I just received the most beautiful handspun alpaca wool from a friend to make a Christmas gift for my dad. The yarn is 100% Alpaca double plied white and brown alpaca. I will be making a FELTED cowboy hat for my mom.
The yarn is awsome and excelltly what I want BUT....it kind of smells. It smells like Alpaca/Sheep and it's oily. It makes my hands (and room) smell like Alpaca. I dont know about washing it as it will be felted. How should I work with it? Should I rinse it? Should I suck it up and deal with it? Should I air it out outside? Should I wear gloves?
I love this yarn and just can't wait to start working with it.
Thanks
2006-11-03 06:25:41 · 3 answers · asked by brynachndlr 2 in Games & Recreation ➔ Hobbies & Crafts
It can be washed --- carefully.
I'm surprised that it's oily because alpaca doesn't have lanolin like sheep.
Here is a link to some good washing instructions and also info and two message boards.
2006-11-03 09:24:14 · answer #1 · answered by Sweet Mystery of Life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can hand wash it using Dawn dish soap which will cut the grease really well. I have washed raw wool this way. Wrap the yarn loosely around an empty plastic liter soda bottle so it doesn't get all tangled in the wash water. You may have to do several batches.
Use really hot water and a lot of dish soap. Lower the yarn into the hot water and let it soak for a while. Remove the yarn before you change water for the rinse(s). You will probably have to rinse several times, again its ok to use hot water. After it has been washed. roll it in a towel to remove as much excess water as possible and allow the yarn to dry away from the heat. You can wind the yarn around the back of a wood chair or something similar so the air can circulate better.
2006-11-03 07:56:33 · answer #2 · answered by knittinmama 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can try washing it with something like Kookaburra Woolwash, which contains tea tree oil. It is available at some yarn stores, or you can order it online from Patternworks, which also sells several other washing products. I have not tried any of them, though. I HAVE washed wool yarn in the Kookaburra, and I do plan on using on some llama that I am going to be spinning.
Fill a basin with cold water, add the Woolwash, and then put the yarn in it. Squeeze it a bit to make sure it gets really wet.
Then leave it alone for a few minutes. Do not agitate it.
Drain the water, rinse. Then roll the wet yarn in a towel, and hang it to dry.
As for wearing gloves. I don't think you need to. Tea tree oil is antiseptic.
Good luck. Your mom will love her hat!
2006-11-03 13:10:55 · answer #3 · answered by yossk1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋