Spinner's Alphabet: What Begins with L? Llama!

By Amelia © July 13, 2026

is for Llama. That super fun, often mislabeled fiber. No, it's not just coarser than alpaca, it's also softer. Depends on the llama! My Mahogany, pictured here, had 18 micron fiber as an adult. Bolivian Llama is by far the nicest breed for fiber. And so many natural colors!

Llama, like alpaca, is a bit more slippery than wool as it has less scale on the surface. So I focus on making very solid joins with at least a staple length of fiber left when I add new fiber, ensuring old and new are drafted together. That said, llama can felt! I made some 100% llama socks and they were unfortunately put in the dryer - not by me! So do take care.

I love putting llama in a sock blend, in fact, as it can have a nice staple length and nice llama, like my Mahogany, can add softness as well. My favorite llama blend was Mahogany and Marge, a Shetland sheep with a moorit fleece. Their two colors went well together leading to a rich roving that was a pleasure to spin!

Llama was the fiber I turned to when I started trying to spin laceweight. It was lovely for that, so easy to draft. I was still early in my spinning career, so though I did knit lace with it, as seen in the image, it was not quite laceweight in thickness. Now that I am more skilled, I do still love spinning llama laceweight. I still have a bit of Mahogany's fleece in my stash, and I love combing it to have a perfect smooth prep for spinning fine.

Other fun L's: laceweight, the goal of so many spinners that Shetland Lace Ring Shawl, with yarn so fine the shawl can be drawn through a ring; luster, the natural sheen in mohair, longwools, silk, and viscose fibers (tencel, rayon, etc.)

What has been your experience with llama?

Do you have another spinning L?

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© July 13, 2026 by Ask The Bellwether, posted at http://askthebellwether.com/