My love/hate relationship with Alpaca

[Rodelphia]

Hello all! I've been working on spinning up some of my alpaca roving that I have, but I'm having some problems. My yarn seems like it just wants to fall apart no matter what I do, and I didn't know if maybe some of you have had a similar issue. I love alpaca because its always so soft, but I think that might be part of why it doesn't want to stay together. This is what I have so far, its just a single thats about 12-13 wpi. I've had to tie it in a couple places where my fibers slipped apart even after I set the twist on it. Help?
 

[Belladune]

okay, well.  Obviously I cant say much about alpaca, since I`ve never spun it before, and wont ever spin it.  But I will say this.  Every different fibre requires a different amount of twist to make it stay together.  They all behave just slightly different when twist is added.  if it`s drifting, and not snapping, chances are you need a tad more twist.  Don`t forget that twist will pool in thin spots, and there will be less in thick spots.   that`s all I can really help with.  Hopefully Jexx or someone who has worked with lots of Alpaca will chime in and give us more information on the nature of this particular beast.

[Rodelphia]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give putting more twist in a try. I didn't realize that the twist would pool in the thin spots, I just assumed that if I drafted out more it would be evenly distributed across the fiber. I guess I kind of understand the concept behind on-purpose thick and thin yarn now though! Learn something new every day.

[Belladune]

  Glad it helped a bit!   And that I was able to teach you something new!

[jexxican]

Yeah, I don't know. It sounds to me like there's not enough twist in it either. I think the only fiber I've been able to spin as singles on my wheel has been alpaca because it seems to need more twist and I tend to overspin.

I must say, though, that hank has me drooling. I want to love on it and make socks with it so I can keep them with me at all times. Yay socks!

[Rodelphia]

lol. thanks! i've started knitting it into a pair of fingerless mittens. i was hoping the heat from dying it after i spun it would make things stick together better so i dyed it with wilton's food coloring. it didn't really help, but at least now its pretty.

[nikschaf]

Very pretty yarn!! 

I agree -- you probably need more spin.  It looks like quite a fine yarn, and maybe you didn't have it on a fast enough whorl for such a fine yarn.  I have spun singles alpaca yarns a couple of times.  I didn't have problems with it holding together, but I don't think I drafted it as fine as you did.  Also, mine was a bit overspun, but I found it didn't matter -- the alpaca yarn still felt super soft even with a bit of extra spin in it, and it drapes nicely.

[Rodelphia]

I'm working on some more alpaca, you guys were all right about needing more twist. What I'm spinning now is a little thinner than this and isn't drifting like the other one was. I guess I was just worried about it not feeling as soft if I put a lot of twist into it. Thanks for all the help!

[Belladune]

Yay!  glas its turning out well!

[mullerslanefarm]

I totally understand your love/hate relationship with alpaca ... I love the way it feels, but don't like the lack of 'memory'.  I always card a fine wool with my alpaca so I can have the best of both worlds!