For a few years now alpacas have been increasing in popularity, mainly because of their sought-after fleeces which are much softer than sheeps wool, and you have to admit, they are beautiful looking animals to have around too. The popularity of alpaca wool is largely thanks to Sir Titus Salt, a Yorkshire born entrepreneur who joined his father in the wool trade at the age of 18, who discovered the fleece for sale at Liverpool docks. He went on to create garments with the fleece which were popular with the upper class and from this went on to build his own mill.

Today there are many small scale producers of the wool, and some of these sell the fleece through websites making it more accessible to those who don’t have the space to keep their own alpacas, but love the quality and lustre of the wool and wish to use it for spinning or weaving, and to make homemade items from shawls and blankets to socks and hats and even super-soft fluffy teddy bears. (more…)