Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Fiber & crafts

From Fleece to Yarn: How Alpaca Fiber Is Processed

The steps from raw alpaca fleece to finished yarn — skirting, washing, picking, dehairing, carding, combing, drafting, spinning, plying, finishing — and working with a mini-mill.

Updated 2026-10-022 min readBy the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Alpaca fiber goes through several steps before it becomes yarn. Whether you process at home or send your fleeces to a mill, understanding the chain helps you get the yarn you want.

The processing chain

Step What it does
1. Skirting & sorting Removes dirty edges, VM and coarse fiber; sorts by grade and color. See skirting.
2. Washing (scouring) Removes dirt and dust. Alpaca has no lanolin, so washing is gentler than for sheep’s wool.
3. Drying Fiber is dried thoroughly to prevent mold.
4. Picking / opening Opens locks and loosens clumps.
5. Dehairing (optional) Removes coarse guard hair for a softer yarn.
6. Carding Aligns fibers into a fluffy web, then batts or roving. Produces airy woolen-spun yarn.
7. Combing (optional) Removes short fibers and aligns long ones in parallel for smooth worsted yarn.
8. Drafting / pin-drafting Evens out the roving for consistent yarn.
9. Spinning Twists fibers into single yarn.
10. Plying Twists two or more singles together for strength and balance.
11. Finishing Washing, setting the twist, skeining and labelling.

Mill or home?

Mini-mills specialize in small-farm batches and can return roving, batts, felt or yarn from your own animals. Ask about:

  • minimum and maximum batch sizes,
  • skirting requirements and VM tolerance,
  • yields (expect roughly 55–75% of skirted weight to become yarn),
  • blending options (alpaca with merino, silk or nylon for socks),
  • turnaround time and prices per pound.

Estimate your output with the fiber yield calculator.

Choosing yarn specifications

  • Fiber grade: match micron to use — see fiber grades.
  • Weight: lace, fingering, sport, DK, worsted, bulky.
  • Blends: 10–25% nylon adds durability for socks; 20–30% merino adds elasticity and memory; silk adds sheen and drape.
  • Woolen vs worsted: woolen is lofty and warm; worsted is smooth, strong and shows stitch definition.

Frequently asked questions

Why does alpaca yarn grow (stretch) in garments? Alpaca has less crimp and elasticity than wool. Blending with wool or choosing denser stitches helps.

Does alpaca need to be washed before spinning? Many handspinners spin “in the grease” after shaking out dust, but washing gives cleaner results.

Keep reading

How to Skirt an Alpaca FleeceSpinning Alpaca Fiber: Tips for HandspinnersAlpaca Fiber Yield CalculatorAlpaca Fiber Grades & Micron Chart

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.