweight

If you tough that such durability and strength would come at a price in the form of weight, you were wrong. The same microscopic air pockets in the fibre that enable such great insulation and breathability also reduce the overall weight of the yarn. And this minimal weight makes the fibre very versatile for a range of knitting projects.

Soft

Due to the soft texture, silk look and lightness of the alpaca yarn, it tends to be mistaken for cashmere. These qualities are due to the alpaca fibre having a smoother scale surface than sheep's wool.

Hypoallergenic

Unlike sheep's wool, alpaca yarn doesn't contain lanolin, which is a natural grease that sheep produce to keep their fleece waterproof. Some people have an allergic reaction to lanolin. The lack of lanolin in alpaca wool makes it safer to wear for those with skin allergies. Furthermore, the softness of the fibres makes it perfect for those with sensitive skin and that generally have trouble wearing a garment made from sheep wool.

Things to Know When Knitting With Alpaca Wool


As you can see, alpaca yarn is perfectly suitable for knitting. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this fibre for your needing projects.

Alpaca yarn has a smooth fibre, so it can be a little slippery to knit with when using some types of needles. Although you can knit with needles of any kind of material, bamboo and wood will help prevent the alpaca wool from slipping off.

The alpaca wool needs to be knitted a little loose, so it's able to move around a bit. If knitted too tight, it will get stiff. Depending on the project you're working on, you can use different needle sizes. Note that alpaca wool isn't as elastic as some other types of wool, like merino, so you won't want to use needles that are too big for the yarn!

Due to the lightweight of the yarn, you'll need to keep a close eye on the gauge. For tightly knitted garments like hats and mittens, consider using a smaller stitch, knit tighter and have more stitches per centimetre. For drapey items you'll need to find the perfect gauge that gives the wool room to move freely, meaning you'll have to lower the number of stitches per centimetre.
Some knitters, especially beginners, will say that alpaca wool is hard to knit with. However, there are some tricks that can make alpaca wool perfectly usable for every knitter. One of them is using bamboo or wooden needles. These needles are much easier to work with, especially if you're a beginner. They generally offer more surface drag and therefore a better grip. Considering the fact that alpaca wool is easier to manage using bamboo or wooden needles, this will be a benefit.

You'll find alpaca yarn online in two different types: huacayna and suri alpaca wool. Huacayna wool is more common to find and it is a regular, dense, soft wool. Suri alpaca wool is more exclusive and is also smoother, silkier, shinier and drapier.

As you can see, alpaca wool is definitely worth a shot if you are looking to bring your knitting to the next level.