Tumbling & Washing Alpaca Fiber (Fleece) 

+Katherine Haigh You're welcome 😊

😊 thanks!

Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. You can send your fiber to a mill to take care of these steps but there will be some that you'd like to do by hand. It's actually a lot of fun playing with it all. Thanks for leaving a comment. :)

+Christine Rondini You’re welcome 😊

Good luck! It sounds so fun 😊

Great! What fun. Congratulations! I’m glad I could help 😊

Years ago my grandparents’ house caught on fire from the dryer so I totally understand. The dryer I use as a tumbler has no heat. That would felt the fiber and render it useless. But it sure does make a mess!

Butterfield Alpacas & Fiber Arts You have spoken often of felt. Hats used to be commonly made from wool felt. Couldn't Alpaca felt be used to make hats? I should think so. Looking forward to your reply on this. Very interesting. Thank you for all your good sharing; it's so educational, and affords us the ability to learn the easy way, rather than the hard way. :)

Yes, in fact there are RU-vid videos about making alpaca felted hats. I’ve not done it but, for some, it’s their specialty. I hope others can learn from my mistakes and experiences so that they are more successful from the start. Why reinvent the wheel?! 😊

Hi. Thank you 😊 Depends on how often you’ll be working with fiber. It may be worth a try but I’ve not used one of those to really say.

+Cindy Maag You can wash as many times as you'd like. Some alpacas are pretty dirty! Lol. Each step after this - picking, carding, spinning, and final wash to set the spin - will release more dirt too.

Would it help to bathe each Alpaca just before shearing? If that's possible, I would think so, for sure.

I’ve used a leaf blower on the alpacas before shearing to help release some of VM and dirt. I think some may wash them in some way but I don’t because the water will trap in their body heat and mine are usually hot enough in their full fleece by the time shearing comes around in May. For some, their setup might work better for what you are suggesting.

Butterfield Alpacas & Fiber Arts Not to ask a stupid question, but is it possible to brush an Alpaca the way we would a dog? I suppose not, with that thick fiber, but it would help with the cleaning. ~ Thanks for the smile about the leaf-blower, that being an unexpected appliance. Did it frighten the Alpacas?

Brushing can disturb the lock structure, certainly on the suris. For huacayas, it would be on a case by case basis. The sound of the leaf blower does startle them but you can desensitize them, like saying a certain word or coughing before you turn it on. Then they’ll learn to expect it. Also, point it away from them at first then blow it on them. The sound and air blast is too much at once.

Hello! I'm so glad that you are enjoying the videos on my channel. 😀 We call it alpaca fiber in general. For us, fleece refers to the intact fiber that comes off of the animal, which is usually the prime blanket that is used to make yarn. I don't have any listings for roving or other forms used for spinning but later this summer I likely will. It is a matter of sorting fiber and figuring out what I have. As for working with alpaca yarn, watch episode 7 of the podcast. I go into detail about the qualities and characteristics of alpaca fiber to help you understand what makes it different than other fibers. Then you can make wise decisions about what your yarn should be used for. As for the feel of it when you crochet, it is definitely softer and has more drape than wool. You will get spoiled. 😉

Hi Jesse. I’ve only dyed alpaca fiber once with coolaid for fun. You would dye it the same way as you would wool but it takes more dye for the same saturation of color.

Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate the video our alpaca fiber is now felt free.😎

It is amazing how much dirt they accumulate!

It was still very warm. I started each soak with the same temp.

I know that drastic change in temperature is part of the felting process but I’ve not had issues using hot water to start each step. It must not cool down enough to be a problem. Great tip about the soap. I use that at home but had not considered it for the alpaca fiber. Thanks!

I have been using it for years now, not only personally, also in place of shampoo > with no need for moisturizer or conditioner, leaving No residue, but on the dogs, and I am AMAZED how easily and quickly it allows the soil and soap to rinse away from their undercoats, requiring a lot less time and water. You know how difficult and time-consuming rinsing undercoats can be, but with this, it's a total breeze, speeding the whole process, lickety-sizzle! If dog-groomers used it, they could bathe each dog in record time and save on their water bill, while it leaves the skin feeling good, not dried out. It's a natural surfactant, like citrus oils, only not harsh, but gentle. :)

@@cacatr4495 what is the name of this shampoo you are talking about please🥰?

@@marideemalmberg7278 It's not "shampoo', but bar soap, shockingly. Because it's pure, not having other things in it, it doesn't have the residue of most bar soaps. As I said, it's natural Coconut Oil Castile Soap. One must protect it from sitting in water, because if it is overexposed to water, it will melt. It's very soft, moisturizing and gentle. One should Not roll the bar of soap between their hands, but instead, they should wet a clean sponge, dedicated purely for the soap, squeeze the water out of the sponge, so it's only a bit moist, then set the new, dry bar of soap on it (to absorb any stray moisture, to preserve the soap), and keep it out of the water. If they first let the moistened sponge dry, with the soap on it, then the soap will stick to the sponge, which will preserve the soap. Then, one should moisten one of their hands and gently rub their moist hand across the soap a couple of times (never handling the bare soap), then rub their hands together to create big lather. This is how to get a lot of efficient, natural lather without damaging the bar of soap, which will make it last a long time. One must remember that it's not hard like other bar soaps, but very soft, so it should never be handled or exposed to water. Because of the natural surfactant of the coconut oil, it removes soil very, very well, while being gentle and moisturizing, and rinsing out very easily and quickly. If it's kept mostly dry, it will stay attached (stuck) to the sponge, such that one can wet their hair/head or the dog, then pick up the whole soap/sponge combo to rub the soap against one's head or dog for quicker lathering. But the sponge must always stay attached (stuck) to the soap to protect and preserve it. The only time it should be picked up (always together with the stuck-on sponge), is when one is washing hair/head/dog. For normal handwashing or bathing, one should just rub a wet hand across the top of the soap, and taking these steps will make the soap last a very long time. If not, it will melt and fall apart very quickly, as it's easily damaged and mushed out of shape.

+Katarina H. Thank you. I have 27 alpacas and 6 llamas.

Hi. I found your method very complicated with a lot of efforts. One Alpacas owner of 26 beauty teach me much more easy way how to do that. First, alpacas hair is not dirty as sheep wool (and not stinky as well), but dusty. You have remarkable metal frame with chicken wire, which you can use as a first step to shake the dust (better wear your mask and safety glasses). I used simply wooden frame with wire on it waving the alpaca hair on my backyard up and down. If U don't have much creature on your backyard (as I have) - you can leave the fiber outside for couple days. Then sorting and washing. I washed twice and still satisfied with result and texture. Each sort of fiber I was drying separately on open sunny areas for couple days. Then comb and card(have the same carding machine as U). All my treasure stored in shad in boxes with description of color and tipe of fiber. All my handmade yarn is prewashed in hot soapy water to fix the ply, then I wash the item I knitted (shawl, scarf, hat, mittens, socks, sweaters)as well. Amazed by yarn quality , the way how it looks, warm and cozy. Thank you for shearing your video. Wish you the best. Still dream about my own alpacas with hope ones it come true.

never mind. I bought the 10mm size from Amazon after googling the 20d nail head size. :>)

I find it does with sheep wool.

Yes, at some point it will rinse clean.

Mine too ... the Huacaya not near so filthy. I hate working with Suri.

It can range from $20 to $35 per alpaca, depending on your region, experience of shearer, and additional services included (toenails, teeth, shots, etc). For me, my herd grew to the point where I’ve learned to do it myself in order to keep costs down.

I've found the large bags at my local dollar store!

Great find!

What is your method for washing alpaca fiber? I’m open to learning other ways.

I’ve heard most spinners here in South Australia prefer to keep the fibre dirty, though remove debris when they spin it as it is so fine it is apparently actually easier to work with when a little dusty. Then they wash the yarn. I’m just starting to learn about it but frankly I’ll take the easiest route LOL!

Yes Cintia, how do you wash it?