Crafters and consumers alike are returning to natural fibres as part of a general societal shift to unprocessed goods and whole foods.
People appreciate how nice wool fibres are to work with, said Gill Weber of Sundog Alpacas near Saskatoon.
“Once they try it, they come back and buy more,” said Weber, who participated in the recent Fibre in Demand Naturally trade show in Saskatoon.
While animal husbandry practices have changed little, she said the maturing industry is improving its breeding of animals to produce better fibre.
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She cited early unscreened imports of alpaca fibre from Chile that were often coarse.
The two varieties of alpaca, suri and huacaya, are both shorn in the early spring, with the “blanket” over the back of the animal delivering the best fibre for yarns.
“You can do anything with alpaca fibre that you can do with wool,” she said.
The next best material comes from the rump, which is blended with micro fibres from other animals.
Weber said neck fibre produces good, albeit shorter, fibre. The leg, apron and chest of the animal yield coarser material, best suited for felting and matting for quilts. Felting is becoming increasingly popular, with crafters turning the fibre into wall hangings and rugs.
Dyed fibres are also a new trend, said Lorraine Bray, treasurer with the Saskatchewan Alpaca Breeders Network.
Kool-Aid is commonly used to produce vibrantly coloured garments or accents.
Her family started raising the animals for fibre and breeding stock three years ago on their small acreage near Pike Lake.
“We were looking for something to do more as a hobby and it’s just grown.”
She said alpacas are easy to work with and not usually sold for meat in Canada, something that appeals to her and her clients.
A visual impairment prevents her from doing many home crafts with the fibre from her 24 huacaya animals, although a family member regularly uses it.
“It’s an easy fibre to work with, makes such beautiful products, is very warm, and very easy to wear,” said Bray.
She said it’s easier for crafters to work with because it does not have the oily lanolin found in other wool.
Good fibre produces a product that is hypoallergenic and softer against the skin than sheep and llama wool.
“Most people can wear most alpaca close to the skin without trouble.”
