Pre-drafting Alpaca Fiber

Pre-drafting alpaca fiber before spinning will make your life much easier. It took us a while to learn this (not how to do it, just that it would make our lives easier).

First of all what is drafting? Drafting is sliding the fibers out of the fiber mass for spinning. You draft during the spinning process to make your yarn.

We taught ourselves spinning and had to learn some lessons the longer route. Our yarn was not as uniform as we would have liked it.

As soon as we read about pre-drafting and tried it, we had solved our problem. It is a technique of loosening the fibers prior to drafting and spinning.

If your fibers are light enough, you may not need pre-drafting. If your fiber is thick then you need to open it up and allow it to breathe. By stretching and pulling the fibers, you will speed up your spinning and beginners will spin a much more uniform yarn.

When pre-drafting you just want to loosen the fibers. You need to be careful not to tear the fiber into bits.

First, you can open up a roving by pulling the fibers apart widthwise starting at one end.

Then, divide your batt or roving into two or more strips lengthwise. Take one of these strips and hold it in your two hands. Your hands should be about six to ten inches apart. Gently tug on the strip until you feel the fibers start to pull apart. Just remember not to pull them completely apart.

Next, move your hands along the strip of fiber and repeat this gentle loosening of fibers until you have done the whole strip. Repeat the same action with the other strips.

Watch the video demonstration of pre drafting alpaca fiber to see the above described.

Alpaca fiber has an undeserving reputation as being difficult to spin. We find this to be totally untrue. If you are beginning to spin, we suggest spinning unwashed fibers. Alpaca can be slippery if clean, but unclean spins very easily. Then you just wash your yarn after it's made.

Once you get the hang of spinning the unclean alpaca, spinning clean alpaca is easier. If you pre-draft alpaca fiber that is clean, spinning goes very nicely.

Spinning alpaca fiber is fun and relaxing. You can make all sorts of novely yarns. You can knit or crochet beautiful items from alpaca. You don't have to spend a fortune to learn how to spin or purchase expensive equipment. Start off with a drop spindle.

So, pre-draft alpaca fiber prior to spinning and have fun instead of getting frustrated. There's nothing better than making yarn from alpacas you hand raised!

Return from pre-drafting to alpaca yarn. Return to owning-alpaca home page.