Introduction to Yarns
Return to the ball prices
Return to the skein prices
Return to the cone prices
Return to the handspun prices
To place an order, send us an email with your selection of yarns and we will let you know bank deposit details. Contact Us All orders will be posted once payment is received.
Alpaca is generally warmer to the skin than wool, so you may want to make your garments a little lighter than a woollen equivalent.
We have three types of yarn made from the prime saddle area of our alpacas. There are balls for the knitter, cones for machine knitters and skeins in case you wish to dye some of the white alpaca. All are soft and luxurious, suitable for knitting or crochet. They are available in a variety of natural colours in huacaya and suri. Most of our alpaca colours are the natural colours of the fleece; we usually don't dye our alpaca but occasionally have dyed skeins. Dyed products are clearly indicated. Most of the handspun items contain some dyed component.
If you would like to see some of our lovely yarns before buying them, and you are in Thornleigh during the week, please contact us.
Huacaya Yarns
Our huacaya alpaca is professionally spun from the best fleece, the saddle. This is done by one of several Australian mini mills, where it is converted from fleece into a yarn from two plied singles. Some fleeces have a more fluffy appearance than others; some would make a great Aran style cable sweater. Others are more of a soft style. Most have a lovely sheen and of course they all have that great feel of alpaca.
Huacaya alpaca yarn can be knitted using a pattern for a woollen garment, but please knit a tension square first. You may find that your garment may grow a little in length. Start with the recommended needle size for your pattern, then adjust to larger or smaller needles if required.
If you find the bands are a bit loose in alpaca, you may want to experiment with smaller needle sizes for the bands, or try a style with a rolled edge instead of a band.
Suri Yarns
Our suri alpaca is professionally spun from the best fleece, the saddle and neck combined. This is done by one of two Australian mini mills, where it is converted from fleece into a yarn from two plied singles. Suri alpaca yarn is available for hand or machine knitting. We suggest you use a pattern designed for either silk or cotton perle. The suri alpaca tends to hang like silk, and in a knitted garment it can grow in length. Suri stretches a little, so whatever you would have done in silk should work out just fine in suri. Start with the recommended needle size for the yarn, then adjust to a larger or smaller needle if required. As before, please do a tension square. Lacy patterns tend to hang better than stocking stitch when hand knitted. For machine knitting suri, lacy patterns are ideal. Adjust the tension to suit the yarn as the 'fuzz' on the suri makes it handle more like kid mohair in the machine.
The lustre of suri is something that has to be seen to be believed. You can make some interesting effects with it. The word 'suri' refers to the silk-like properties of the fibre: drape and lustre.
We have tried to guide you by including the average micron of the yarn, and its classification (fine, medium etc) which can help you work out which yarn might work with another for colour contrast.
More alpaca knitting tips: sideways-knitted garments may hold their shape better; alpaca LOVES textured stitches - go for it!
Hand Spun Yarns
Alpaca can of course be hand spun. Occasionally we will have a bit of nice alpaca fibre which does not meet the quantity requirements of our processors, so this is washed, carded and spun into a single by Jill. Sometimes it's dyed. It is plied with another single which Jill has made from a different fibre such as dyed Wool, but with similar fibre diameter (micron).
Our hand spun yarns are grouped by handle: fine through to extra strong, with suggested uses such as shawl, scarf, hat or household use.