Nuno felting with Alpaca Fiber

When most people think of nuno felting, they picture fine Merino wool migrating through silk, binding fabric and fiber into a light, textured textile. Mention using alpaca instead, and you’ll often hear the same response: “Oh, alpaca doesn’t felt well.”

That statement holds a grain of truth—but it’s not the whole story. Alpaca fiber brings its own challenges, yes, but also incredible opportunities for creating wearable art with an elegance all its own.

With thoughtful preparation and the right techniques, alpaca can shine in nuno felting.

Let’s explore why alpaca has earned this reputation, what makes it different from wool, and how you can work with it successfully.

Alpaca isn’t difficult because it’s low quality—it’s difficult because it’s different. Understanding that difference is the first step toward success.

1. Primary vs. secondary fibers
Alpacas aren’t truly a dual-coated species like goats or some primitive sheep breeds. Instead, their fleece contains two fiber types that grow together: primary fibers and secondary fibers.

• Primary fibers are coarser, often medullated, and more resistant to felting.

• Secondary fibers are finer, softer, and more capable of bonding.

When an alpaca fleece has too many coarse primaries left in, they won’t felt and will often migrate out of a project—leading to shedding or a weaker bond.

2. Smoother fiber scales
Wool fibers, especially Merino, have pronounced scales that naturally cling together during agitation. Alpaca’s scales are smoother and less pronounced, which means less grip and slower bonding.

3. Lack of crimp
Wool’s natural crimp gives elasticity and a built-in “spring,” helping fibers interlock. Alpaca fibers tend to be straighter, which makes migration through the silk base slower.

Put simply: alpaca doesn’t grab on the way wool does. That’s why people often struggle with it in felting—and why so many dismiss it as “unsuitable.”

If alpaca has challenges, why bother? Because when it works, the results are extraordinary.

Alpaca brings qualities to nuno felt that wool alone cannot:

• Softness and drape – Alpaca creates lightweight, flowing garments that feel silky and luxurious against the skin.

• Hypoallergenic appeal – With no lanolin, alpaca is a wonderful option for people with sensitive skin.

• Sheen and elegance – The natural luster of alpaca gives finished pieces a subtle glow, perfect for scarves, ponchos, or capes.

• Design opportunities – Blending alpaca with wool or other fibers creates complex textures and surfaces you won’t achieve with wool alone.

The beauty lies not in making alpaca behave like wool, but in celebrating its unique qualities.

The key to nuno felting with alpaca is preparation. Taking time here can make the difference between frustration and magic.

• Skirt and sort carefully – Remove coarse primary fibers and guard hairs. These won’t felt and will compromise the strength of your fabric.

• Choose the right grade – Fine or superfine alpaca (under about 22 microns) felts far better than coarser grades.

• Card or blend – Carding alpaca into batts or blending it with other fibers gives you a more even distribution and better control in layout.

• Pre-felt lightly – Some artists pre-felt alpaca batts before applying them to silk, which helps manage sliding and keeps fibers in place.

These steps take time, but they’re worth it—especially when you’re working with a fiber as luxurious as alpaca.

Once your alpaca is prepped, technique takes over. Here are a few strategies seasoned felters use to help alpaca shine in nuno work:

• Blend with wool – Even a small percentage of Merino or Cormo wool adds “grip” and anchors alpaca fibers into the fabric base.

• Layer strategically – Place alpaca close to the silk or fabric base, then overlay lightly with wool to encourage bonding.

• Add embellishment fibers – Mohair, silk threads, or viscose can enhance texture while helping the alpaca hold.

• Be patient with fulling – Alpaca may take longer to migrate, so expect more rolling, agitation, and coaxing.

With these techniques, alpaca can be transformed from a “difficult” fiber into a rewarding one.

Perhaps the most important step is adjusting expectations. Alpaca will never behave exactly like Merino wool—and that’s not a weakness, it’s a gift.

Instead of aiming for a dense, wool-like felt, embrace alpaca for what it brings: lightness, drape, and an understated elegance. Scarves, ponchos, and flowing garments showcase alpaca beautifully, while blending ensures structure where needed.

Think of it less as forcing alpaca to behave, and more as collaborating with the fiber.

Nuno felting with alpaca is not about fighting its differences but understanding and working with them. Yes, it takes more preparation. Yes, it requires patience. But the results—soft, graceful fabrics that shimmer with natural beauty—are worth every extra roll and every moment spent sorting fiber.

At Enchanted Fibers, we believe every ounce of alpaca deserves a purpose. By embracing both the challenges and opportunities of alpaca in nuno felting, we not only honor the animal but also create wearable art that tells a story—of the herd, of the hands that crafted it, and of the person who wears it.

So the next time you hear someone say, “Alpaca doesn’t felt well,” you’ll know the truth: alpaca doesn’t felt like wool. And that’s exactly what makes it special.