Scouring, preppins and spinning Llama - Camaj Fiber Arts

Someone sent me a bag of llama fiber because I told them I had never worked with llama before. Well, little did I know there could be a wide range of microns between llamas. Someone told me I must have had a pack llama because the fiber was so coarse compared to one that was bred for fiber. Now I know.

What has been your experience with llama fiber?

This is some information from some of my llama experienced fiber friends on Facebook.

The further camelids go down the trail of domestication, the coarser the fiber becomes. Lamas have been domesticated and used as pack animals for ages...the fiber is coarser than their cousins, alpacas, who have been used for fiber herds. The finest fiber belongs to vicunas and guanacos...not kept for man at all until recently. Of course, there are outliers....but this is a broad generalization. Commercial dehairing does wonders for llama.

Iin the U.S.A, the alpaca breeders association worked on educating breeders on breeding for fineness and density. In the almost 4 decades of alpaca ownership here, the fiber quality has improved drastically. The focus of Llama breeders wasn't really about the fiber and therefore hasn't improved as much. The Argentinian Llamas having been bred originally from alpaca X Llama are less coarse.

Do you want to learn how to spin yarn, prep, scour or dye? Take one of my very popular online fiber classes here https://welcome.camaj-school-of-fiber...

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