Contrary to common belief baby alpaca yarn is not from a newborn alpaca it comes mainly from the first shearing and the finest parts of the adult Alpaca.
Some facts about Alpaca sheering and fiber:
- The first shearing of an Alpaca happens 18 months after their birth.
- Alpacas are shorn once a year: between November and March, which happens to be the spring and summer time in Peru.
- Alpacas can yield good quality fiber for about 7 to 9 years
- Each Alpaca yield approx. 2.5 to 3kgs of fiber per shear.
- Each Alpaca fleece yields the following main qualities: 10% Baby Alpaca (21.5/22.5mic), 40% FS Alpaca (25.5/26.5mic)and 50%Coarse Alpaca (+30mic)
- The Baby Alpaca quality does not come from the baby animals. It comes mainly from the first shearing and the finest parts of the adult Alpaca.
- Alpaca comes in a ample range of colours – white, beiges, fawns and browns – making it the only natural fiber that have such variety of natural shades.