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Saturday, Sep. 12, 2009

Nothing as soft as alpaca

Animal's fibers come in different shades of white, brown, gray and black

To look at Caren Bryant's stuffed bears, they're as cute and cuddly as any other stuffed bear. To the touch, though, they're softer than the standard store-bought teddy bear. And when one of her bears is picked up and held to the cheek, everyone's response is the same.

Oh, wow! It's so soft people always say, according to Bryant. They're amazed at how soft the alpaca really is.

Besides the texture, alpaca fiber features several other endearing characteristics. It's four to five times warmer than wool, for the same thickness; it's hypo-allergenic, which is rare for a natural fiber; has great wicking ability, which means it keeps excess water away from the skin; and the fiber lasts longer than most, when made into clothing.

Suri Alpaca fiber has a beautiful sheen and comes in more than 20 natural colors -- from whites, beige and gray to tans, browns, a warm burgundy and black. Gray, rose-gray and black are the rarest colors. And the two-tone alpacas produce fiber that looks variegated when spun. For those who want a different color, the fiber can be dyed. (Kool-Aid works well.)

Millions of alpacas are raised in Peru, making it one of the country's main industries. The alpaca is related to camels, the llama and two other South American animals.

The Suri alpaca differs from the Huacaya (pronounced, wuh-ki-yuh) alpaca in a few ways: Suri fiber is solid, meaning it weighs more and hangs down from the body. It is also straight, whereas the Huacaya fiber has a natural crimp, causing it to spring back when stretched. Huacaya fiber lacks the Suri's luster.

There's nothing so beautiful as watching the Suris run, with their fiber dancing as they move, Caren's husband John says.

The fiber grows continually and will reach to the ground, if not sheared. But with too much growth it gets tangled and can't be used for spinning into yarn. The Bryants shear their alpacas annually. Bryant spins when she has time, as it's something she loves to relax with after a long day at the office.

For 30 years in Oregon, she raised sheep and spun the wool, so it didn't take Bryant long to make the switch to alpaca. Her husband says she's a natural spinner.

The tension is different, and alpaca takes more twists per inch, because it's so fine, she says.

The fiber produces a fingerling yarn, the perfect weight for lacy shawls and scarves. It's mixed with acrylic or wool for making socks and sweaters, to give the clothing stretch or memory.

After being sheared, the fiber is skirted, which means all the straw and debris must be hand-picked out of it, before being cleaned and processed.

They like to wear their food, Bryant laughs.

With so much fiber to process, a lot of it is taken to a mini-mill in North Fork, where it's washed, carded and spun; then made into rugs or rovings. A roving is similar to a bolt of fabric. The fiber is wound around and around in a nice, neat package; then it's ready for spinning.

It comes in three thicknesses: The finest is sheared from the barrel of the animal and called firsts. The second comes from the shoulders and hips and is fairly fine. The third comes from the head, neck and legs, and is somewhat coarse.

It is often sold to hand-spinners for use in making clothing, doll hair and even nesting material.

From archaeological records dating back to 6,000 years ago, the Suris have been a domestic animal. And among the Andes people, fabric woven from alpaca fiber was so soft and alluring, it was used as currency.

As gentle as they are soft, the alpacas still must be respected. They do kick and spit, like their relations. The top lip is split, so that each side moves independently, allowing the alpaca to pick up something very small with its mouth.

At the Bryant's Yosemite Valley Alpaca Ranch, each animal is named, registered and DNA-tested. They eat orchard grass hay and a nutritional supplement of necessary vitamins and minerals from South America.

Suris were first imported to the U.S. in 1991. With the best genetics and selective breeding techniques, plus improved nutrition and animal husbandry, U.S. breeders have advanced the quality of Suri bloodlines and the fiber they produce, one brochure states.

When the Bryants moved to this part of California, they bought a few llamas to keep away predators. That led to getting a few alpacas -- and it was love at first sight. With huge chocolate brown eyes and a head full of hair hanging in their faces, they are irresistible to animal lovers.

Nothing else about them is valuable, Bryant says. Their milk comes in small quantities, only enough for the babies. All they're good for is their fiber and cuteness.

Look at that, Bryant says, patting the nose of one of the alpacas. Some of her hair has rubbed off, from sticking her nose through the fence to reach the green grass.

Once again, the Yosemite Valley Alpaca Ranch will be part of this fall's "Weekend in the Country: Mariposa's Agri-Nature Trail," which takes place the last Saturday and Sunday of September. Visitors can learn about alpacas from an educational display, as well as seeing the animals' beauty firsthand.

For more information about the tour, call (209) 377-8450, or visit the Web site: www.MariposaAgTour.com.

Debbie Croft writes about life in the foothill communities. She can be reached at composed@tds.net, or at her Sun-Star blog: City Girl, Country Life