Fiber Information

White Dogs Alpacas' Suri Fiber

 Alpaca fiber is 4 times warmer than sheep's wool and as soft as cashmere.  It is very lightweight and “breathes.”  That is why we can wear alpaca sweaters in the spring and summer.   Here in the Pacific Northwest, we can wear it all year long.  Some of our best selling items from the farm co-op  are summer weight socks and heavy duty winter socks for skiers and snowboarders.

The huacaya(teddy-bear) alpaca fiber is hollow in the center of the hair shaft, making it very lightweight and very insulating.  The Suri(dread-locks) alpaca fiber is not hollow, but heavier and drapes like silk.  Both breeds can breed together, but this is not standard practice in North America.  When the two breeds are crossed, they are called “chilis.”  If a llama crosses with an alpaca, it is called a “huarizo.”  By keeping the breeds separate, the fiber is more predictable and we know exactly what to do with it.  Sometimes, we intentionally mix the fibers, like in the Silky Alpaca yarn and the Pendleton Alpaca blankets….but in a planned out process to maximize the best properties of each type of fleece.