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Alpacas are valued for their hair-like fleece fiber, different from the woolen fibers obtained from sheep. There are two types of alpacas: the Huacaya and Suri and the fiber they produce has slightly different properties. Most alpaca fleece is from Huacaya, which have a shorter, denser, fuzzy, tight-crimp fleece, and the fiber is similar to soft Merino sheep (95% of all alpaca fleece). Suri alpacas have a mop-like, straight, long fleece that hangs down off their back and stomach, and the fiber is similar to fine Angora. Alpaca fleece comes in eighteen official natural colors with 100s of shade variations.
Alpaca fiber properties:
- Is lighter than wool as alpaca fibers are hollow. This also allows for greater thermal capacity.
- Has the same softness comfort as wool at higher micron levels.
- Less pilling than wool, but fuzzier and sheds more than wool.
- Lower resistance to compression than wool.
- Similar to wool in absorbency.
- Can wick away moisture when knitted appropriately.
Alpaca fiber properties:
- Is lighter than wool as alpaca fibers are hollow. This also allows for greater thermal capacity.
- Has the same softness comfort as wool at higher micron levels.
- Less pilling than wool, but fuzzier and sheds more than wool.
- Lower resistance to compression than wool.
- Similar to wool in absorbency.
- Can wick away moisture when knitted appropriately.
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