Learn About Alpaca
Alpaca Wool: What It Is, How It Compares, and Why Fine Alpaca Doesn't Itch
Alpaca wool is the fleece of the alpaca, a South American cousin of the llama. It's finer than most sheep's wool, it carries no lanolin, and the best grades feel close to cashmere while wearing far longer. Most of what you'll buy comes from Huacaya alpacas raised in the Peruvian Andes.
Where alpaca wool comes from
Alpacas come in two breeds, and you'll feel the difference. Huacaya alpacas grow a dense, crimpy fleece that looks a lot like a sheep's. That crimp gives the yarn its spring, so Huacaya goes into almost every alpaca sweater, sock and hat you'll find. Suri alpacas grow long, silky locks with no crimp. Suri makes up less than 10% of the alpaca population and mostly goes into drapey wovens and luxury suiting.
Farmers shear alpacas once a year, usually before the warm season. The fleece gets sorted by hand into grades by fineness, which is where the names on a label come from.
Alpaca grades, in microns
A micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter. Fiber people measure fineness in microns because the number predicts how a yarn will feel against your skin. The Alpaca Owners Association publishes the U.S. standard; the trade names you see on labels map onto it like this:
| Trade name | Micron range | What you'll find it in |
|---|---|---|
| Royal alpaca | 17 to 19.9 | The softest knits and scarves; rare and priced to match |
| Baby alpaca | 20 to 22.9 | Next-to-skin sweaters, scarves, baby goods |
| Superfine alpaca | 23 to 25.9 | Sweaters, hats, throws |
| Huarizo | 26 to 28.9 | Heavier knits, outerwear, blankets |
| Coarse | 29 and up | Rugs, felt, industrial uses |
"Baby alpaca" describes the grade, not the animal's age. It comes from adult alpacas whose fleece measures in the baby range. Fiber thickens as an alpaca ages, so younger animals tend to yield more of it.
Fiber fineness, in microns (lower is softer)
Is alpaca wool itchy?
Fine alpaca isn't itchy for most people, because almost none of its fibers are thick enough to prickle. Itch from wool is mechanical. A fiber thicker than about 30 microns is too stiff to bend when its tip touches your skin, so it pokes instead. The wool trade measures this as "prickle factor," the share of fibers over 30 microns in a yarn. Above about 5%, most people start to feel it.
Baby alpaca averages 20 to 22.9 microns, well under that line. Alpaca also carries no lanolin, the grease in sheep's wool that bothers sensitive skin.
Alpaca can itch, and the forums are full of people saying so. Three things cause it:
- Coarser grades. "Alpaca" on a label can mean huarizo or coarse fleece, well past 30 microns.
- Wool blends. Alpaca mixed with ordinary sheep's wool inherits the wool's prickle.
- Brushed, "halo" finishes. Brushed alpaca has loose fibers on the surface that can tickle for the first few wears, then settle.
If you react to wool, look for 100% baby alpaca on the Fabric Content line. Every Sun Valley Alpaca Co. product page lists it.
Is alpaca warmer than wool?
Gram for gram, alpaca is usually warmer than sheep's wool. The fiber's natural crimp and loft trap still air, and because alpaca takes on so little moisture, it keeps that insulation when the air turns damp. How thick the knit is still matters, so a heavy wool fisherman's sweater will beat a fine-gauge alpaca crew in deep cold.
Alpaca stays warm when damp, breathes, and doesn't hold odor, so you'll wear a sweater for days between washes.
Alpaca vs. merino
Choose alpaca for softness, warmth, dryness and durability. Choose merino for stretch and a lower price. Both are fine fibers; they just behave differently.
| Alpaca (baby grade) | Merino | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fineness | 20 to 22.9 microns | About 17 to 24 microns | Even |
| Lanolin | None | Contains lanolin (removed in processing, traces can remain) | Alpaca |
| Water retention | About 8% of its weight, so it dries fast and stays light | Up to about 30% of its weight | Alpaca |
| Stretch and recovery | Less elastic; can grow if hung | Springs back | Merino |
| Pilling | Long fibers resist pilling | Pills more with friction | Alpaca |
| Odor | Resists odor | Resists odor | Even |
| Feel | Silky, a little drapey | Springy, matte | Your call |
| Typical sweater price | $120 to $330 | $80 to $150 | Merino |
Merino's stretch suits close-fitting base layers. Alpaca suits the sweater, scarf or socks you'll wear every day for ten years, and it won't sit heavy and damp when you come in from the rain.
Alpaca vs. sheep's wool
Alpaca is finer, softer and lanolin-free; ordinary sheep's wool is cheaper, more elastic and easier to care for. Sheep's wool spans a huge range, from about 10 microns to over 80 depending on the breed, and the everyday wool in most sweaters sits around 25 to 40. Alpaca also skips the harsh chemical scouring sheep's wool needs to strip its grease.
Alpaca vs. cashmere
Cashmere is a touch softer out of the box. Alpaca is warmer, far more pill-resistant and lasts years longer. Cashmere's short fibers work loose at friction points; alpaca's long fibers stay anchored in the yarn.
Read the full comparison: Alpaca vs. Cashmere: Which Is Right for You?
Is alpaca hypoallergenic?
Alpaca is lanolin-free, so people who react to wool often wear it with no trouble. Lanolin is the most common culprit in "wool allergy." Alpaca isn't allergen-free for everyone, though; dyes and blended fibers can still bother sensitive skin. Undyed, 100% alpaca is the safest bet.
Does alpaca wool shrink?
Alpaca shrinks and felts if you wash it hot or agitate it. Wash cold by hand, press the water out without wringing, and dry flat.
Full routines: How to Wash & Care for Alpaca Sweaters · How to Wash an Alpaca Blanket
Is alpaca wool ethical?
Shearing doesn't harm the animal; alpacas need it to stay healthy in the heat. We don't sell fur from alpacas killed for their pelts. Our Friendly Alpaca Fur page explains where our fur products come from.
How to read an alpaca label
Check the Fabric Content line first, and ignore the product name. Retailers put "alpaca" in a name because shoppers want it. U.S. advertising rules say a fiber named in a product's name should be the largest share of the item, and it's worth checking the label to be sure.
Sun Valley Alpaca Co. is one of three U.S. companies licensed by the International Alpaca Association. Our products carry an IAA hangtag that certifies the fiber:
100% baby alpaca, 21 to 22.5 microns.
100% superfine alpaca, 23 to 26.5 microns.
A blend with at least 70% alpaca; the other fibers are named on the label.
Read more about our Pure Alpaca Guarantee.
Shop by fiber
Alpaca wool FAQ
Does baby alpaca come from baby alpacas?
No. "Baby alpaca" names a fineness grade, 20 to 22.9 microns, sheared from adult animals.
Does alpaca pill?
Less than cashmere or merino. Its long fibers stay anchored, so you'll see light pilling only at friction points like underarms. A cashmere comb lifts it off.
Can you wear alpaca in warm weather?
Yes, in lightweight knits. Alpaca breathes and wicks, so a fine-gauge alpaca tee or wrap works on cool summer evenings.
Is alpaca stronger than wool?
Alpaca fiber holds up well to wear and resists pilling; a well-kept sweater lasts a decade or more.
Why is alpaca expensive?
One shearing yields about 5 to 10 pounds of fleece per alpaca, once a year, and only part of that grades fine enough for next-to-skin knits.
What's the difference between alpaca and llama wool?
Llama fleece runs coarser, with more guard hair, so it goes into rugs and outerwear. Alpaca was bred for fiber; llamas were bred to carry loads.