Our Harvest
It’s May. The month that not only marks the end of our fiber farm’s growing season, but when we at Stormsteg Alpacas host our annual Shearing Celebration! A year’s-worth of hard work has passed, and it’s time to reap the reward of a rich harvest! It is such an exciting time for us on the farm, and we enjoy sharing it with friends and family who volunteer their time to help us on this exciting day.
Fiber Classification
A micron (micrometre) is the measurement used to express the diameter of alpaca fiber. Fine alpaca fibers have low micron value.
Royal Alpaca - finer than 18 microns
Superfine / Baby Alpaca - finer than 20 microns
Fine - finer than 25 micron
Medium - under 30 micron
Strong - 30 microns and greater
Mixed Pieces - short fibers, coarser than 32 Microns - used for felting
*See fiber chart below for additional information
Our Shearing Celebration starts off by; organizing our volunteers, rounding-up the alpacas and readying the shearing equipment. Every year, we have our herd professionally sheared- It’s a routine process where the alpacas are normally sheared lying on their side, as opposed to sitting on their rump like sheep. Two people lift the alpaca off it’s feet and lay it on its side- on the floor or on a table.
Once laid on it’s side, the alpaca’s front and hind legs are tethered. The handler then holds the head as the shearer shears the fleece off one side. The alpaca is then rolled and turned, and the shearer shears the other side. Our volunteers then help us harvest our fiber, categorizing it by cut, and we shelf it for skirting and de-farming (which will take place in the coming weeks).
The whole process takes about six minutes, causing little distress to the alpaca. (Alpaca must be sheared annually. If not, the fleece will continue to grow and cause distress and heat-stroke). When the shearing is complete, the alpaca is released and it explodes with excitement as it runs around the yard without it’s heavy coat. Playful pronking erupts in the alpaca yards, until one-by-one they start to lie down and bathe in the sun.
Fiber Subtleness & Texture
The fiber, soft to the touch, and with excellent appearance and natural luster, gives garments unsurpassable drape, elegance and style together with an outstanding handle.
The smaller diameters of the alpaca are the finest and softest fleeces, make the most favorable yarns, which produce the finest clothing. The reason the fineness is so important is due to it’s effect on a yarn's "spinning limit," which means, at any given count of yarn, the finer the fiber produces the greater number of fibers in a cross section. This, in turn, leads to a more; uniform yarn diameter, greater yarn strength, and greater softness of handle.
Soft garments, which can be worn next to the skin, are most desirable. Cashmere and Alpaca, with their soft, seductive feel, are considered exclusive "specialty" fiber. Why is cashmere and alpaca soft, and wool often itchy? The answer is; fiber fineness. Over 30% of American surveyed consumers claimed to be allergic to wool, yet these same people can wear cashmere or alpaca with no adverse reaction. The International Wool Secretariat and CSIRO (the Australian research organization) with their wool technology and animal production divisions, were extremely concerned with the perception that wool commonly caused allergic reactions. After extensive research, the team identified the cause of the allergic reactions in consumers who wore wool was “the prickle factor”. The coarser the fiber, the more severe the "allergic" reaction. Researchers found that coarse hairs extending from the yarn or fabric prick the skin and stimulate the pain receptors, thereby causing redness, irritation, and itching. Once fiber diameter was identified as the culprit, studies were done to decide at what diameter the prickle occurred. Fiber that averages 21 microns or less tends to be soft to the touch. Fiber with a "coarse edge" over 30 microns almost always itched. Yarns that contain more than 5% fiber with over 30 microns, create garments that only fleas could love.
Consumers, who previously claimed to be allergic to wool, experience no negative reactions as long as the average micron count of the garment they are wearing does not exceed 21. Further research has conclusively proven that any fabric which is made of any fiber (man-made acrylic, hair from cashmere goats, etc.) averaging more than 21 microns causes pain on the skin and a so-called allergic reaction. Alpaca is no exception. Coarse alpaca itches. Fine alpaca feels smooth and silky next to the skin. That's why fiber diameter is by far, the most dominate value affecting fiber prices in the market today.
Special note: If you compare an alpaca fiber to a wool fiber under a microscope, you will find the surface of the alpaca fiber will be smooth where the wool fiber will appear to have scales. The lower scale height creates a smoother, slippery feel with a less scratchy surface. Alpaca has a much less prickle factor than merino wool of the same fineness, due to the flatter scales on the alpaca fiber.
Team shearing blanket onto plastic "noodling" sheet.
Freshly shorn silver grey blanket
Providing comfort to our fiber kids
Thermal Insulation & Moisture Wicking Abilities
Alpaca fiber is hollow-cored. Their hair is light weight, thus providing more insulation and warmth with less weight. Hollow-cored fleece hairs are also much softer and pliable, as well as stronger. A hollow core fiber weighs less than solid core and traps a pocket of air inside it, so the fabric warms up very quickly and stays insulated longer. As a result, all outdoor enthusiasts know that apparel made from hollow-core fiber tends to be a lighter weight, and warmer than their solid core equivalents. Alpaca is a natural semi-hollow fiber with a fineness that matches many of the micro-fiber synthetics. Outdoor clothes designers have invested heavily in the development of synthetic semi-hollow fiber. Unlike synthetically engineered micro-fiber, alpaca is produced by a sustainable process.
Alpaca fiber is also moisture wicking. It has a low moisture absorbency rate, with great wicking properties resulting in better comfort and warmth.
In summary, the fiber is a thermal insulator and absorbs ambient humidity, thus affording greater protection and comfort in a variety of climates.
Alpaca Fleece is Naturally Hypoallergenic
Unlike wool, alpaca fleece contains minuscule amounts of lanolin, and requires no chemical-scouring agents for processing. This, combined with its natural hypoallergenic properties and softness, makes alpaca garments comfortable, even for sensitive skin.
*Currently AOA ( Alpaca Owners Association) is undergoing research and testing needed to support the intrinsic characteristics of alpaca fiber and the claims that are commonly made about alpaca fiber. Other attributes such as; fineness, tensile strength, luster, and comfort factor would depend on individual fiber and the application for use. These are quality parameters, not characteristics inherent to alpaca as a fiber. As commercial production is developed in the U.S., these attributes will become important to the processing industry in determining the use (and subsequent price paid) for individual lots of alpaca fiber. For purposes of AOA, and this study, a range would be established to use as comparative marketing tools for the textile industry. Please stay tuned, as once accomplished, the test results will be presented on our site. Thank you!
