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Alpaca yarn  

post #1 of 12
8/27/08 at 4:32pm
Thread Starter 
What is Alpaca like to knit clothing with? I want to make DS a pair of pants, not as a diaper cover just regular pants, and I wasn't sure how it would feel as a materiel and if it pills much. I don't want to use a wool blend as DS reacts to wool I am mainly looking at 100% baby alpaca.
post #2 of 12
8/27/08 at 9:22pm
Alpaca is lovely to work with. I don't know much about how it wears, but I do know that it makes me itch like *crazy*! Not sure how common that is. I don't have a problem with wool, only alpaca. Maybe you could knit up a little wristband for your DS to wear to test for sensitivity?

Good luck.

peace, Beth
post #3 of 12
8/27/08 at 9:27pm
Alpaca almost NEVER makes anyone itchy because of the physical structure of the fiber, and lack of lanolin! That's very strange!

It has little spring, and so unless it's blended, it will generally knit into a very drapey fabric. The higher the alpaca content, the more drape it will have. Also, if it's possible to know the animal it came from, the younger the animal it came from it will be softer and more drapey than from an older animal. Suri will have slightly more spring, but not enough to really count for much.

ALSO, you would probably not want 100% as it is much warmer than wool, and 100% is way too much warmth for most people.

(alpaca farmer & spinner extraordinaire!)
post #4 of 12
8/27/08 at 9:44pm
Alpaca is generally pretty soft, but very drapy with little to no bounce back. If you do make the pants, make it with a draw string or enclosed elastic to help it to cinch up and stay up!

It doesn't felt, as far as I know...and as for pilling, it depends on the length of the fiber. Some alpaca yarn has its fibers cut short and with friction (eg. insides of the pant legs), it will pill. You could look for yarns with multiple plies too, to decrease pilling.
post #5 of 12
8/28/08 at 4:58am
Alpaca will felt. I have pictures of a beautiful beaded piece of felt that started life as a baby cardigan
I can see a pair of baby trousers in an alpaca/microfibre/cashmere mix being absolutely gorgeous- 100% baby alpaca on a toddler? Not so much I can see that going a bit wrong, to be honest.
post #6 of 12
8/28/08 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by UnassistedMomma View Post
Alpaca almost NEVER makes anyone itchy because of the physical structure of the fiber, and lack of lanolin! That's very strange!
That is why I was looking at it because it is supposed to be hypoallergenic.

Quote:
ALSO, you would probably not want 100% as it is much warmer than wool, and 100% is way too much warmth for most people.

(alpaca farmer & spinner extraordinaire!)
Oh maybe I will make him a sweater out of it! We live where it is cold and snowy :.
post #7 of 12
8/28/08 at 2:35pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by flapjack View Post
Alpaca will felt. I have pictures of a beautiful beaded piece of felt that started life as a baby cardigan
I can see a pair of baby trousers in an alpaca/microfibre/cashmere mix being absolutely gorgeous- 100% baby alpaca on a toddler? Not so much I can see that going a bit wrong, to be honest.
that is good to know.
post #8 of 12
8/28/08 at 10:54pm
Alpaca is my hands-down-favorite yarn to work with. I have made so many pairs of felted mittens out of alpaca mixed with wool that I have lost count. It is so delicious in your hands, and against your skin. I agree that it is much warmer than wool, but if you get a thin yarn, it will be so drapey that you won't have to worry too much about it being too warm. It will be thin and light, but cozy warm, yet not hot.

Enjoy working with it!!!
post #9 of 12
8/29/08 at 4:14pm
I've decided never to do baby stuff with 100% alpaca again because the little fibers get on the baby's hands an into their mouth. It is exceptionally soft though so I did a sweater and pants for my DD with it, but as a newborn it was a terrible idea because I was constantly pulling out the fibers from her fists. Just my two cents.
post #10 of 12
8/30/08 at 12:47pm
Littleknits.com has some BEAUTIFUL handpainted alpaca on clearance--like over 60% off:

http://www.littleknits.com/products.php?cat=20

I bought some and it's soft and beautiful, and fairly snuggly plied. I would say the gauge is actually a bit smaller than described, more like 20st/4 in. I am very, very tempted to order more!
post #11 of 12
8/30/08 at 3:58pm

Makes me itchy too

I tried making myself a Winter hat with baby alpaca and I had to give it away. It made me feel like I had lice.
It was terrible. Maybe I'm allergic?
post #12 of 12
9/2/08 at 11:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xanandali View Post
I've decided never to do baby stuff with 100% alpaca again because the little fibers get on the baby's hands an into their mouth. It is exceptionally soft though so I did a sweater and pants for my DD with it, but as a newborn it was a terrible idea because I was constantly pulling out the fibers from her fists. Just my two cents.
:
I made a little sweater for dd and was finding fibers hidden in her neck rolls for weeks after! cute sweater for her dollies someday, I guess.
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