Fibers & Yarns
Alpaca yarn
Soft, drapey and slightly inelastic
Specifications
| Count | 4 – 16 Nm |
|---|---|
| Staple length | 8 – 20 cm |
| Elasticity | Low — 10 – 15 % at break |
| Sett (plain weave) | 8 – 12 EPI |
| Shrinkage | 5 – 12 % |
| Dye affinity | Good |
Technical parameters
| Fiber diameter | 18 – 30 µm |
|---|---|
| Strength | Moderate |
| Handling | Soft, heavy, silky |
| Best weaves | Twill, plain, brushed finishes |
| Care | Hand wash cool, dry flat |
Overview
Alpaca is warmer than wool by weight, with a hollow fibre that insulates and a softness that comes from a smoother scale structure. It drapes heavily and has less memory than wool, so it sags in loose weaves and is usually blended for warp use.
Typical figure for this stage: 8 – 20 N tension. Measure, wind, thread and tension the warp. Most weaving problems are warp problems.
Safety notes
Alpaca has little crimp and sheds fibre readily — ventilate and mask when winding. Handle with care if you are sensitive to animal fibre. Because it sags, keep a firm tension so a hanging cloth does not stretch out of shape and drag on the floor.
Using it well
- Use alpaca as weft more than warp until you know how the yarn behaves — it sags.
- Blend with wool for memory, or with silk for drape.
- Alpaca blooms and softens in the wash; do not over-full it or the cloth goes limp.
- It is a very warm fibre, so weave a lighter cloth than you would in wool.
Works with
Practise it in 3D
Run this stage as an interactive simulation, with the same figures this page quotes.
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