Posts Tagged ‘Alpaca Wool’

alpaca wool – YouTube – carding alpaca fiber

Although llamas and alpacas are both members of the camelid family, there are many differences between them. First of all is their appearance. Alpacas are much smaller in stature than llamas. Alpacas have samller, pointed ears, while llamas have long banana shaped ears. Alpacas body shape is different, their backs are slightly rounded and their tails are sloped down from their backs. A llama should have a flat, level back with the tail placed right off the end of the back.

Next is their fiber. Alpacas can be huacaya or suri and the fiber is generally very soft and abundant. Llamas can be light, medium, or heavy wool and they can be silky or suri, some llamas have very high quality soft fiber and others have lower quality coarse fiber.

They are used for very different things. Llamas are gentle animals and easy to train. They can be stand-offish, but with a little training they are truly wonderful animals. They can be used for packing, for livestock guardians for sheep and goats (llamas have been known to kill coyotes when necessary), they make good companions for other herd animals (like horses, etc.), and they can be taught to do obstacle courses, llama limbo, etc. They make excellent packers in delicate wilderness areas because they have padded feet that do very little damage to the surroundings.

Alpacas are mainly used for fiber and for showing. They are generally not quite as easy to train as llamas and tend to be more skittish.

Llamas and alpacas can crossbreed and the result is called a "huarizo". Crossing them is generally frowned on by responsible llama and alpaca breeders, since the offspring produced does not improve on either animal's desirable characteristics.

More and more people are enjoying the luxurious feel of alpaca sweaters, blankets, coats, and other garments. But what makes alpaca garments so special and so desired? Well, it all starts with the animal itself, a noble yet friendly creature that is thankfully enjoying a renaissance around the world.

If you've ever seen an alpaca up close, you'll likely consider them part of the llama or camel species. Actually, they are distant family members of both. They look more like llamas but have many camel characteristics. Their running and sitting styles are very similar to camels and just like camels, alpacas consume only small amounts of water.

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These beautiful animals are desired for their soft yet very durable fleece, which is shorn annually. Yet their carbon footprint is another reason they are becoming so popular to raise. They eat grass, but unlike other livestock, they don't rip out the roots, so the grass regenerates.

Further, alpacas eat less per pound than similar species and their waste product is sought after as a natural, low odor fertilizer. Their gentle, playful demeanor makes them ideal for raising herds, one reason why alpaca farms have become more prominent all over the world.

Alpaca Sweaters

The most common garments made from alpacas are sweaters. With nominal care, they will literally last a lifetime. The fiber used to make these sweaters is processed completely naturally, with no animals harmed. The end product is warmer than wool, pleasantly smooth to the touch, and naturally hypoallergenic.

Over the past 25 years, more and more alpaca garments have come into prominence. Shawls, scarves, gloves, and even slippers are now quite common. Alpaca socks are well noted for their warmth, breatheability, and natural odor prevention properties.

Durability A Plus

Much like cashmere, alpaca sweaters are known for their years of durability. Perhaps this is due to alpacas themselves being quite sturdy. Their native habitat, in mountainous Peru, is generally harsh. These animals have thrived quite well in spite of difficult climate and terrain, and are adaptable to other conditions as well.

Although there is no concrete proof, alpacas are thought to be the oldest surviving livestock species on the planet. And so, durability appears to be a common theme, from the animals themselves to the products produced from their fleece.

Summary

A perfect way to learn more about alpacas and the clothing produced from their fleece is to visit an alpaca farm. One or more are located in just about every state in the U.S. Not only will you gain a better appreciation for these wonderful animals, you may just add to your wardrobe too!

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More and more people are learning about the benefits of owning an alpaca garment, whether it's a luxurious alpaca wool sweater or any of the many other clothing items made from the fleece of these wonderful animals. You don't own an alpaca clothing item yet? See what you've been missing by visiting us at: http://www.alpacaclothingandgifts.com.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Hofman

alpaca wool – Alpaca Clothing – High Tech Fabrics From a Low Tech Animal

The Alpaca Advantage

Even before you slide your fingertips down the sleeve of an alpaca sweater, or slip your toes into a pair of sumptuous alpaca socks, you'll find that alpaca clothing has some unique characteristics - important features which explain why alpaca is one of the most highly prized of all natural fibers.

Naturally vibrant colors

Alpaca fiber comes in 22 Read more...

alpaca wool – Latest alpaca wool news – Endless Pleats and Late Nights « Hot-flashed Funk

If you've been keeping up with my blog posts lately you'll know I've come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I've got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em...

Endless Pleats and Late Nights « Hot-flashed Funk

I cast on in a 50% wool, 50% Alpaca yarn blend but now I'm pretty sure that I'm Read more...

alpaca wool – How do you clean raw alpaca wool without accidentally felting it?

How do you clean raw alpaca wool without accidentally felting it?

I got a bag of alpaca wool from a friend, fresh from the farm, that I plan to felt. It hasn't been cleaned though, and I'm concerned about it felting while I clean it. How should I clean it?

alpaca wool – Latest alpaca wool news – cindyknits: Wool,Mohair & Alpaca

Back with more news for you today. It's amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were...

cindyknits: Wool,Mohair & Alpaca

Wool,Mohair & Alpaca. I never tire of spinning ,plying and creating a skein of yarn! It's wonderful to twist the skein and observe Read more...

alpaca wool – What type animal hair can be turned into yarn?

What type animal hair can be turned into yarn?

Haha! I loves the yarn, natural animal fibers especially. The list is amazingly long! Some people even make yarn out of fur from big shedding dogs, like newfies and huskies.

Many, more common animal fibers come from alpaca, llama, sheep, goat (cashmir, pashmina, and mohair!), rabbits (angora) and yaks. Musk oxes also have Read more...

alpaca fur – Latest alpaca fur news – Products hurry spring fever

How about these right... I think you'll find the following nuggets of wisdom particularly insightful. Leave your comments below. Check out the second one in particular...

Products hurry spring fever

Among these is alpaca wool, which can be spun as soft and silky as cashmere, and is touted by industry organization Alpaca Canada as being warmer and ...   Read More... Read more...

alpaca socks – Latest alpaca socks news – Chocolate River Alpacas & Musing of Everyday Life: 2010 Knit and …

How about these right... I think you'll find the following nuggets of wisdom particularly insightful. Leave your comments below. Check out the second one in particular...

Chocolate River Alpacas & Musing of Everyday Life: 2010 Knit and ...

Alpaca socks and yarn were the most popular. Once you put on a pair of Alpaca socks you don't want to take them off. In Read more...

alpaca fur – Print Story: Toy makers see joy in tech, green, classic in 2010 – Yahoo! News

Print Story: Toy makers see joy in tech, green, classic in 2010 - Yahoo! News

NEW YORK (Reuters) –
Toy makers from industry goliath Mattel Inc (MAT.O) to smaller names such as MEGA Brands (MB.TO) and Techno Source displayed their top playthings for 2010, which many bet will be a good year for toys.

It was all work and no play for the Who's Who of the toy industry Read more...

alpaca sweater – Latest alpaca sweater news – Tracy Reese Nails Down Versatility, Yeohlee Circles Around Shape

Back with more news for you today. It's amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were...

Tracy Reese Nails Down Versatility, Yeohlee Circles Around Shape

Reese addressed the season's traits with edgy outerwear in faux leather, fur and alpaca over soft dresses. Floral Read more...

alpaca sweater – Print Story: The Perils of ‘Going Native’ – Yahoo! News

Print Story: The Perils of 'Going Native' - Yahoo! News

Several years ago, while riding my bicycle down Burma's Irrawaddy valley, I somehow managed to destroy my khaki trousers. These were the only pair of pants I had with me at the time, so I stopped off in a town called Pakkoku and — faced with no other realistic clothing options — purchased a long, cotton Read more...

alpaca sweater – How To Create A Halloween Costume – free article courtesy of ArticleCity.com

How To Create A Halloween Costume
 by: Brian Johnson

You don’t have to be a tailor or seamstress to create a Halloween costume. In fact, you don’t even have to own a needle or thread. All you need is some creativity (or a friend who’s creative), a closet with some clothes, and a nearby thrift shop.

Don’t take the lazy way out by tossing a sheet Read more...

alpaca socks – Latest alpaca socks news – Not hibernating – just busy! — ysolda

Hey Readers! I've been comin across some crazy stuff the past few days from a few different blogs around the web which I just had to share with you. Check em out below...

Not hibernating – just busy! — ysolda

The socks by the way, are from Iknit day – I bought alpaca socks at a knitting event, which feels a little wrong, but they're so cosy I don't Read more...

alpaca socks – Latest alpaca socks news – Alpaca socks for Laurie

If you've been keeping up with my blog posts lately you'll know I've come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I've got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em...

Alpaca socks for Laurie

milele posted a photo: Alpaca socks for Laurie. Finished socks for Laurie -- pattern from personal footprints for insouciant Read more...

alpaca socks – Latest alpaca socks news – socks-wills alpaca socks

If you've been keeping up with my blog posts lately you'll know I've come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I've got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em...

socks-wills alpaca socks

kkkataish posted a photo: socks-wills alpaca socks.

KNIT-O-MATIC: SALE - Estelle Arequipa Alpaca Sock Yarn

SALE - Estelle Read more...