What Does Alpaca Feel Like? (Is Alpaca Itchy and Soft)
To most people, the feel of the fabric is as important as the durability of the material or the breathable nature the fabric comes with. As long as the feel is comfortable, soft, or luxurious one can concentrate on more important details of life.
What does alpaca feel like? Alpaca is as soft or softer than cashmere as well as feeling very luxurious. Its natural fibers make it very strong and durable and some societies prize it above silver and gold. The reason for that is because of how it feels among other positive properties.
To learn more about alpaca wool, just continue to read our article. It has the information on this style of wool that you should know more about. It is a warm, soft, and very colorful fabric that you may want in your closet.
What is Alpaca Wool Called?
You may have expected this fine wool to be called some sophisticated and elitist name but it is still a simple fabric harvested by simple living people in South America. The name is very simple as well. It is called Alpaca wool or Alpaca fiber.
That is it. If anyone else has a different name for this material it may have been a retailer or wholesaler who created the term. This is common for a lot of wool varieties. The type of wool is named after the animal it comes from.
Merino wool comes from Merino sheep, while cashmere wool comes from the Kashmir goat and region of an Asian country, and on it goes. Alpacas are native to South America, with different countries producing the wool. Peru is the largest exporter of this material.
Plus, the fabric is used in sweaters, socks, fleece jackets, hats, gloves, suits, and other clothing items. Then, alpaca wool is cheaper than cashmere and comes in about 20 different colors found between ink black and snowy white.
Finally, alpacas are similar in look to camels so they are classified as camelids. They may have a softer gentler personality than real camels have.
Is Alpaca Wool Itchy?
One term to describe this negative characteristic you may have encountered or not know about. It is called the prickle factor and it is used to describe how itchy wool can be.
The good news is that top quality alpaca wool is not itchy. If you experience any itchiness you may have really sensitive skin r the alpaca clothing you bought was made from low-quality fibers.
One reason for the lack of itch is that alpaca wool does not contain wax lanolin. This type of natural ingredient found in other wools can trigger allergic reactions those people with allergies or sensitive skin should change from regular wool to alpaca type wool to protect themselves.
Just so you know, the usual allergic reactions many people have when wearing wool is not always from actual allergies. They come from the coarse feel of the fibers and you may experience the following symptoms: hives, splotches, redness, and itchiness.
The reason for those symptoms to appear on your skin is not so much that you are allergic to wool but because there are too many coarse fibers in the sweater, gloves, or hats.
Is Alpaca Soft?
There is a lot of good news when you choose to wear alpaca wool instead of other types of wool, including cashmere. This type is very soft, about as soft as cashmere but without the luxurious price tag.
This material is also hypoallergenic, and almost waterproof. Then combine those attributes to the luxurious feel this version of wool owns and you have a great sweater that makes you look good. Just think, you have 20 different natural colors to enhance your fashion style and figure.
The range of color makes this material very attractive to buy as you are not going to lose any soft or luxurious feel with a change of color. The only thing that may influence the soft and sophisticated feel of this fabric is if it was woven in a low-quality way using low-quality fibers.
When that happens you may not like alpaca wool and will wonder why you even though it was a good alternative to merino or cashmere wool clothing. One bad experience should not be the determining factor in buying top clothing items or in anything you do.
What Does Alpaca Feel Like?
If you like the feel of cashmere, then you should love the feel of alpaca wool. It is a lot like cashmere but without the expensive price tag that comes with that wool alternative.
Alpaca wool is very breathable, making it comfortable to wear in hot environments whether natural or man-made in the office. Plus, it is also able to stretch somewhat allowing you to move freely without fear of any embarrassing moments.
Then you should feel comfortable, not only because of its soft feel but because it can retain heat. This makes winters more tolerable and enjoyable. With its moisture-wicking talent, your sweat should not stay that close to your body.
When you need to clean this material, wash it at warm temperatures. That will help you retain its comfortable, luxurious and soft feel. This material may not be as expensive as cashmere but it certainly rivals it in all other categories.
Finally, alpaca fibers are usually 8 to 12 centimeters long making them stronger than cashmere as well as resistant to pilling. There is what is called baby alpaca and these fibers are taken from the fine under hairs of the animal and not from baby alpacas.
Those baby fibers are really soft and are the best of all the fibers taken from these animals. There are what is called prime, seconds, and thirds categories of alpaca fibers.
Is Alpaca Yarn Itchy?
There are different reasons why alpaca yarn may feel itchy. The first reason is the most common one. Different manufacturers create alpaca wool in different ways. That means that lower quality fibers are used and these low-quality fibers can be very coarse and itchy.
Then this top quality material is often blended with regular wool. This improves the drape of the material but subtracts from the softness of the alpaca material. The itchy feeling is coming from the regular wool not the higher quality alpaca version.
After those two reasons comes the stiffness factor. Alpaca wool or its fibers can be stiffer than Merino or Cashmere wool fibers. This stiffness can contribute to the itchy feeling as your skin reacts to the style of the yarn.
Finally, natural fibers are often measured in microns. The more microns the fiber is in size the coarser the fiber. This fact translates into a greater prickle factor making the yarn itchier than you want it to be. If you want to get rid of the itchiness, buy the yarn that is smaller in size, micron wise.
Why is Alpaca Wool So Expensive?
Many factors come into play when costs are always discussed. We will not talk about the middlemen involve or the manufacturing expenses as those costs boost the price of anything made today.
The first reason alpaca is costing you more is because of the high quality of the fiber. Low-quality fibers will cost less. It is just the name of the game. Next, the very soft and warm nature of this material will increase the price.
You always pay more for the benefits you receive from certain fabrics. A third reason alpaca wool is very expensive is that these animals can only be shorn once a year. This limits the supply somewhat and people raise the price based on supply and demand.
Finally, this wool is very durable, and the longer it lasts the fewer sales manufacturers and retailers get. The fewer the sales, the higher the price.
Some Basic Facts About Alpaca Wool
- In one year it takes 1 alpaca to grow enough hair for 4 sweaters. In comparison, it takes 4 Kashmir goats to grow enough hair for 1 sweater.
- 1 alpaca drinks less water than Kashmir goats making them more environmentally friendly.
- 1 alpaca wool sweater can last you a long time, helping you to cut down on the number of textiles thrown away each year.
- There are only 2 breeds of alpacas, the Huacaya and the Suri alpaca.
- The wool can be spun in lightweight material or heavyweight material making it an excellent fabric for most clothing items.
Some Final Words
To answer the original question, alpaca wool may feel like you have died and gone to heaven or that you were transported to be a member of one of the many royal families where you are pampered your whole life.
The good news is that feeling doesn't come with cashmere or possibly a silk price tag. Feeling good doesn't mean you have to break the bank.
