Yarn Review-Alpaca

Ever wonder how a yarn artist chooses what type of yarn to use for a project?  Ever buy a product and think it would have been better if done in a different yarn?  Who  has not walked into the  local yarn store and not felt the need to touch and coddle every skein, ball, and hank of yarn you see?  Fiber content is one of the most important considerations in choosing the best yarn for your project. A yarn's fiber content determines not just its care, but its appearance, its drape, and its feel - commonly referred to by knitters and crocheters as the yarn's 'hand'.

Although all yarns are spun from fiber, the fiber content alone does not determine how the yarn will look. The methods by which fibers are spun into yarn and the treatments the fibers receive also affect the final product. Yarns are available in different thicknesses, commonly referred to as weights or gauges, from very fine (lace weight) to very thick (polar weight). I was gifted with a large box of yarns from the family of a lady I used to set up medications for. Mabel had been knitting and crocheting for most of her life. She had a huge stash of yarn, going to visit her was like going to the yarn store. Mabel's daughter owns and operates on of the yarn stores in my area. She pretty much carries only hand dyed and hand spun yarns, spinning wheels, spinning needles etc. I love to visit the store as she specializes in carrying one of a kind yarns. The box I was given was from Mabel's stash and was loaded with just about every type of yarn in an incredible range of colors. I decided it would be fun to line up all the different types of fibers and knit quick projects such as dish cloths and scarves. What follows is the first set of yarn reviews.


Alpaca, llama, and camel-hair yarns are all spun from the fleeces of animals which are members of the camel family. These fibers are luxurious, soft and warm, and also very lightweight -- their inner cores are actually hollow, which also adds significantly to their insulating properties. Ideal for those with allergies, Alpaca Fleece Processing results in a hypoallergenic yarn, as Alpaca Fiber is free from lanolin.  The softness of 100% alpaca is incredible -- you won't be able to resist putting this yarn next to your cheek. Alpaca yarn is one of my favorite yarns to use for making scarves, baby blankets, and slippers.  As  someone with foot problems, I can tell you there is nothing sweeter than coming home after a long day on my feet and pulling off my Dansko's to slide into a pair of alpaca slipper socks! .
 Ideal for those with allergies, Alpaca Fleece Processing results in a hypoallergenic yarn, as Alpaca Fiber is free from lanolin.   I can honestly say that this yarn is more satisfying to work with than cashmere. If you think of it that way, the $12 you'll pay per skein is a true bargain. The yarn knit up easily. No snags, no unraveling, nothing. The only thing that occasionally broke my rhythm was when I had to stop and pick out a fleck of organic matter or, quite honestly, just to admire the beauty and softness of my swatches. Knitting was much too slippery with Addi Turbos, so I switched to Clover bamboo needles, which grabbed the yarn perfectly.

The yarn washed up beautifully. The curled edges flattened with minimal prodding, and the previously tamed fluff expanded without drastically changing the overall texture of the swatches. There was no fading, or if there were, I couldn't tell since the yarn is light grey. However, the swatches did expand slightly to a gauge of 21 sts per 4 inch square (from a previous 22 sts). Chances are you'll be using this yarn for scarves or other small items where gauge won't be so critical, but do keep this expansion in mind.Because of its lightness and moderate loft, this yarn would have only a medium drape. Still, any type of textured stitches or lacework would show nicely

Stay tuned to join me in more adventures in  the yarn box!