Exclusively Alpaca is the branding we use for the products we make in the Mill & sell both online & in our shop; as the name suggests all of our fibre products are made exclusively from alpaca; not blended with other fibres or dyed.
Alpacas are sheared annually, primarily for their welfare, however shearing also serves as our fibre harvest & opportunity to ‘MOT’ all the alpacas at close quarters. No alpacas are harmed during the process of shearing.
‘Why Alpaca?’ is a frequent question……Our answer – Why not alpaca?!
Properties of alpaca fibre
Alpaca fibre is one of the world’s most luxurious natural fibres, prized for its exceptional qualities. Whether you’re a crafter, knitter, or simply appreciate eco-friendly materials, alpaca yarn is a delightful medium to work with. Here are just some key attributes of alpaca fibre:
Hypoallergenic & Lanolin-Free: Alpaca fibre is gentle on the skin & suitable for those who prefer not to use sheep’s wool. Unlike wool, it contains minimal (almost no) lanolin, making it hypoallergenic.
Dust Mite Resistant: Alpaca fibre naturally repels dust mites, making it an excellent choice for bedding. It provides a cosy & breathable filling without triggering allergies.
Anti-Bacterial & Odour-Resistant: Alpaca’s inherent properties help reduce odours. Consider trying alpaca insoles – they’re proof of their anti-fungal benefits.
Stain-Repellent & Low Maintenance: Alpaca doesn’t require frequent washing. Airing it out is usually sufficient. Plus, quality alpaca resists pilling, ensuring longevity.
Insulating & Moisture-Wicking: Alpaca adapts to your needs. It insulates when it’s cold & wicks moisture away when it’s warm. Perfect for pillows, quilts, & toppers.
Sumptuously Soft: Good-quality alpaca feels luxurious against the skin. Whether machine-knitted, hand-knitted, or crocheted, it creates beautiful garments.
Sustainable & Eco-Friendly: Alpacas are gentle grazers & their fibre is naturally sustainable. We honour this ethos at East Anglia Alpaca Mill by avoiding dyeing & maintaining a low carbon footprint.
Hucacya alpacas grow their fibre perpendicular to their body (similar to merino sheep) & look fluffy whereas Suri alpacas grow fibre in ringlets called locks which hang from their body. Both types make beautiful part-processed products & yarns that are interchangeable in use. Huacaya is warm, cosy to the touch, light & airy while Suri is cold to the touch, denser & has more drape.
Credit: Googe image
Alpaca is available in 23 recognised colours & all those in-between – white, light, (light, medium & dark) fawn, (light, medium & dark) brown, (light, medium & dark) grey, (light, medium & dark) rose grey, bay black, pure black & multi/appalosa.
In the mill, we specialise in processing small batches to different products, each with full provenance back to the alpaca(s) whose fibre has created the product. In turn, there are zero miles from harvest to mill & mill to shop. We pride ourselves on the quality of our yarns.
Each year ahead of shearing we take samples of each alpacas fleece & it is then scientifically measured. This enables us to create batches of well-matched quality fleeces.
We offer raw fleeces (please ask for availability)& manufacture fluff (for stuffing, for hand spinning, for craft), rovings (for hand spinning, for craft), yarns (for hand & machine knitting, for crochet, for craft) & felt.
We create & sell all weights of yarn – 2-ply, 4-ply, double knit, aran & chunky all in natural colours. We can make any weight of yarn in almost any natural colour to your requirements including specific Nm weights. We do not dye any fibre. Our yarns are priced according to grade. Please note that the term ‘baby’ is associated with the micron range & not necessarily fibre from a young alpaca.
We also create barber pole yarns by plying different colours together as well as blending colours to create alternative colourways.
In addition, we offer knitted goods & alpaca-related products & gifts…from flip flops to bird bedding, books to hooks & knitting needles!
Care of Alpaca products
We recommend that alpaca is washed by hand with care in lukewarm water with no agitation & air-dried flat. Machine washing will felt the fibres while tumble drying will shrink or stretch the garment. Storage in sealed vacuum bags is recommended with the addition of a sprig of fresh lavender to keep moths away.
| UK description | US / Australian description | Micron range |
| Ultrafine | Royal Baby | less than 20 microns |
| Superfine | Baby | 20 – 22.9 micron |
| Fine | Fine | 23 – 25 micron |
| Medium | Medium | 26 – 28 micron |
| Intermediate | Intermediate | 29 -32 micron |
| Strong | Robust | 32+ micron |