Freshen up Your Wardrobe with Alpaca Wool Clothing – Guest Post

Alpaca wool is very similar to sheep’s wool in some ways and far superior to it in others. Alpaca wool and sheep’s wool are shorn, spun, and dyed; knitted, woven, or crocheted into wearable garments and domestic items for the home in much the same way. But while the process of creating the final wool products may be very similar, the quality of the end product is very different, and that’s where alpaca wool and sheep’s wool vary from one another the most.

Alpaca wool and alpaca clothes are extremely soft and luxurious, while sheep’s wool is very coarse and scratchy. Sheep’s wool must be blended with other natural or synthetic fibers to make it soft enough to wear against the skin. That’s one reason it’s often blended with alpaca fiber.

Sheep’s wool contains lanolin, an oil produced by the animal’s skin that makes some people allergic to their wool. Alpaca wool is lanolin-free, making it a hypoallergenic alternative to sheep’s wool. Alpaca sweaters are perfect for the person with sensitive skin or allergies who thinks they can’t wear natural animal fiber products.

Alpaca is naturally lightweight, dirt resistant, water repellent, and flame retardant. It is warmer than sheep’s wool, and the extra warmth combined with the light weight of the fiber makes the fiber spin very well into fine yarns and knit into lightweight products that are still somehow warmer than a much bulkier sheep’s wool alternative.

Alpaca throws and blankets are one item in which the weight difference between sheep’s wool and alpaca wool can really be felt to an extreme. Think of the old, heavy, felted wool blankets that your grandparents used to have around the house galore. A lightweight alpaca blanket is ten times warmer and a fraction of the weight. They are excellent for camping or traveling because they pack down to an extremely small size and don’t weigh much. Alpaca throws are great to keep in the car for kids’ naps, picnics, or other impromptu uses.

Just a few alpaca wool garments can really add a lot to your wardrobe. The natural fibers come straight from the animals in 22 natural shades of black, white, brown, gray, and red, in addition to limitless dye options. Staying with the natural colors is often recommended because they match a wide range of wardrobes very well.

You can actually make a lot of room in your closet by getting rid of some of your old sheep’s wool garments and replacing them with alpaca clothing that takes up a fraction of the room. Alpaca garments are so soft and luxurious you’ll find your other sweaters, scarves, socks, and wraps won’t get much use anymore anyway.