The benefits of baby alpaca wool

The history of alpacas and men began over 6000 years ago in South America. Members of the camelid family began to diversify in 3500 BC as man began to breed them. To the naive people of the region, the alpaca had almost a religious significance. Every part of it was used, from the fleece to the hide. Baby alpaca wool is prized for many reasons. The benefits detailed in this article will explain why.

What is baby alpaca wool

According to Big Sky Fishing, the term refers "to a type of alpaca fibre that is rare. It does not mean the fibre was taken from a baby (young) alpaca!" Baby alpaca is wool obtained from the first shearing and is considered the most valuable. Just as virgin olive oil from the very first pressing is considered the best, so is the wool from the first shearing.

The qualities of baby alpaca wool

Baby alpaca wool possesses a micron measure of 22.5. It is even softer than superfine alpaca and comes in a variety of colours such as grey, cream, brown. The wool is soft and can be dyed easily. The wool is even finer than superfine alpaca. The fibres of baby alpaca fleece are hollow providing excellent insulating characteristics. The alpaca wool is lightweight and strong. Just as with sheep's wool, when wet, alpaca baby wool is able to keep the wearer warm.

Comparisons to wool

Spinners appreciate alpaca wool, prizing it as spinning wool because it is easy to work with. The closest kind of sheep wool to baby alpaca is Merino wool which is similar in softness. Both insulate similarly though Merino wool is slightly softer than baby alpaca wool. Cost
If a person is uncomfortable wearing regular wool and likes Merino wool, then that person would be able to wear baby alpaca as well. The reason why baby alpaca wool is prized above Merino wool is that alpacas are raised in the United States and in Europe, which means that the wool is cheaper. Colour
The alpaca wool is also more widely available than Merino. The colour of the baby wool has more variety than Merino wool and works well when knitting it into alpaca hats.