Processing the Fiber | Fiber Links | Hand Spinning

God sent this beautiful rainbow to our farm to remind us of the colors of nature for dying

What is llama fiber?

The “wool” or hair that grows on a llama is called fiber.  Llama fiber comes in a myriad of colors ranging from white, black, gray, and many shades of brown. Some llamas produce very unique fiber because of their markings.  A llama with a light background and darker spots is called an appaloosa. The term paint is used to describe a multi colored llama with a base color and several large areas of one or more darker colors. You can imagine the wonderful color that could be created when processing these fibers.

 There two kinds of llama fiber. One is double coated. A double-coated llama has both outer guard hairs and a rich down undercoat. The guard hairs are very course and rough. These thicker straight hairs can be removed when processing llama by pulling them out.  The down or undercoat is very soft, shorter, and may have some crimp in it. Some llamas are called single coated because they have very little guard hair in their coat. These llamas produce the most luxurious fiber.

Just what’s so great about llama fiber?

Llama fiber is a luxury fiber.  Llama fiber doesn’t have the lanolin that sheep wool has. It is a very lightweight and versatile fiber. For those who spin, weave, knit or crochet, llama fiber has less elasticity than wool. It is very durable with a luxurious feel to it. There is very little static in llama fiber.  It blends will with other fibers like fine sheep wool or silk to make a wonderful, durable blend.

Llama fiber is very versatile. It can be used alone or blended with other kinds of fiber. 

It is easy to spin and work with. It can be either hand or machine spun in to wonderful yarn. Llama fiber can be used to make varying weights of yarn from very fine to very bulky. Light colored llama fiber can be dyed using either natural or synthetic dyes.

 What do you use the fiber for?

Llama fiber with lots of guard hair left in is best used for heavy use items like rugs, purses, pillows, blankets, and hats.  You can even make a lead rope out of it to lead your llama with. It can also be used for felting. You can do either wet or dry felting with llama wool

 Llama fiber that most of the guard hair removed or is mostly the undercoat down makes a very soft yarn that is perfect for sweaters, socks, scarves, vests, shawls, and even jackets.

 You can even use it to make jewelry with.  

Foot Felting:

Take a gallon zip lock freezer bag and add some llama fiber, warm water and a little dish washing liquid. Seal up and then have a great stepping on the bag for about 15 to 20 mins until the fiber felts. Rinse, and lay flat to dry. You can use cookie cutters to draw a design and make felted ornaments for your Christmas Tree.

 As you can see the uses for llama fiber are only limited by your imagination.

Good News Llamas