If you are looking for the best alpaca yarn for knitting, you probably already know what makes alpaca so tempting. It is incredibly warm without feeling overly heavy, has beautiful drape, and can add just the right amount of softness and halo to scarves, cowls, sweaters, and other cold-weather knits.
The tricky part is choosing the right alpaca yarn for the project you actually want to make.
Some alpaca yarns are lightweight and delicate enough for lace knitting, while others are blended with wool or acrylic to add structure, durability, or easier care. I pulled together several alpaca and alpaca-blend yarns at different weights and price points so you can find one that works for your next project.
What Is the Best Alpaca Yarn for Knitting?
The best alpaca yarn really depends on what you are making.
For lightweight scarves, cowls, and lace projects, I would look for a fingering-weight alpaca yarn with plenty of drape. Alpaca Cloud Fingering and Blue Sky Fibers Prairie are both especially interesting options for this type of knitting.
For sweaters, hats, mittens, and heavier accessories, a wool-and-alpaca blend can give you more structure than pure alpaca. And if you want a more affordable, easy-care option, a yarn with a smaller percentage of alpaca blended into acrylic can still give your project some of that soft alpaca feel.
Here are some of the best alpaca yarns for knitting that are worth considering.
Lana Grossa Meilenweit Alpaca Yarn
Weight: Fingering
Fiber: 70% alpaca, 30% polyamide
Yardage: 459 yards per 100 grams
Needle Size: US 1–3
Best for: Socks, cowls, scarves, lightweight accessories
Lana Grossa Meilenweit Alpaca is a really nice option if you want the softness and warmth of alpaca but still need a yarn that can handle everyday wear. It combines 70% alpaca with 30% polyamide, giving you plenty of alpaca softness while the added polyamide provides extra durability. It is also machine washable, which makes it especially practical for socks and frequently worn accessories.
With 459 yards in a 100-gram skein, you get plenty of yardage for lightweight projects without constantly joining another ball. Jimmy Beans Wool lists it as a fingering-weight yarn with a gauge of about 7.5 stitches per inch on US 1–3 needles.
Because this is a fingering-weight alpaca yarn, I would also consider it for the Miriam Cowl. The alpaca would give the lace plenty of softness and warmth, while the polyamide should add a little more strength than you would get from a 100% alpaca yarn.
Try it for: Miriam Cowl, socks, lightweight scarves, cowls, and small cold-weather accessories
Knit Picks Andean Treasure
Weight: Sport
Fiber: 100% Peruvian baby alpaca
Best for: Hats, scarves, mittens, cowls, lightweight garments
If fingering weight feels just a little too fine for what you want to make, Knit Picks Andean Treasure is a good step up.
This is a 100% baby alpaca yarn, so the focus is really on that soft, warm alpaca fabric. Knit Picks recommends it for projects including scarves and hats and notes that its alpaca fiber creates a lightweight yarn with plenty of warmth.
I like this weight for accessories because it still gives you a relatively lightweight finished knit without requiring the tiny needles you would normally use with fingering-weight yarn.
Because alpaca has more drape and less elasticity than traditional wool, I would keep that in mind when substituting it into a pattern. Always knit a gauge swatch before jumping into a fitted project.
Try it for: Scarves, cowls, hats, wraps, lightweight sweaters
Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Weight: Worsted
Fiber: 50% alpaca, 50% wool
Yardage: 215 yards per 100 grams
Best for: Sweaters, scarves, hats, cowls, mittens
If you love alpaca but still want some of the structure you get from wool, Berroco Ultra Alpaca is probably one of the most versatile options in this roundup.
This worsted-weight yarn combines alpaca and wool in an even 50/50 blend. Jimmy Beans Wool lists it at 215 yards per 100-gram hank with a recommended gauge of about 5 stitches per inch.
That blend makes it a really nice middle ground. You still get the warmth and softness of alpaca, while the wool adds some bounce and structure.
I would reach for this one when knitting sweaters, substantial scarves, winter hats, or anything where I want alpaca without quite as much drape as a 100% alpaca yarn.
There are also a LOT of colors available, which makes it especially useful when you are trying to match a specific project rather than designing the whole project around the yarn.
Try it for: Sweaters, cardigans, hats, mittens, scarves
Berroco Ultra Alpaca Natural
Weight: Worsted
Fiber: 50% superfine alpaca, 50% Peruvian wool
Yardage: 219 yards per 100 grams
Best for: Natural-color sweaters, accessories, textured knitting
If you like the idea of Ultra Alpaca but prefer natural shades, Ultra Alpaca Natural is another option worth looking at.
It combines 50% superfine alpaca with 50% Peruvian wool and has 219 yards per 100-gram hank.
I especially like this type of yarn for simple patterns where the fiber and natural coloring get to do most of the work. Stockinette, ribbing, cables, and classic sweater shapes would all work beautifully with it.
The wool content also gives this yarn more structure than you would normally get from pure alpaca, making it easier to use for garments.
Try it for: Sweaters, cardigans, scarves, hats, textured accessories
Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca
Weight: Worsted
Fiber: 90% acrylic, 10% alpaca
Yardage: 207 yards per 100 grams
Best for: Budget-friendly sweaters, scarves, hats, gifts
You definitely do not have to buy a 100% alpaca yarn to add alpaca to your knitting.
Lion Brand Touch of Alpaca is an especially practical option if you want something affordable and easier to care for. It is a worsted-weight yarn made from 90% acrylic and 10% alpaca, with 207 yards in a 100-gram ball. It is also machine washable.
Obviously, this is going to feel and behave differently from a yarn that is 50% or 100% alpaca. But that can actually be a benefit.
The acrylic gives you durability, easier washing, and a lower price point while the alpaca adds some extra softness and interest to the blend.
I would especially consider this for gifts, children’s knits, or larger projects where buying enough 100% alpaca could get expensive very quickly.
Try it for: Hats, scarves, cowls, sweaters, everyday gifts
Is 100% Alpaca Yarn Better Than an Alpaca Blend?
Not necessarily!
This is one of those situations where the “best” yarn really depends on the project.
A 100% alpaca yarn gives you maximum alpaca softness, warmth, and drape. That can be gorgeous for scarves, shawls, cowls, and loose-fitting garments.
An alpaca and wool blend tends to have a little more structure and elasticity. That can make it easier to use for sweaters, hats, mittens, and other projects where you want the fabric to hold its shape.
An alpaca and acrylic blend can be much more budget friendly and may also be easier to wash.
So I would not automatically choose the yarn with the highest percentage of alpaca. Choose the fiber blend that makes the most sense for what you are knitting.
Is Alpaca Yarn Good for Lace Knitting?
Yes! Alpaca can be beautiful for lace.
The natural drape works especially well with open stitch patterns, and the warmth of alpaca means even a very lightweight lace fabric can still feel substantial when you wear it.
That is one reason I like fingering-weight alpaca for projects such as the Miriam Cowl.
Just remember that alpaca does not have the same elasticity as wool. If your lace project needs a lot of bounce or needs to spring tightly back into shape, an alpaca-and-wool blend may work better than pure alpaca.
Is Alpaca Yarn Warmer Than Wool?
Alpaca is known for being lightweight while providing a lot of warmth. Knit Picks explains that alpaca fibers have a hollow center that helps trap warmth, which is one of the reasons alpaca works so well for cold-weather accessories without requiring a really heavy fabric.
That makes alpaca especially appealing for scarves and cowls. You can knit something relatively light and still end up with a wonderfully warm finished piece.
What Should You Knit With Alpaca Yarn?
Alpaca works beautifully for:
- Scarves
- Cowls
- Shawls
- Sweaters and cardigans
- Hats
- Mittens
- Lightweight lace accessories
The biggest thing to remember is drape.
If I were knitting a loose scarf or lace cowl, I would be perfectly happy using a high-alpaca-content yarn. If I were knitting something that needed more structure or elasticity, I would probably choose an alpaca and wool blend.
My Favorite Alpaca Yarn Weights
For accessories, I especially like fingering and worsted weight alpaca yarns.
Fingering weight is beautiful for delicate scarves, cowls, and lace. It lets the fabric stay light while alpaca provides the warmth.
Worsted weight is much more versatile for everyday cold-weather knitting. You can use it for hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, and all sorts of projects without waiting forever for the project to grow.
If you have never knit with alpaca before, an alpaca-and-wool worsted blend can be a really easy place to start.
What to Knit Next
Once you have picked out your alpaca yarn, now comes the fun part—figuring out what to cast on!
Whatever you choose, make sure you knit a gauge swatch before substituting alpaca into a pattern. The extra drape can change the finished fabric more than you might expect.
And that is part of the fun of finding the best alpaca yarn for knitting—you can choose a lightweight pure alpaca, a structured wool blend, or an affordable alpaca blend depending on exactly what you want your finished project to feel like.
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