FIBER FAQS
So, just what do we do with all that alpaca fiber? How do we make decisions in our breeding program with regard to fleece types, etc., and how do we determine what kind of end product to make out of our fiber? Well, the good news is that all types of alpaca fleece have some type of use, even the dirty, short, coarse fleece from certain parts of the alpaca. Yes, that nasty stuff from the lower legs, around the back end of the alpaca, and belly can be used for mulch in your garden. It is an excellent way to retain water in your soil! These are all the little pieces that are too dirty and small to be used in end product production.
HUACAYA FLEECE CRIMP AND SURI FIBER
First, we need to understand worsted versus woolen processing.
Woolen - produces loftier types of yarn/thread. Fibers are rather randomly arranged, not necessarily all going in the same direction, when made into roving which is then spun into yarn/thread. The lofty yarn has air pockets that have a very good insulation property. These yarns are lighter in weight due to these air pockets. Shorter fleece, less than 3.75 inches in length, is suitable for the woolen process. Suri can be used in the woolen process but better suited for smaller diameter yarns, i.e. lace weight, fingering weight yarn with higher stitches per inch on the gauge. Suri does add a beautiful sheen to the yarn, a look similar to silk.
Worsted - the fibers are arranged in the same direction, arranged side by side, and then spun into yarn/thread. This produces a smoother type of yarn or thread, making it smoother and not so lofty, which can then be made into beautiful fabric or smaller diameter yarns. The fabric from worsted processed alpaca is to die for! It has a drapy character that flows with movement.
So, how does the type of fleece, specifically crimp in huacaya, influence which kind of product we make out of our fiber? Worsted weight yarn is better suited for longer fleece, i.e. anything longer than 3.75 inches. Fiber crimp in huacayas is also considered. The high frequency crimp is excellent for making lofty yarn in the woolen processing method. However, due to the high frequency of the crimp style, it does not do so well in the worsted process. The medium to lower frequency crimp styles are excellent for worsted processing. Suri fleece is another very excellent fiber for the worsted process and produces a beautiful sheen to the finished product.
So, don't let the show ring confuse you! Judges should not be awarding one crimp or lock style over another as all the styles are very usable and profitable in the commercial/cottage industry market. Rather, uniformity of whatever crimp/lock style an individual alpaca has is of utmost importance. When purchasing alpacas, consider the fleece style in the context of what you might want to do with the fiber. Or, better yet, keep an open mind about the fleece crimp/lock style and select for uniformity of fleece and overall phenotypical and genetic excellent of the alpaca. If your fleece is uniform, there will be a market for it, no matter the crimp or lock style. It took us 7 years to learn this, so don't be discouraged by lack of knowledge about this important area of our industry.
