Our Alpacas
Gentle, curious animals — and one of the finest natural fibers there is.
Alpacas are gentle, curious animals native to South America, and ours spend their days grazing the pasture, getting brushed, and sizing up anyone who comes to visit. They are herd animals through and through, and it shows in how closely they stick together.
Once a year we shear them. That fleece is cleaned, processed, and turned into the dryer balls, fiber batting, and yarn we sell — which is why what makes alpaca fiber unusual is worth understanding.
Characteristics of Alpaca Fleece
- Warm
- Alpaca fiber is lightweight yet extremely warm. The fiber is airy which allows the fleece to trap and retain heat.
- Soft
- Alpaca fiber has a soft and silky feel and unlike sheep wool, it does not feel itchy.
- Water Resistant
- Alpaca fiber has an incredibly low water retention rate and is great at wicking water away from your skin.
- Hypoallergenic
- Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin. Lanolin is a natural wax that is secreted by some wool producing animals which people can be allergic to. Because of this, it is naturally hypoallergenic.
From Fleece to Finished Goods
Shearing happens once a year, in spring, before the Minnesota summer arrives. It takes only a few minutes per animal and is a relief to them — a full fleece is a lot to carry through July.
What comes off is sorted by grade. The finest fiber, from the blanket across the animal’s back, goes to yarn and next-to-skin goods. Coarser fiber from the legs and neck becomes batting and dryer balls. Very little is wasted.
Life on Pasture
Alpacas are easy keepers. They graze pasture through the growing season, take hay through winter, and need far less feed for their size than most livestock. Their padded feet are gentle on ground that cattle would churn up.
They are also clean animals — a herd will generally agree on a few communal spots and use them consistently, which makes pasture management considerably simpler than it might be.
Why Alpaca Suits Sensitive Skin
The itch people associate with wool comes from two things: the scale structure of the fiber, and lanolin, the natural wax sheep produce. Alpaca fiber has a smoother surface and no lanolin at all.
That is why alpaca is often comfortable for people who cannot wear wool. It is worth noting the distinction — the fiber is hypoallergenic because of what it lacks, not because of anything added to it.
Meet the Herd
Buttercup
Flint
S’more
Meadow
Carrie
Julia
Common Questions
How is alpaca fiber different from sheep wool?
Alpaca fiber is lighter, warmer for its weight, and smoother against skin. It holds far less water than wool and contains no lanolin, the natural wax in sheep wool that some people react to — which is why alpaca rarely feels itchy.
Is alpaca fiber really hypoallergenic?
Alpaca fiber contains no lanolin, and lanolin is what most people with a "wool allergy" are actually reacting to. That makes alpaca naturally hypoallergenic and comfortable for many people who cannot wear sheep wool.
How often are alpacas sheared?
Once a year, in spring, before summer heat arrives. The process takes only a few minutes per animal and is comfortable for them. A single shearing produces enough fiber for a meaningful amount of yarn, batting, or dryer balls.
Are alpacas good around visitors?
They are curious and gentle, though they prefer to approach on their own terms rather than be reached for. Most people find them calm and easy to be around — they are far more likely to study you from a few feet away than to shy off.