How to Choose, Process, and Spin Alpaca Fiber from Raw
Several years ago, I was gifted a few large bags of shorn Alpaca Fleece. It had been in a garage or shed for an extended period of time, but thankfully, the fiber itself was dry and in relatively good shape.
I’ve spun raw Alpaca several times before, so I was pleasantly surprised by how clean this haul was, especially for free! After skirting (laying out the fiber one bag at a time and examining it to remove any unusable bits: such as large bits of vegetable matter, straw, poo, wiry over-grown guard hair-like pieces…) I divided it into piles of the best to the worst pieces.
Alpaca does not have to be washed before spinning, but it should be skirted first to make the spinning process smoother and more enjoyable. This is also good practice so that you can assess just what you have: how much is worthy of spinning, how much is potentially salvageable, and what is for the garden.
My Experience Spinning Raw Alpaca Fleece into Yarn
In this brief video, I cover the key points of my experience working with raw alpaca fleece: what to look for when choosing one, how to wash it if needed, and how I like to spin it. I’m currently spinning three large bobbins of this fiber. I’ll do a follow-up video later about how I ply the fiber into yarn.
Why I don’t (usually) wash my raw alpaca fiber before spinning it
Raw Alpaca fiber differs from sheep wool as it isn’t at all greasy. Lanolin is a greasy substance in sheep wool that most people want to be washed out before spinning. Some people like to spin in the grease and spin unwashed sheep wool, but the general consensus is to wash sheep wool before spinning it.
Raw Alpaca fleece can be dusty, dirty, and even muddy, but luckily not greasy. It also contains VM (vegetable matter), which, in a good fleece, is easy to pick out either by combs, hackles, or drum carder. Larger pieces can be flicked out while spinning (or often flick out on their own from the manner of spinning).
Extremely muddy, heavily soaked with urine or poo, or more VM that can be easily picked out should be discarded. Alpaca fleece is biodegradable and can even be used as compost or crop cover in the garden.
What I use for washing Alpaca if it needs it
I will only wash alpaca fiber if it is considerably dirty, such as muddy or “baked in” dusty. First, I will separate the good-quality fiber from the really dirty fibers. If I think the dirty portions are usable, I will wash them; if they are not, they get discarded.
Alpaca doesn’t need a heavy scouring detergent—not even Blue Dawn dish detergent. I use baby shampoo, which I buy at the Dollar Store. Usually, a soak or two in hot water and baby shampoo is all it needs. Rinse in between with clear water to determine how clean the fiber is. Let it sit in clear water, and if the water remains clear, then your fiber is relatively clean and ready to spin.
I usually lay out my fiber to dry on racks. I set the racks up outside in the summer when it’s sunny and hot; otherwise, I have them set up in my basement, where I could use a heating dish and fans if necessary.
How I like to spin it
You can easily spin raw Alpaca fleece from the tip to the end of a chunk of fiber—like breaking off a piece of a batt to spin. There probably is a “proper” way to spin it this way, but honestly, I line up the fibers as best as possible and don’t pay much attention to which end is the tip and which end is the shorn-off one.
My favorite way to spin it is from the fold. I’ll take a chunk of the raw fiber, line up the fiber as best as possible, and then fold it over my finger. Then, I pinch at the folded-over area and spin from there. This method feels tidy to me, and the singles from this non-processed fiber come out the smoothest this way.
If you are spinning unwashed alpaca fiber, be prepared to sweep the floor and clean your wheel or e-spinner afterward. Dust and dirt will fly out during the spinning process, and your fingers may become dusty.
What to look for when buying a raw alpaca fleece
Open the bag and examine the fleece as best as possible. Does it appear clean? Do you see lots of dirt, VM, or second cuts? Chances are you should pass on a really dirty fleece, especially if you see lots of insects. Most producers would never sell a fleece this dirty; if they did, it would be reflected in the price. This scenario is most often possible with gifted fleeces.
If you are up to the challenge, by all means, process an over-looked (AKA filthy) fleece. I’ve certainly done it—both alpaca and sheep! Just be prepared for a lot of work and that you may not get the best return on investment, as much of it may be unusable.
You may not get as lucky as I did with this free fleece haul, but free is always tempting for me, no matter how dirty. It’s not just about price but the desire to save the fiber rather than discarding it. Plus, there is so much to learn in a not-so-ideal fleece.
Give Raw Alpaca Fiber a Try
Once you choose your ideal bag of alpaca fiber, enjoy the journey of spinning it! Alpaca is considered a luxury fiber, and it is very warm and soft to the touch. Over the years, I’ve spun many different colors of raw alpaca fiber. It is a very user-friendly fiber that is easier to process than sheep wool, considering it does not contain lanolin and thus does not need to be washed (or at least only gently washed). You can start spinning immediately, especially if you purchase a skirted fleece.
One thing to note is that it tends not to be as springy as sheep wool, but a knitted comparison of different animal fibers is a post for another day. 🙂
Until next time,
Be sure to check out my YouTube Channel and the Fiber Arts/Dyeing/Spinning section of the blog. 🙂