Does Alpaca Wool Felt? (And Why That’s Both GOOD and BAD)

Got an alpaca wool garment? You’ve likely heard about felting. But why does it happen, and how can you stop it?

Alpaca wool, despite its small scales, can still felt. When exposed to moisture and friction, the scales on the fibers interlock, causing individual hairs to stick together and form a matted layer of felt. This happens when the fibers rub against each other.

Let’s break it down: While alpaca wool’s fine fibers are prone to felting, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Let’s explore why.

What Is Felting?

Felting is the process where individual wool fibers tangle and interlock, forming a dense, matted layer. This happens when wool is exposed to temperature changes, agitation (like rubbing), and moisture (often with soap). The fibers fuse together, separating from the original thread to create a new fabric texture.  

This process can happen either accidentally (ruining your favorite sweater) or intentionally (creating a new, textured fabric).

Why Does Felting Happen?

Felting happens because wool fibers have scales that stick out from the fiber. These scales can move, causing the fibers to interlock with each other. This is normal when wool is exposed to temperature changes and friction. 

In the case of alpaca wool, the fibers have scales, which mean they can felt. But, compared to other fibers, alpaca wool is smoother and smaller, which means it doesn't felt as much. 

How Does Felting Occur?

The short version is that when there is friction, the scales on the fibers touch and interlock. This causes them to cling together and form a new, matted layer: felt. 

Here’s a breakdown of what happens:

1. Scales on the Fiber Interlock: Wool fibers have tiny scales on their surface. When exposed to friction, heat, and moisture, these scales open up and latch onto other fibers, causing them to interlock.
   

2. Fabric Becomes Thicker and Denser: As the fibers mat together, the fabric gets smaller, denser, and thicker. It can shrink up significantly, losing its original shape.
   

3. Texture Changes: The fabric becomes more rugged and less smooth. Instead of soft and fluffy, it may feel rougher or stiffer, depending on the degree of felting.
   

4. Loss of Elasticity: The elasticity of the fabric decreases, which means the garment may lose its original shape and become less flexible.
   

5. Durability: While felting can make the fabric stronger, the texture and appearance of the item change. Depending on the severity of felting, the garment may not be as comfortable or wearable in its original form and can become quite stiff.

When Does Felting Happen?

Felting can happen accidentally when a woolen garment is exposed to friction and rapid temperature changes. So, if your woolen item is washed with soap and exposed to friction (say, in a washing machine), it can result in the fibers interlocking and creating felt. 

This might not happen during regular wear, but it can definitely occur in random (but possible!) moments like these: 

1. Washing in a Machine. You toss your favorite alpaca sweater in the wash, and the combination of heat, water, and agitation creates an unwanted felted layer.
   

2. Accidental Handwashing. You try to gently wash your alpaca wool scarf in cold water, but a little too much scrubbing or twisting causes it to felt.
   

3. Wool-Specific Laundry Detergent Mishap. You use a wool detergent with added chemicals or over-apply, resulting in more friction and felting when you wash your wool items.
   

4. Getting Caught in a Heavy Rainstorm. If your alpaca wool coat gets wet in a downpour and is exposed to friction from the wind or your movements, it might start felting without you even realizing it.
   

5. Foam Party Incident. Maybe you’re at a wild foam party (not that we’d recommend wearing wool here!), and the combination of soap, foam, and friction causes your wool sweater to start matting.
   

6. Falling Asleep in a Wool Blanket. You snuggle up on the couch with your favorite alpaca wool throw, and after a few hours of tossing and turning, the friction creates a bit of felted fabric in places you don’t want.
   

7. Storing in a Tight Drawer. Over time, if your alpaca wool sweater is crammed into a drawer or tightly packed in a suitcase, the compression combined with friction can slowly cause the fibers to felt.
   

8. Tug-of-War Game with Your Dog. You playfully tug on your alpaca wool sweater with your furry friend, and the extra pulling combined with the heat from your hands creates the perfect conditions for felting.
   

9. Accidental Ironing Incident. Trying to iron out wrinkles, but the steam and heat from the iron get too close, causing some felting to occur in the wool.
   

10. Long-Term Exposure to Friction from a Bag. If you wear your woolen scarf or sweater under a heavy backpack that rubs against it constantly, the friction over time can cause it to felt.

How Can You Prevent Alpaca Wool Items From Felting?

While felting can be done intentionally, you probably don’t want your alpaca wool sweater or scarf to turn into a matted mess. So, how do you prevent felting when you don't want it to happen?

You Can Prevent Felting by Washing Your Garments Accordingly

To avoid turning your alpaca garment into felted chunks, never wash it in the washing machine.

No matter what the label says or what instructions you’ve been given, just don’t do it! Washing alpaca wool (especially 100% alpaca wool) requires extra care and attention. Treat it gently, and it will stay soft and intact.

For alpaca blends, the care instructions might vary depending on the other fibers mixed in. However, I’d still avoid the washing machine for blends and always hand-wash or follow the specific instructions for the blend.

• Want to make sure you do it right? Check out my article on How to Wash Alpaca Woolen Items by clicking on the link. 

What Can You Do When Felting Happens? 

Once an (alpaca) woolen item has started to felt, there is not much you can do to reverse it.

It's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to completely reverse the process. The fibers have already interlocked and matted together, which makes it hard to return the fabric to its original state.

However, there are a few things you can try to soften it or improve the texture, but full reversion isn't typically achievable. Here are a few strategies to try:

1. Soak in Fabric Softener: A gentle soak in a fabric softener solution may help loosen the fibers and soften the felted areas, but it won’t undo the felting entirely.
   

2. Steam: Using steam to gently rehydrate the fibers might allow them to relax a little, but it won't reverse the interlocking of the fibers.
   

3. Reblocking: You can attempt to reshape the item by carefully re-blocking it while it’s still damp, but this will not restore the fabric to its pre-felted state.

What Happens If You Don't Believe Me? 

So, while there are ways to try and improve the texture or reshape a felted item, once felting has occurred, it's more about salvaging than fully reversing.

• Curious to see what happens when you’re as STUBBORN as I am? I washed my sweater and guess what… It felted!  

What About Chemically REVERTING Felt?

There are washes and chemicals that claim to prevent woolen items from felting (or shrinking, since that's essentially what felting is). But here’s the catch:

A) They’re not great for the environment.
B) They could be harmful to your skin.
C) They might wear out over time.

So, let’s be real—just don’t risk it, OK? In the end, natural care methods (like gentle hand washing and air drying) are often the best way to protect your woolen garments from felting without the environmental or health risks associated with harsh chemicals.

Deliberate Felting with Alpaca Wool

So, maybe you’re curious about whether alpaca wool felts because you actually want to use it for felting—and that’s awesome!

Felting is also a creative process where you intentionally turn fabric into a felted material. It’s an art that crafty, creative, and artsy people totally rock, and it’s SUPER cool if you know how to work with it.

• For a deeper dive into the craft, Fiber Artsy has a Beginner’s Guide to Wool Felting, packed with tutorials, tips, and ideas for anyone looking to try it out.

The Creative Technique of Felting

The process of felting is essentially taking alpaca wool and turning it into a funky new fabric. Whether you’re using unspun fibers or pre-spun yarn, you can also experiment with dyes during the felting process to create vibrant, fun effects.

There are tons of ways to make the felt truly your own, and if you’re into it, you’ll love working with alpaca wool for felting! You get the same luxurious benefits as you would with knitted garments. Felted alpaca is warm, soft, and prickle-free, which makes it perfect for things like hats, dolls, stuffed animals, or stoles.

• Want to try for yourself? If you're in the UK, you're lucky and you can join a workshop with SimplyAlpaca.co.uk.

• For DIY projects, watch this video by Duvera Craft—she makes it look so easy! Watch here.

• And for some creative inspiration, check out these awesome examples from Mum in the Madhouse. While not all may work with alpaca wool, they’re still super cute!

Felted Alpaca Has Some Increased Benefits

Did you know that felted alpaca has even more versatility and functionality than its non-felted counterpart? Yup… It’s perfect for both functional and artistic uses. Here’s why: 

• Increased Durability: Felted fabric is stronger, ideal for bags and shoes.
  

• Better Insulation: Felted alpaca retains heat, perfect for winter accessories.
  

• Less Pilling: The process reduces the risk of pilling, keeping the fabric intact.
  

• Unique Texture: Felted alpaca is soft yet firm, ideal for creative projects.
  

• Prickle-Free: Felted alpaca stays gentle on the skin.
  

• Customizable: Dye and texture variations give you endless creative possibilities.