Can You Use Alpaca Wool for Knitting? (Plus Helpful Tricks)

September 1, 2025

If you're a fan of knitting and ready to try another material other than wool or acrylic yarn, you might want to consider alpaca wool and you’re probably wondering: Can you use alpaca wool for knitting?

Alpaca wool can be used for knitting. Its smooth, soft fibers provide excellent stitch definition and warmth, while low elasticity ensures garments hold their shape. It is suitable for scarves, sweaters, hats, and other items, offering durability, natural colors, and a luxurious feel.

But, there’s more to knitting with alpaca wool. In this blog you find all the reasons when, why, and how alpaca wool gets you fabulous results.

9 Reasons Why You Want to Use Alpaca Wool for Knitting

The go-to material for knitting depends on the project and skill level. Wool and acrylic are popular choices because they’re easy to work with, while cotton is good for lighter items. Alpaca wool has its own reasons for being a great choice.

Easy to work with: Alpaca yarn has a smooth texture that glides on needles without snagging.
Shows stitch definition: Silky fibers make cables, lace, and textured patterns stand out beautifully.
Holds stitch structure: Individual stitches stay neat and stable, so patterns remain crisp, even though heavier or large garments may naturally drape under their own weight.
Low natural stretch: Alpaca has minimal elasticity, so garments maintain their intended shape and drape rather than springing back like wool, making it ideal for structured or flowing projects.
Beautiful natural palette: Alpaca comes in over 20 earthy shades, perfect for natural-looking projects. You can mix and match for subtle gradients, stripes, or color blocks—all without dye, making your knitting more eco-friendly.
Minimal splitting: The strands stay together, so knitting goes smoothly without snagging or uneven stitches.
Soft on hands: Gentle on fingers, even during long sessions.
Reusable: Projects can be unraveled and the yarn reused for new creations; alpaca is strong enough to withstand careful reuse.
Durable: Knitted items last for years without losing shape, softness, or structure... Put in the effort once and enjoy the results for a long time.

As you can see, there are benefits to knitting with alpaca wool, but there are also lots of cool features that make alpaca wool a great choice for a garment, in general.

Read more about which features in another article I wrote: What Are The Features of Alpaca Wool?

How to Work With Alpaca Wool

In short, alpaca wool is perfectly suitable for knitting, but there are a few things to keep in mind when you are using this luxury fiber (including for the first time.)

Tips for Knitting with Alpaca Wool

Knitting with alpaca wool can feel different from other fibers because of its smooth texture and low elasticity, but it is very manageable once you know a few key tips. These simple adjustments can make your alpaca projects easier and more enjoyable. Especially if you’re still new to knitting.

Choose the right needles: Alpaca can be a bit slippery, so wooden or bamboo needles make it easier to keep your stitches under control. You can use metal or plastic, but you’ll need to pay extra attention so stitches don’t slide off.
Match needle size to yarn: Alpaca yarn is usually finer than regular sheep’s wool, so picking the right needle size helps prevent your stitches from being too tight (which makes the fabric stiff) or too loose (which can change the pattern).
Mind drape and weight: Alpaca is heavier and less elastic than many other wools. Big or flowy projects may hang more than expected, so adding ribbing at hems, cuffs, or edges can help keep everything in shape.
Use smooth yarn for textured patterns: If you’re doing cables, lace, or other stitch details, smooth alpaca shows them off beautifully. Whereas fluffy or haloed yarn can hide those intricate designs.
Double-strand for chunkier fabric: Want a thicker, warmer fabric? Hold two strands of alpaca together. It works great for scarves, hats, or sweaters without changing the fiber content.
Block finished pieces: Give your project a gentle wet-block or light steam to even out stitches, set the shape, and improve the drape.
Blend when needed: Alpaca blends (like with wool, cotton, or acrylic) can cut down on slipperiness while keeping the yarn soft, while maintaining the other alpaca-benefits. (More on my favorite blends below.)

Double or Single-Stranded

Alpaca wool is generally finer than regular sheep’s wool, so 100% alpaca yarn is often not very bulky or chunky. Most chunky alpaca yarns are blended with other fibers.

If you want a chunkier 100% alpaca garment, you can simply knit with two strands held together. This effectively increases the thickness without changing the fiber content.

Tip: To estimate the gauge for double-stranded yarn, multiply the single-strand gauge by 0.7. This helps adjust your needle size and stitch count for the project. Swatch to make sure, though.

Bonus Tips for Beginner-Knitters

Start with light-colored yarn: Makes stitches easier to see and separate.
Work on small, simple projects first: Scarves, cowls, or simple hats help you get used to alpaca’s texture.
Take it slow and focus on tension: Alpaca glides smoothly on needles; careful knitting prevents dropped stitches and keeps your work even.

Suri or Huacaya

There are two different types of alpacas: suri and huacaya alpacas. Huacaya is the fluffy (read: cute) kind of alpaca that produces dense, soft wool. It’s most commonly used and whenever you see “alpaca wool” it's most likely to be from a huacaya alpaca.

Suri is much more exclusive, as only 10% of all alpacas are suri’s. However, it has some very interesting features and is very different from huacaya. Suri alpacas have longer dreadlock-like hair that is smoother, silkier, shinier, and drapier.

It will be a lot more difficult to knit with suri alpaca than it will be with huacaya alpaca. But if you’re looking to upgrade your knitting skills, I’d say it’s the perfect challenge.

Specific Items that Alpaca Wool Is PERFECT For

You can use alpaca wool to knit many different things, such as sweaters, slippers, socks, hats, scarves, and gloves. It can also be used to make blankets, rugs, or even toys. You can ultimately use it for the same purposes that you would with other types of yarn.

However, there are some specific garments that will be even prettier when using alpaca wool. When opting for this exclusive yarn, you probably want to optimize its features and benefits, right!?

Alpaca wool is known for being silky and drapey---which is why it looks so good! So, when you’re using alpaca wool for knitting, keep in mind that flowing designs work best when knitting with alpaca wool.

Sweaters and cardigans: Lightweight yet warm, drapes nicely without bulk.
Shawls and wraps: Silky texture shows lace and cable patterns beautifully.
Scarves and cowls: Soft against the skin and cozy for cold weather.
Hats and gloves: Especially with patterns because they maintain stitch definition.
Baby garments and blankets: Hypoallergenic and gentle for sensitive skin.
Accessories with texture: Cables, lace, or colorwork stand out thanks to alpaca’s smooth fibers.

In general, alpaca is great for wearable items where stitch clarity, softness, and warmth are priorities, and less for projects requiring high elasticity.

When You Want to Avoid Alpaca Wool

Alpaca yarn doesn’t have much “spring” or bounce compared to sheep’s wool. When you stretch it, it doesn’t snap back into place, it just kind of stays stretched out. That’s what people mean by low elasticity.

This makes alpaca great for drapey, flowy projects, but not so good for items that need to hold their shape tightly or stretch and recover, like socks or snug cuffs.

Patterns that rely on snug waistbands or cuffs don’t work well with pure alpaca, because hems or cuffs will sag over time.
Socks will stretch out and tend to slip down without elastic fibers. (Although snug-fitted socks work well, though).
Form-fitting sweaters also lose their shape more easily since alpaca tends to hang rather than spring back.

In short, for items that need to cling (like cuffs, waistbands, or socks) it’s best to knit firmly or add a blend for elasticity.

Using Patterns that Are NOT For Alpaca Wool

If you’re using a pattern meant for another wool with alpaca, you will need to keep in mind that alpaca wool works differently. Here's what you might want to keep in mind:

Swatch first: Knit a little sample to check your gauge. Alpaca doesn’t stretch much, so things can end up a bit looser than you expect.
Adjust for drape and fit: Alpaca is heavier, so big sweaters or loose pieces might hang more. Add ribbing at hems, cuffs, or edges to keep shape, and loosen snug areas like cuffs or waistbands. You can even blend in a bit of elastic fiber if you need extra stretch.
Think about texture and finishing: Smooth alpaca shows cables and lace beautifully, but fuzzy yarn can hide details.

Sometimes, the yarn you buy comes with some information on the tag which might specify the needle size that is best to use.

Which Alpaca Wool Blends Are Good for Knitting?

If you are looking for a specific set of benefits, you can mix alpaca wool with other types of yarn. For example, when you’re looking for a cheaper variant than pure alpaca or you want extra softness/shine/breathability.

Here are some of my favourite alpaca wool blends:

Alpaca wool and bamboo (lightweight)
Alpaca wool and silk (shiny and luxurious)
Alpaca wool and sheep wool (cheaper and still natural)
Alpaca wool and acrylic (cheaper than 100% alpaca)
Alpaca wool and linen (breathable and natural)
Alpaca wool and qiviut (superduper exclusive!)
Baby alpaca and organic cotton (super soft and breathable)
Baby alpaca and merino wool (fluffy and soft)

For more wool blends, their uses and benefits, have a look at another article I wrote: 14 Alpaca Wool Blends You Need To Know About

Washing Alpaca Woolen Garments After Knitting Them

You’ll want to give your freshly knitted piece a gentle wash before you start wearing it. It helps relax the stitches so your knitting looks even and drapes nicely. Remember to stick to hand-wash only, though! Let the garment soak 15-30 minutes in cool water and lay it flat to dry.

If you care for it right after knitting, your knitwear will look and feel better for longer.

Sets the stitches: Washing helps relax your stitches so your knitting looks even and drapes nicely.
Cleans it up: Removes any leftover oils or dust from the yarn.
Softens it: Makes the fabric extra cozy and comfortable.
Checks the color: Ensures your colors won’t bleed in future washes.

For the full washing instructions, I recommend this article I wrote about how to wash alpaca woolen garments:
How Do You Wash Alpaca Woolen Products? (Step-By-Step Guide)

Alternatives to Knitting Alpaca Woolen Garments?!

What if knitting is not your thing? You don’t have to miss out on the warmth and softness of alpaca wool. Yanantin alpaca is a brand of ethically made knitwear, which empowers women in Peru by providing them with more than fair salaries for their incredible craftsmanship.

Each piece brings all the luxury and sustainable charm of alpaca directly to you. Explore our collection here: Yanantin Alpaca

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