#alpaca socks from peru

[chronicangel]

Pacifica Northwest's Sweet Sixteen

Link to this fic on AO3. Words: 4169 Date posted: October 17, 2024

Summary:

You are invited to the greatest party of the century!

When Pacifica wakes up, it’s still dark out.

She reaches over instinctively to turn off her alarm before she realizes that her alarm isn’t going off, and then she just stares up at the silk canopy over her bed. She must have had a nightmare, but she can’t remember it. That’s good, she thinks. It’s always harder to get back to sleep when she remembers them.

She picks up her phone to squint at the time. 5:03 AM. Happy birthday to me, she thinks, rolling her eyes. She’d check her social media, but it’s too early for any of the other people who actually care about her birthday to have said anything to her, and she doesn’t want to scroll through all of the pictures of happy families and families pretending to be happy for the holiday. She’s going to get plenty of that at home today, she thinks.

As much as she’d begged and pleaded for Susan to let her work today, her boss had rightfully pointed out that even if the diner wasn’t closed for the day to give all of the other employees time off with their families, they wouldn’t have any customers. No escaping her parents, then. They probably wouldn’t have reacted well if she tried to skip their party, anyway.

You are invited to the greatest party of the century! Celebrate Gravity Falls’ own winter miracle with us once again at the annual Northwest Winter Gala, Christmas and a birthday all wrapped into one. This year’s theme: Sweet 16. Colors are champagne, lavender, and the Canadian dollar. Gifts are mandatory.

She wanted to puke when her mother handed her the invites along with the guest list and told her the envelopes had to be in her handwriting as if she’d had any choice in who was coming.

She gives up on getting back to sleep. It was stupid to think she’d be able to in the first place. She almost never can, and her birthday is an especially miserable occasion. She still remembers when Mom used to wake her up at midnight with a slice of chocolate cake that she was absolutely not allowed to eat in bed, back when her parents still pretended to like her.

Despite the drafts of snow she can see through her bedroom window, her room is nice and toasty when she throws the blankets off. She used to have her own fireplace. It was probably a safety hazard, but she liked sitting in front of it to read on late winter nights.

She glares at her closet. The dress her mother has picked for her this evening looks like the middle step between a wedding dress and the sort of dress you stuff a toddler into for Easter pictures. She hates it, but she knows not wearing it will be a bigger issue than it’s worth.

For now, she skips right past it to put on winter clothes instead. Fleece-lined leggings, fluffy socks made from alpaca wool imported from Peru, a turtleneck that had been knitted for her by the Austrian prince’s grandmother, and a coat she bought with her own money during their last ski trip to the Alps make up the basics of her outfit, and by the time she gets downstairs and to the front door, they’re joined by a scarf that feels like running water in her hands and luxury brand hiking boots made from shell cordovan.

There’s something so refreshing about the gust of cold air that hits her face when she steps outside, immediately whipping her bangs into her eyes. It is not a still or quiet morning in Gravity Falls. After they had lost the mansion, they moved into a new one in the closest thing Gravity Falls has to “the suburbs,” and there is no big hill or private patch of forest to block the wind from biting at her nose and fingertips. She sucks in a deep breath of it and watches it fog up in front of her as she exhales.

Maybe it’s because she’s a winter baby, but she’s always found the cold weather so grounding. When her boots sink into the snow and it threatens to pour over the top against her socks, that’s when the world feels the most real.

The woods are never far in Gravity Falls even if your family doesn’t own their own private portion of the forest, and when every other scent has been crowded out by pine and the snow is in a thinner layer on the ground because it has too many tree branches to get through to pile up, that’s when she really relaxes. She thinks she can’t have been walking for more than twenty or thirty minutes, and a quick glance at her phone confirms it. Her hair isn’t being thrown around by the wind anymore, safe within the barrier of the trees, but the damage has already been done. She can practically hear her mom’s temper tantrum about what a tangled mess it is, but that’s a problem for later. This moment, right now? This is just for her.

She closes her eyes and takes another deep breath. There’s a richer smell to the forest with her eyes closed. Snow doesn’t smell exactly like rain, but there’s a hint of that earthy smell, wet trees and wet grass and wet dirt all drinking up whatever they can before they freeze solid. She walks until she finds a place to sit down, a knocked-over log that’s frozen over with just a little bit of snow, and she figures it’s not a big deal if her pants get wet because she has to change before the party anyway. Mom and Dad aren’t going to like it, she thinks, but rather than the anxiety that would have gnawed at her only a few years ago at that idea, it only brings a smile to her lips. The only thing that would make this moment better is a cup of coffee.

She doesn’t know how long she just sits there like that, soaking in the peace of a winter morning. She thinks the snow must have stopped, because there aren’t even stray flurries rushing between branches anymore. Her fingers are bright red, and she can barely feel them. She should have put gloves on before she left.

Eventually, she sees the sun starting to peek over the tops of the trees, casting a golden glow on the whole forest. More than that—the snow on the ground reflects the light in a gleaming rainbow that shimmers over the entire ground. She picks her phone up to take a picture, and once she’s snapped a few that she likes, her eyes catch on a few notifications.

Mabel Pines 🌟: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! 🩷💜💙💖💖💫🌠🦙🌲🎄Mabel Pines 🌟: omg i still cannot beLIEVE that your birthday is CHRISTMASWendy Corduroy : happy birthday, dude! hope your family is less terrible this year.Dipper 💙: Happy Birthday, Paz. I’ll call you later, ok?

She snorts. Dipper texts like such a middle-aged dad. Still, as she goes through replying to them, she tells him that she’s looking forward to it.

And she is. Even though the twins haven’t visited Gravity Falls in-person since that summer when they were 12, they’ve been a near-constant presence in her life since then. She calls Dipper in the middle of the night when she has nightmares and can’t get back to sleep (and he never seems to be able to get to sleep in the first place), she and Mabel send each other at least fifty selfies with a million filters each per day, and she jokes about running away to see them in Piedmont at least twice a week most weeks.

She hadn’t even realized that she was smiling until it drops when her mother’s caller ID pops up on the screen, and she answers before it even has the opportunity to ring and disrupt the serenity of the forest. “Where are you?” Her mother practically shrieks on the other end of the line. “We told you that we were doing birthday breakfast promptly at eight o’clock.”

Pacifica pulls the phone away from her ear to check the time and winces. It’s almost 7:45. There’s no way she’ll be able to get back to the house by eight. “Sorry, Mom,” she says when she presses the phone back to her ear, not feeling very sorry at all. “I guess I lost track of time.”

“Doing what?” Priscilla demands. Before Pacifica has the opportunity to answer, though, she continues, “Oh, it doesn’t matter. Just get your ass back here, young lady.”

It’s always bad when Mom swears. Priscilla Northwest insists that swearing is improper and unattractive, and that if you can’t get your point across without harsh language, you’re too dim-witted for high society. Pacifica thinks that most people think she and her mother are too dim-witted for high society anyway, and that if she cares so much about seeming intelligent, she probably should have spent the years curating a different image.

“Okay,” she says simply. She doesn’t apologize again before hanging up, just presses the button and hops to her feet. The cold has sunk into her bones by now, even through all of that expensive winter clothing, and it takes closer to an hour to get back to the house. It’s hard for her to feel very apologetic, though, when her mother immediately starts fussing about how dirty her clothes are and how tangled her hair is and not the almost blue color of her fingertips.

It takes hours to get ready for the party, and she doesn’t know where all of the time even goes. Hair, makeup, clothes, decorations, food, all of these things were settled so far in advance, so how can it still take until almost noon to get it all in order? By the time of the party, Pacifica is so tired she can barely muster up the energy to smile at the right people and make the right kinds of small talk. She’s sure it hardly helps that she doesn’t even like most of these people, and the few she does like don’t really like her back.

By the time dinner is being served (each attendee gets their own roasted quail and a side of rice pilaf), the only thing she wants to do is run away and hide in her room. She does the next best thing: lounging on a chaise in the parlor her parents keep their still-lightly-mud-stained white rug in when they have guests over, where people are strictly forbidden to enter, scrolling through Tittat videos on her phone. When she hears the door creak open, she knows it must be one of her parents, and she’s not sure which one she wants to see less.

“I have something for you,” her mother’s voice says, and Pacifca doesn’t really have to fight not to cringe because she’s been suppressing it her whole life, but she still feels something curl up unpleasantly inside her. Great, so I have to pretend to be grateful now.

“Mom, I thought that we were doing presents after dessert,” she says, as though it’s actually possible Priscilla forgot her overstuffed itinerary for the night.

“Well, I can’t give you this one in front of everyone else,” Priscilla huffs, and that only makes Pacifica’s dread grow. When her mother sits at the foot of the chaise, she holds out a wine glass, and Pacifica stares. “I want you to meet my friend Chardonnay.”

“Mom, I’m turning sixteen. I’m still not old enough to drink.”

Priscilla rolls her eyes. “Oh hush. I’m doing something nice for you.”

Pacifica doesn’t exactly know how giving her a glass of wine is doing something nice for her, but she knows better than to argue at this point. She takes the glass and takes a tentative sip. She doesn’t have any of the fancy adjectives to describe a very expensive glass of wine. She doesn’t know anything about tannins or acidity or barrel aging or whatever.

It’s bitter. She can’t completely stop herself from cringing, and Priscilla laughs at her. “Yep, I remember that. It’s terrible, isn’t it?” Pacifica stares again. Her mother gave her bad wine on purpose? “You get used to it, eventually. You’re going to have to, being a member of this family. It’s the only way to get through these awful parties.”

“You don’t like the parties?”

Her mother laughs again, and there’s a bitter note there that she hardly recognizes. “Goodness no. Does anyone?” Pacifica’s brows pinch together. Then why do we keep having them? She wants to ask. “Sweetheart, I know being a Northwest isn’t easy. When I first married your father, I was petrified by all of the… rules and systems. I was sure I’d never be able to learn all of it.”

Priscilla stares down into her own glass of wine, and Pacifica watches her face. There’s a slight flush to her cheeks and nose that Pacifica is familiar with after a lifetime of exposure. She must be drunk already, which is impressive, because her father strictly forbids cracking the wine open before dinner at parties. Day-drinking is a private pastime, something Pacifica supposes isn’t classy enough to be associated with the Northwests.

“But it’s for our own good, right? These are the things that we have to do to maintain our lifestyle. And isn’t that worth it?” This is not a light Pacifica has ever seen her mother in before. Never before in her life has she ever been given any reason to think that Priscilla might resent all of the conventions they’ve been forced into as much as Pacifica does. You just don’t get it, she’d told Dipper once, and maybe she doesn’t get it either.

“The day you were born, your father and I still hadn’t chosen a name for you,” her mother says, and if there was some segue into the topic, Pacifica missed it in her introspection. It seems more likely that there wasn’t any. “We knew that we wanted it to start with a ‘P’ because both of our names did. That’s the sort of opportunity that doesn’t come up very often, you know. We figured early on that you would be our only child, so we might as well make you stand out, right? But it was almost impossible to find a name suitably dramatic. And then you were born on Christmas and everything was so hectic, and we worried you were going to end up with no name at all.”

Pacifica settles back against the chaise and takes another sip from her wine, and she manages to ignore the taste for how interested she is in her mother’s story. “They put you in my arms and you immediately started crying, and I thought, ‘Great, she already hates me.’” She laughs, but there’s an edge to it, something that jabs painfully at Pacifica’s chest. “But after a minute you calmed down, and then you looked up at me with those big blue eyes, and I thought they looked just like the ocean. ‘The Pacific ocean,’ I thought, and then I grinned at your father. Pacifica Northwest. It sounded like an actress’ name. It was perfect.”

They stare at each other for a long, silent minute, and Pacifica’s brows furrow. What was the point of telling her this? Was there any point, or is it just some of Mom’s drunken rambling? Priscilla reaches out to grab a strand of her hair and opens her mouth to talk some more, but she’s cut off by Pacifica’s phone ringing, and Pacifica startles to angle the phone so the screen isn’t visible because she knows exactly who’s calling and her mother does not need to see. “I’ll let you get that. Cake in 30 minutes, okay sweetheart?”

“Okay,” she agrees, and her heart pounds with anxiety that she’s going to miss the call while she waits for Mom to leave the room before she answers. She almost drops the phone in her rush to finally hit the green button.

“Hey!” Dipper’s voice comes through a little tinny, which is a quality that Pacifica is used to when talking on the phone to anyone outside of Gravity Falls. She doesn’t know if there’s a scientific explanation, but it always feels like the rest of the world is just… dulled.

“Hey,” she says back, and whatever clawing sense of anxiety or discomfort had been lingering in her chest since Mom came into the room finally dissipates. “You’re early, I’m gonna have to go for cake and presents soon.”

“Your parents are giving you cake and presents?”

She snorts, bringing her hand up like she can catch the noise before it reaches him. “There’s still a whole party of people here to convince that we’re a happy family.”

“Ah, that explains it then,” he says, and she can hear the grin on his voice. He needs to get with the times and get a uPhone so she can see his face without going all the way upstairs to get on her computer. “So you don’t know which kind of sports car they got you yet?”

She laughs again as she hops up to her feet and starts the trek back to her room. “Oh please. They’re not going to get me a car. That’d be too much freedom. They couldn’t threaten not to let the chauffeur drive me to work anymore.” She rolls her eyes.

“They have to get you a car. It’s the whole sweet 16 package: Big fancy party with your big fancy dress, a bunch of bratty rich girls you can’t stand, and some luxury vehicle that costs more than my house. If they don’t get you a car, they don’t sell it.”

“Oh shut up,” she laughs, bedroom door swinging shut behind her. She glances at her bed for a second, but if she lays down, she’s not going to get up again, and as nice as the idea of falling asleep talking to Dipper sounds, there’s still the rest of the party to get through. As she sinks into her desk chair, she sighs and says, “Did you do anything for the holiday?”

“Oh, you mean Just Some Friday Day? Yeah, we got Chinese food and watched cheesy romcoms. I guess it’s sort of a stereotype, but I think that’s kind of why we do it in the first place? It’s hard to explain.”

“Just Some Friday Day, huh? Wow, so I mean nothing to you.” He practically cackles on the other end, and she grins.

“Right, how could I forget the most important holiday, Pacifica Northwest’s Birthday? That’s why all the banks were closed.”

“Damn straight. What would they even need to be open for? All of the people with money are in my living room.” Another laugh. She sinks back in the chair, pressing the power button on her desktop with her toes as she asks, “Can I call you on DistantChat?”

“Is that such a good idea with your parents still prowling around downstairs?” He asks, with a legitimate tinge of worry to his voice. “I mean, you know I always like seeing you, but I don’t wanna get you in trouble or anything.”

“Oh come on. It’s my birthday, they can’t yell at me for calling a friend. Plus, there’s too many people still here for them to yell at me.”

There’s a moment of hesitation, and then, “...Okay. Let me get my laptop.”

It takes a minute for him to get everything set up, and they stay on the phone while he does even though it’s mostly Dipper mumbling to himself and the rustling of pieces of paper on his desk. When he calls her, he’s in bed, and he’s not wearing that stupid hat for once, so she can see peeks of his birthmark through his fringe.

“You need a haircut,” is the first thing that comes out of her mouth, without any input from her on the matter, and he laughs.

“You sound like Grunkle Stan. That was the first thing he said when we picked him and Great Uncle Ford up at the docks for Channukah. Kid, you need a haircut.” His impression of his uncle is terrible, and it makes her laugh, throwing her head back and her hand over her mouth.

When she’s done, his cheeks are a little flushed, but she can’t really call him out on it because her cheeks are a little flushed, too, so they sit in silence for a minute. “I like the dress,” he says eventually.

The camera quality of the call isn’t great. In the video, the delicate white lace that makes it look as though there are flowers painted directly onto her chest and shoulders just look like blurry polka dots (where they’re even visible), and the lace stops being visible completely at the sweetheart neckline of the bodice portion of the dress. Not only that, but from the angle of the camera, the silky lavender band around her waist isn’t even visible, nor is the princess-style skirt that fluffs out down her body in an A-line that could give Princess Diana’s wedding dress a run for its money if it wasn’t only tea length. But, more importantly…

“Ugh, this? My mom picked it.”

“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, your mom was right. It looks really good on you,” he says, and she sees his cheeks flush a little darker. Again, not that she can say anything.

“...Thanks.” She still doesn’t love the dress, still wishes Mom had let her buy the hot pink one that was half the price, but it’s nice that Dipper likes it. She wants him to like her clothes.

They return to silence, and she thinks of all the things she’d like to say. She wants to joke that he should see how much better it’d look off of her. She wants to ask him what he got her for her birthday just to see his little panicked reaction. She wants to ask him if she can run away to his house in Piedmont and never come back.

Instead, she just watches his face. He always looks so tired these days, and she wonders if he ever sleeps at all if she’s not on the phone with him. She knows that sometimes he doesn’t get to sleep even when she is on the phone with him. Sometimes she wakes up and the time is still ticking on the call and he seems startled when she mumbles good morning.

“Pacifica!” Mom’s voice calls up the stairs, and she almost jumps out of her skin. “It’s time for the cake and the presents, dear,” she says, and the pet name makes her wrinkle her nose.

“I have to go,” she says. She’d rather do anything in the world than hang up, and she thinks it shows, because Dipper looks more than a little guilty.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to just sit here staring at you,” he says, and if she didn’t have to go she’d probably tease him for it. “Let me know what kind of car you get. I bet it’ll be an Edison. Your dad is just like that guy.”

She laughs. “Can I call you again later? Like, for bed or… something?” She asks, speaking quickly so he can’t hear the desperation in her voice.

“Of course,” he says without even a second of hesitation, and it makes her chest squeeze with fondness.

She ends the call without saying goodbye. She usually does. She hates saying goodbye, and it’s not like she won’t talk to him later, anyway. Still, she lingers at her desk for an extra second after the call is over like she’s waiting for him to call her back and scold her for it or something. She knows that he won’t. Even though they joke a lot about how terrible she used to be, Dipper rarely takes it upon himself to correct her for her social missteps, not unless she directly hurts him or Mabel by it.

Her eyes slide down to her desk drawer, and with a paranoid glance at her door, she pulls it open.

Emancipation papers.

Printing them out had marked her very first use of the Gravity Falls Library, a service her parents believed was for poor people. Once they’re filed, she guesses that’ll be her. It’d be nice if they bought me a car before I was out of here.

“Pacifica! What are you doing up there? You’re keeping everyone waiting.”

She shoves the drawer closed and trudges back downstairs.

They don’t get her a car. Giving her that much control over her own life would be against the rules, wouldn’t it? But when she calls Dipper later that night, he assures her that she’s welcome to use his car whenever she wants once she gets out of there, and she knows that he means it.

[obsessivedilettante]

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! And happy Sunday-hopefully-a-three-day-weekend to those who don’t.

Please forgive the janky photo but it is nearly 3am here and I am Secret Santa Sneaky putting up the stockings, hung by the gas fireplace with some faint suggestion of care.

The amusing thing is that these stockings are mostly filled with things that Mum and I bought together, in person, almost a month ago, while getting the traditional holiday panetón at Cost Plus World Market. (They have the best flavor options!)

We also picked up a few fun trinkets while we were there. Mum has a solar powered waving Queen Elizabeth that she got years ago when living in England. It sits on the windowsill of the kitchen, and because we live in such a sunny place, I’ve grown accustomed to the click-click as her hand swivels back and forth.

Anyway, Mum’s version is basic blue. But we found this one at World Market that is gold! So fancy! So now we can have dueling waving queens.

We also saw a candy dispenser that is shaped like a sloth and poops out the candies. How can anyone resist that, especially since a major highlight of the family trip to Peru last summer was holding a baby sloth. We had a coupon for a free ornament so we also got an alpaca in honor of that trip, too, which is peeking out of Mum’s stocking.

The bulk of the stocking is candy and fuzzy socks (that will genuinely be a surprise, since this was something I bought on my own and Mum has no idea about them!). Oh, and dog butt magnets because we can always use more magnets, right? Plus, dog butts, heh.

Anyway, we’ve been joking around for the last month that we’re not really going to do much for Christmas. Splurge on a fancy-ish meal that will provide plenty of leftovers, and relax with lots of holiday movies. No family. No travel. No gift exchange.

We have a couple of big trips planned next year which is our main gift to each other (and they are Disney-adjacent, hence my crass capitalist choice in sock ware). Although, tbh, the biggest gift we can give to each other is finally feeling like we’re in a place of stability, something we haven’t had for over three years.

ANYWAY. Mum surprised me 3 years ago with a few things when we said “no gifts.” Then 2 years ago I surprised her with some inexpensive but thoughtful items (that had been purchased before we said, “no gifts,” which we eventually did say once I was laid off the Monday after Thanksgiving). Then last year, we agreed that yep, this time we really meant it, “no gifts” — and there was a small stocking with some treats in it on my chair come Christmas morning.

Then this year we said “no gifts” yet bought some fun little dumb things while out on our one true “Christmas outing” we had all year — we’re frugal enough, doggone it, and can enjoy the occasional pointless, frivolous trinket.

So it’s silly, putting things we already know about in a stocking. But I still got some glee at making sure I squirreled away the shopping bag we promised not to touch until Christmas, then stopping at Target on my way home from a work thing and giggling over the ridiculous stocking choices, and buying fuzzy Christmas socks on sale that I know Mum will enjoy, even if she only wears them once.

Oh, yeah, and we never got around to decorating because we just didn’t want to deal with sorting out the holiday boxes (that we’ve been meaning to organize and pare down, once our households merged, yet we still… haven’t…). So this is the only touch of “Christmas” you’ll see at the house.

But I have the whole week off, and we shall indulge our whims with food we don’t normally eat, attempt to assemble an Eiffel Tower gingerbread house (also purchased at World Market, because seriously we don’t get out much at all any more), and watch a random sampling of excellent and terrible holiday movies from various streaming services.

This is the first Christmas in years I haven’t felt vaguely (or majorly) depressed and anxious, focusing all my energy on simply surviving — and I choose to relish it, silly stockings and all.

[kritblogs]

The Timeless Charm of Wool Fabric

Wool fabric, derived from sheep and other animals, has woven its way through centuries of textile history, celebrated for its warmth, durability, and versatility. From ancient civilizations to modern applications, wool remains a staple in our wardrobes and homes.

Why Wool?

One of wool’s fabric most notable attributes is its natural insulation. This unique structure traps air, offering excellent thermal regulation. Whether you're battling cold weather or staying cool in warmer climates, wool’s moisture-wicking capabilities ensure you remain dry and comfortable.

Global Wool Production

Australia leads the world with 25% of wool production, followed by the U.S. and China with 18%, and New Zealand at 11%. This global industry highlights wool's enduring importance.

A Rich History

Wool's use dates back to around 6000 BCE. Domesticated sheep provided wool, meat, and milk, becoming vital to early human societies. By the Roman Empire, wool was a key textile, and during the Middle Ages, it was central to European life and economy. By 1200 AD, Italy's wool production was thriving, underlining wool's significance through the ages.

Diverse Applications

Wool’s versatility shines across various domains:

Clothing: From tailored suits and outerwear to sweaters, knitwear, socks, and base layers, wool’s insulating and soft properties make it a favorite.

Home Textiles: Wool blankets, throws, rugs, and carpets are cherished for their warmth, coziness, and durability.

Performance and Outdoor Gear: Ideal for hiking socks, base layers, and jackets, wool regulates temperature and wicks moisture, with Merino wool particularly favored for its breathability and odor resistance.

Fashion and Accessories: Winter hats, scarves, gloves, and even some bags and shoes benefit from wool’s aesthetic and functional qualities.

Types of Wool

Merino Wool: Soft, fine, lightweight, and breathable, perfect for activewear and everyday garments.

Cashmere: Luxurious and expensive, sourced from the fine undercoat of cashmere goats, primarily in Mongolia, China, and India.

Alpaca Wool: Exceptionally soft, warm, and lightweight, favored in high-end textiles and fashion.

Virgin Wool: Also known as lamb’s wool, from the lamb’s first shearing, prized for its softness, durability, and insulation.

Vicuna Wool: Exclusive to Peru, known for its exceptional softness, warmth, and lightweight properties.

Llama Wool: Luxuriously soft and warm, ideal for outerwear garments, from the Andes mountains of South America.

Final Thoughts

Wool’s journey from ancient times to modern applications showcases its timeless appeal and unmatched versatility. Whether in clothing, home decor, or performance gear, wool continues to be a beloved fabric that offers comfort, style, and practicality.

[weavile-crossing]

st albans alpaca throw rug alpaca farm uk alpaca wool blanket peru alpaca wool balls alpaca teddy bears york

[knitcrate]

March 2022 Early Preview

It’s time for a sneak peek of March’s yarns! Our theme for this month is Metropolis.

A city rises between the desert and turquoise seas; the faded chalk colors of stucco create channels for the busy passerby.

Important to remember: Color Vibes are BACK! The option to swap your color vibe is only open between February 15-28 for the March 2022 crates.

Knit & Crochet Club

This month, enjoy a specially curated gradient set in the color vibe of your choice. These beautiful colorways appear on the classic Knitologie Worsted, a 100% Superwash Merino worsted weight yarn that's made in Peru exclusively for KnitCrate. Your crate will come four different colors that together form a gentle gradient. Each individual skein is 112 yds/102 m, totaling 448 yards (409 m)/200g over the four skeins in your crate.

Energize Me: Sunset

Rosy pinks appear, highlighting the bottoms of fluffy clouds as the sun sinks below the horizon line, another day ended. Cheer from the balcony of a high rise as you watch it unfold in this glorious gradient set.

Chill Out: Skies

From mirrored, windowed walls to the skies they scrape--imagine the most beautiful turquoise skies reflected on urban architecture with this set of stunning blue skeins.

All Natural: Dune

Stone and cement, sand and stucco: nature's subtle neutrals unite for this taupe to gray gradient with green and blue undertones.

Fabric Swatches

This month, we’ll show you how the yarn looks when worked up into swatches so you can have an idea of what your projects might look like.

Not a member yet? Join today!

Sock Knit & Crochet Club

This month's featured sock yarn is the cozy La Brebis Warmer. True to its name, this toasty warm yarn is a mix of 70% Superwash Merino, 20% Suri Alpaca, and 10% Nylon. You will receive one 400 yards (366 m)/100g skein of fingering weight yarn in the color vibe of your choice.

Energize Me: Lace Up

This soft shade is a whispering breath of baby pink, like petals of the softest rose. 

Chill Out and All Natural: Pavers

How about a little heather? Capture the steely skeleton of skyward arching monoliths with this silvery gray, streaked with a bit of white.

Fabric Swatches

Not a member yet? Join today!

[sierrawestla]

Trekking the Lares Trail in Peru’s Andes

Directly under the equatorial sun, hot air rises and drifts from the Amazonian jungle, carrying an endless supply of moisture. The water-laden clouds waft up and over the Andes Mountains and unload heavy rain, drenching the volcanic peaks, steep mountainsides and deep valleys; generously soaking me too.  The trail under my muddy hiking boots—one of thousands used by the Incas—is rough with granite rocks and it meanders between enormous boulders. Everywhere the ground is peppered in llama and alpaca droppings. In places the rocks are piled up in protective walls around small potato fields which are saturated by the rain and fertilized thanks to the livestock. Eking out a living at this altitude are the resilient descendants of the Incas, Quechuan speaking farmers. When the Spanish arrived hundreds of years ago, the Inca fled into the high Andes where they managed to survive growing potatoes and herding llamas. Today they still wear traditional dress, layers of woven and knitted sweaters; women in hats and thick skirts with knitted leg warmers, men in red woven ponchos easily noticed from afar, glints of bright color amid cloud.

It is too wet to sit on the grass by our tents. I stand shivering on a huge boulder and turning from one side to the other, I look at the lay of the land, the moody mountains shrouded in mist and the rocky valleys. Three girls in their indigenous dress play behind me on the rock, whispering secrets to each other, too shy to look in my direction. I am deep in thought, imagining the steps my husband took in these same mountains, forty years ago when he also visited Peru, long before these girls or their parents were born. Retracing his steps to Maccu Picchu is what motivated me to sign up for this three-day hike, to endure the challenge of high altitude hiking in cold rain with a group of people less than half my age.

The two smallest girls catch me by surprise with their Quechuan equivalent of “Boo”. I am not expecting it, and nearly fall off the boulder in fright, but it’s a universal game, the rules well known, and I have to reciprocate. I slowly pull out my plastic rain poncho with both hands, growl fiercely pretending to be a monster, and try to catch them under the crinkling plastic. Like little mountain goats, they dart away, jump from rock to rock, shriek with laughter, and evade capture. They wear several woolen garments under colorful cardigans, full skirts, warm legwarmers and hats, but open-toed plastic sandals. I point to their feet and ask in sign language if their feet are cold. Mine are frozen despite wearing two pairs of socks and hiking boots. They laugh. I move closer and touch their mud caked toes. Impossibly they are warm.

It all seems impossible. Miles to my west, two enormous tectonic plates meet at the eastern Pacific seabed. Moving east, the Nazca plate, compressed under the weight of the ocean is denser and thinner than the west-moving continental South American plate. Both move slowly but forcefully enough to create a deep offshore trench at the collision site. This abysmal scar provides a cold upwelling of nutrients for marine life. (Changes in temperature and associated fish catch alerted Peruvian fishermen to the “El Nino” cycle decades ago.) Nazca loses in the ongoing, shuddering tectonic battle and is subducted under the buoyant South American plate, consumed deep into earth’s mantle. The journey down is turbulent, hot with friction, and Nazca crust melts into magma chambers, reservoirs of molten rock. Periodically this bursts to the surface, volcanoes erupt and the Andes take form. The long mountain range, offset and parallel to the boundaries of two colliding plates and to the oceanic trench, stands here magnificently, a consequence of gradual movement of plates, unnoticeable, under the little girls’ impossibly warm feet.

A few days later I watch the clouds of mist over the remarkable Maccu Picchu ruins. One minute the Inca citadel is entirely obscured from view and the next, the mist disperses to reveal the Inca citadel, like a curtain being opened and closed, teasing us with glimpses of ancient stone terraces, spaced regularly up the mountainside, temples and walls. When the last of the clouds pass and Machu Picchu is clearly visible in all its expansive glory, visitors’ minds gasp trying to appreciate the decades of hard work, clearing the land, cutting stone into blocks for precision fitting, moving rocks, and constructing the carefully designed, beautiful city cradled high among mountain peaks in thin air, towering above sacred valleys and thundering rivers.  

-Andrea Ehrgott, March 2020

[ask-dsminecraft]

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[thewalkingdeaxter]

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[theprxncesses]

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[pandjseetheworld]

Arequipa

Arequipa is the second largest city in Peru and I known as the “white city” due to the white rock most of the buildings are made from. It’s a very clean city that’s in between the mountains and the ocean. It’s also located in a very volcanic area with 3 large volcanoes visible from the city center.

When we arrived we first joined a free walking tour. Our guide showed us around the city and took us to some neat art areas.

We also walked over to an alpaca/llama factory where we got to see the different stages of production. Starting with the animals themselves then moving to the different types of fur/wool and then seeing the traditional weaving in action. We finished with walking through a store of the final products; scarves, sweaters, jackets, socks etc… We’ve been on similar tours but I really liked this one because we could touch and see each stage in action.

The walking tour was better than a lot of the other tours we’ve been on because our guide was super engaging. He even had us try different local drinks and ice cream. He was super animated and gave us a good feel for Arequipa.

[findalpacawool-blog]

Alpaca Fiber and Its Uniqueness

Alpacas are the chief homegrown creatures that occupy the nation of Peru. The Moche individuals who involve the Peruvian wide open have for quite a while trained the alpaca and these creatures are generally to be discovered touching in the southern piece of the Peruvian scene, around 3500 to 5000 meters over the ocean level. These days the alpaca is generally safeguarded in the nation of Peru and one of the vital explanations for this is the fiber which is gotten structure the alpacas. It is realized that the alpaca fiber is accessible in Peru in upwards of 52 common tones and it is of huge worth in the material business. One of the significant attributes of the alpaca fiber is its hypoallergic quality and regarding surface it is amazingly smooth and sleek, light in weight and warm also. It was in Peru that the Amerindians utilized the alpaca fiber in making various types of pieces of clothing at first and it is just lately that it has arisen as a beneficial business item and different things produced using this alpaca fiber like rain coats, sweaters, gloves, covers and socks are sold on the planet market.

Alpacas are normally white in shading however there are different other hued alpacas likewise accessible like in tans and grovel colors. It is this white shaded alpaca fiber which is essentially popular particularly in South America. As far as quality the alpaca fiber is very smooth and glossy and its fineness is of significant assistance to the spinners who think that it’s simple to make a yarn and weave or sew through it. In the event of getting the downy structure the alpacas it is important to recollect that the entire measure of wool got isn't really of brilliant quality and consequently the 'watch hair' controlled by the alpacas are to be eliminated before any type of turning.

Alpacas are principally of two sorts and hence the nature of fiber extricated from them is additionally unique. The Suri alpaca is very much protected for the non-abrasiveness and plush nature of its downy and it involves about 20% of the all-out alpaca populace. Then again, the fiber delivered by the Huacaya alpaca is very thick and delicate. The alpaca fiber may get thicker on the off chance that the creature is presented to over nourishment. Comfortable clothing made structure alpacas fibers are sought after among outside sport buffs and its light weight and warmth are ideal for this reason.

[maryzmora]

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know

Humans have been using alpacas and llamas, much like camels, for several thousand years. Both species have helped us to travel to distant lands. Their wooly fur is used to make coats and different garment products. But because they are so alike, someone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the two won’t be able to tell them apart. Today, we’re here to help you differentiate between Llamas Vs Alpacas with some major points.

They can be found in South America, primarily in Bolivia and Peru. But with the advancement of agriculture, they are farmed in many parts of the world. Alpacas and Llamas are part of the camel family, named Camelidae. There are two other species of the same family called Guanaco and Vicuna. Interbreeding among all the four species is possible. The offspring of such interbreeding is known to be fertile.

The main differences are in their physical characteristics. Almost all South American farmers can differentiate between the two. But for us, we need to learn about them first. Llamas vs alpacas are used for different purposes. But first, let’s get to know them better. 

Major Differences: Llamas Vs Alpacas    

The noticeable differences between llama and alpaca are in their size, ears, face, personality, and purpose. Let’s go through them one by one and, in the end, see whether you can differentiate among them.

Dimensions

Alpacas are much smaller in size than the Llamas. Alpacas normally weigh between 130 to 160 pounds. On the other hand, llamas can weigh as much as four hundred pounds. While breeding and farming llamas or alpacas, farmers have to consider their size. Ranch sizes differ depending on which animal you want to have.

Alpacas are easier to handle because of their comparatively smaller size. Kids especially enjoy their company because Alpacas don’t necessarily show aggression, and even when they do, they can be controlled easily. 

Llamas are adorable creatures as well. Depending on where you’re keeping them, the size can be a cause of concern. In America, many people in the suburbs get llamas as a pet. Although they aren’t ideal as pets, you can train them to listen to your commands. 

No matter which animal you have, it’s better to get them trained first before they get close to children. Alpacas might not mean any harm, but sometimes they don’t know what they’re doing. Eventually, their movements might end up hurting someone.

The Ears

Compared to the alpacas, llamas have longer ears. Llama ears are almost banana-shaped. Whereas, alpaca ears are small and look like the short tip of a spear.

Right off the bat, by looking at the ears, you can tell llamas and alpacas apart. If you look at pictures of both the animals to understand their physical attribute, the first thing that will catch your eyes is probably the ears. And yes, llama ears do kind of look like a banana whereas, alpacas have ears that are short and pointy. 

The Face

Another key differentiator between llamas and alpacas is their faces. Both their faces are different in size, structure, and shape.

Llama’s noses are longer compared to alpacas. Plus, llamas have a lot of fur over their entire face. Alpacas don’t have as much fur, and their nose is a bit blunt. Many people find alpacas cuter from a facial perspective. 

Alpacas have a tired look about them, and kids love to pet them. Personality-wise the resemblance of alpacas with dogs is something that a lot of farmers use to their advantage to attract visitors to the alpaca ranches. Baby alpacas are so adorable that you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from petting them.

This doesn’t mean llamas are mean looking. They are cute as well, in their unique way. 

Fur

Alpacas have a really fine and soft coat of fur. The size of the fur is around eighteen to thirty microns. This makes the fur perfect for different garments. Alpaca’s fiber can be used to make socks, shawls, hats, and scurf.

On the other hand, the llama has coarser hair fiber. The fur has a length of 55-65 microns. But even though the length is good enough, the quality of the fur isn’t up to the mark for producing garments. Having said that, llama babies have similar fiber to alpacas. Baby llamas have soft and delicate fur, and the length is around 30 microns. Farmers can use either of the two to earn a healthy amount of money. 

The color variations in alpaca’s fiber are much greater than llamas. As discussed earlier, llamas have lesser hair on their face and head than alpacas. This is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart.

Solely based on quality, alpacas have better fiber than llamas. So, if you’re planning to farm either of the two, you should go for alpacas, considering you can sell the fur to the garments industry.  

Personality 

Llamas are confident and independent animals. Even when they are threatened, llamas tend to stand their ground without being flustered. If you ever go to an alpaca ranch, you will see that farmers use llamas to guard their alpaca herd. Llamas and alpacas get along really well and have a friendly relationship. The llamas spend idle time in the ranch until their friend alpacas are in danger.

Llamas distance itself from the herd whenever there is a predator nearby to take it away from the alpaca herd. This mentality shows that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

On the other hand, the alpacas are shy. They prefer to roam in a herd as they are scared of predators. If alpacas feel threatened, they run away from the danger. That’s why llamas and alpacas complement one another.  

Purpose 

Historically, alpacas mainly served the purpose of providing fiber. For over five thousand years, we have bred and farmed alpacas to get their delicate fur. In Peru, alpacas have been bred for meat. The market has broadened now.

A lot of countries now breed alpacas for their meat. Many popular fashion brands use alpaca fiber, and slowly it is starting to become a go-to choice for various garment producers. 

Llamas are used mainly for transportation and meat. As their fiber isn’t of the best quality, garment industries aren’t too keen on using their coat. Llamas are also used to protect farms. While some farms may use guard dogs, a lot of South American ranches use guard llamas. They might look cute, but their protective nature makes them perfectly suited for the job. 

Trekking 

Llamas are great companions for travelers. Whether you are trekking through the wilderness or climbing a hill or mountain, llamas can tag along with you. Traditionally they have been used for this exact purpose. Llamas can carry your equipment and gadgets. If the llama is big enough, it can carry you as well. 

But alpacas can’t be used for hiking. They are comparatively smaller in size to the llamas. Naturally, they aren’t equipped to take on tough tasks because of their structure and built.

The Wild Cousins of Llamas and Alpacas 

Vicuna and Guanaco are known as the wild cousins of the Cameloid family. They live in the wilderness, and because of their traits, these animals aren’t bred and farmed.  

The Guanaco is bigger than an alpaca but smaller than an average llama. Studies say the Guanaco is the early ancestors of the llama that we see in the current times. The Vicuna, on the other hand, is a relative of the alpaca specie. Because they roam in the wild, at one point, they were listed as an endangered species.

They were in the risk of going extinct in many countries, but after the implementation of various regulations, the numbers have grown. Still, they are a threatened species, and most governments are trying to protect them.

The Guanaco is much heavier than the Vicuna. Vicunas have overall better fiber, and that’s why they get hunted so much in South America. Hunters and garment industries make a huge profit from their fiber. Just to put things into perspective, a vicuna fiber scarf retails for as much as $1300.

The product also includes a certificate that states the country of origin, which is stamped by the respective country’s approval stamp. No wonder they were on the verge of going extinct!

Protecting the Cameloid Family  

As things stand, it is evident that all the species of the Cameloid family, including llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas, are of great importance to us. We have found ways to tame and breed llamas and alpacas. But the other two species remain in the wild.

To protect the Vicuna and Guanaco from going extinct, governments need to put strict laws in order. Otherwise, hunters and poachers will keep on killing them for fiber. Many animal research centers are trying to breed the Vicuna in an unnatural environment. Domesticating them could be a viable option to keep them safe.

Final Words

Llamas and Alpacas are adorable animals, and they are of great importance to us both financially and environmentally. Knowing the differences between the two should help you in identifying them. 

The uniqueness of Llamas and Alpacas is what makes the two species truly special.

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know was originally published on Holiday Nomad

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know posted first on https://holidaynomad.com/

[mrkfster]

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know

Humans have been using alpacas and llamas, much like camels, for several thousand years. Both species have helped us to travel to distant lands. Their wooly fur is used to make coats and different garment products. But because they are so alike, someone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the two won’t be able to tell them apart. Today, we're here to help you differentiate between Llamas Vs Alpacas with some major points.

They can be found in South America, primarily in Bolivia and Peru. But with the advancement of agriculture, they are farmed in many parts of the world. Alpacas and Llamas are part of the camel family, named Camelidae. There are two other species of the same family called Guanaco and Vicuna. Interbreeding among all the four species is possible. The offspring of such interbreeding is known to be fertile.

The main differences are in their physical characteristics. Almost all South American farmers can differentiate between the two. But for us, we need to learn about them first. Llamas vs alpacas are used for different purposes. But first, let’s get to know them better. 

Major Differences: Llamas Vs Alpacas    

The noticeable differences between llama and alpaca are in their size, ears, face, personality, and purpose. Let’s go through them one by one and, in the end, see whether you can differentiate among them.

Dimensions

Alpacas are much smaller in size than the Llamas. Alpacas normally weigh between 130 to 160 pounds. On the other hand, llamas can weigh as much as four hundred pounds. While breeding and farming llamas or alpacas, farmers have to consider their size. Ranch sizes differ depending on which animal you want to have.

Alpacas are easier to handle because of their comparatively smaller size. Kids especially enjoy their company because Alpacas don’t necessarily show aggression, and even when they do, they can be controlled easily. 

Llamas are adorable creatures as well. Depending on where you’re keeping them, the size can be a cause of concern. In America, many people in the suburbs get llamas as a pet. Although they aren’t ideal as pets, you can train them to listen to your commands. 

No matter which animal you have, it’s better to get them trained first before they get close to children. Alpacas might not mean any harm, but sometimes they don’t know what they’re doing. Eventually, their movements might end up hurting someone.

The Ears

Compared to the alpacas, llamas have longer ears. Llama ears are almost banana-shaped. Whereas, alpaca ears are small and look like the short tip of a spear.

Right off the bat, by looking at the ears, you can tell llamas and alpacas apart. If you look at pictures of both the animals to understand their physical attribute, the first thing that will catch your eyes is probably the ears. And yes, llama ears do kind of look like a banana whereas, alpacas have ears that are short and pointy. 

The Face

Another key differentiator between llamas and alpacas is their faces. Both their faces are different in size, structure, and shape.

Llama’s noses are longer compared to alpacas. Plus, llamas have a lot of fur over their entire face. Alpacas don’t have as much fur, and their nose is a bit blunt. Many people find alpacas cuter from a facial perspective. 

Alpacas have a tired look about them, and kids love to pet them. Personality-wise the resemblance of alpacas with dogs is something that a lot of farmers use to their advantage to attract visitors to the alpaca ranches. Baby alpacas are so adorable that you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from petting them.

This doesn’t mean llamas are mean looking. They are cute as well, in their unique way. 

Fur

Alpacas have a really fine and soft coat of fur. The size of the fur is around eighteen to thirty microns. This makes the fur perfect for different garments. Alpaca’s fiber can be used to make socks, shawls, hats, and scurf.

On the other hand, the llama has coarser hair fiber. The fur has a length of 55-65 microns. But even though the length is good enough, the quality of the fur isn’t up to the mark for producing garments. Having said that, llama babies have similar fiber to alpacas. Baby llamas have soft and delicate fur, and the length is around 30 microns. Farmers can use either of the two to earn a healthy amount of money. 

The color variations in alpaca’s fiber are much greater than llamas. As discussed earlier, llamas have lesser hair on their face and head than alpacas. This is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart.

Solely based on quality, alpacas have better fiber than llamas. So, if you’re planning to farm either of the two, you should go for alpacas, considering you can sell the fur to the garments industry.  

Personality 

Llamas are confident and independent animals. Even when they are threatened, llamas tend to stand their ground without being flustered. If you ever go to an alpaca ranch, you will see that farmers use llamas to guard their alpaca herd. Llamas and alpacas get along really well and have a friendly relationship. The llamas spend idle time in the ranch until their friend alpacas are in danger.

Llamas distance itself from the herd whenever there is a predator nearby to take it away from the alpaca herd. This mentality shows that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

On the other hand, the alpacas are shy. They prefer to roam in a herd as they are scared of predators. If alpacas feel threatened, they run away from the danger. That’s why llamas and alpacas complement one another.  

Purpose 

Historically, alpacas mainly served the purpose of providing fiber. For over five thousand years, we have bred and farmed alpacas to get their delicate fur. In Peru, alpacas have been bred for meat. The market has broadened now.

A lot of countries now breed alpacas for their meat. Many popular fashion brands use alpaca fiber, and slowly it is starting to become a go-to choice for various garment producers. 

Llamas are used mainly for transportation and meat. As their fiber isn’t of the best quality, garment industries aren’t too keen on using their coat. Llamas are also used to protect farms. While some farms may use guard dogs, a lot of South American ranches use guard llamas. They might look cute, but their protective nature makes them perfectly suited for the job. 

Trekking 

Llamas are great companions for travelers. Whether you are trekking through the wilderness or climbing a hill or mountain, llamas can tag along with you. Traditionally they have been used for this exact purpose. Llamas can carry your equipment and gadgets. If the llama is big enough, it can carry you as well. 

But alpacas can’t be used for hiking. They are comparatively smaller in size to the llamas. Naturally, they aren’t equipped to take on tough tasks because of their structure and built.

The Wild Cousins of Llamas and Alpacas 

Vicuna and Guanaco are known as the wild cousins of the Cameloid family. They live in the wilderness, and because of their traits, these animals aren’t bred and farmed.  

The Guanaco is bigger than an alpaca but smaller than an average llama. Studies say the Guanaco is the early ancestors of the llama that we see in the current times. The Vicuna, on the other hand, is a relative of the alpaca specie. Because they roam in the wild, at one point, they were listed as an endangered species.

They were in the risk of going extinct in many countries, but after the implementation of various regulations, the numbers have grown. Still, they are a threatened species, and most governments are trying to protect them.

The Guanaco is much heavier than the Vicuna. Vicunas have overall better fiber, and that’s why they get hunted so much in South America. Hunters and garment industries make a huge profit from their fiber. Just to put things into perspective, a vicuna fiber scarf retails for as much as $1300.

The product also includes a certificate that states the country of origin, which is stamped by the respective country’s approval stamp. No wonder they were on the verge of going extinct!

Protecting the Cameloid Family  

As things stand, it is evident that all the species of the Cameloid family, including llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas, are of great importance to us. We have found ways to tame and breed llamas and alpacas. But the other two species remain in the wild.

To protect the Vicuna and Guanaco from going extinct, governments need to put strict laws in order. Otherwise, hunters and poachers will keep on killing them for fiber. Many animal research centers are trying to breed the Vicuna in an unnatural environment. Domesticating them could be a viable option to keep them safe.

Final Words

Llamas and Alpacas are adorable animals, and they are of great importance to us both financially and environmentally. Knowing the differences between the two should help you in identifying them. 

The uniqueness of Llamas and Alpacas is what makes the two species truly special.

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know was originally published on Holiday Nomad

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know posted first on https://holidaynomad.com/

[svophiamaloney]

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know

Humans have been using alpacas and llamas, much like camels, for several thousand years. Both species have helped us to travel to distant lands. Their wooly fur is used to make coats and different garment products. But because they are so alike, someone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the two won’t be able to tell them apart. Today, we’re here to help you differentiate between Llamas Vs Alpacas with some major points.

They can be found in South America, primarily in Bolivia and Peru. But with the advancement of agriculture, they are farmed in many parts of the world. Alpacas and Llamas are part of the camel family, named Camelidae. There are two other species of the same family called Guanaco and Vicuna. Interbreeding among all the four species is possible. The offspring of such interbreeding is known to be fertile.

The main differences are in their physical characteristics. Almost all South American farmers can differentiate between the two. But for us, we need to learn about them first. Llamas vs alpacas are used for different purposes. But first, let’s get to know them better. 

Major Differences: Llamas Vs Alpacas    

The noticeable differences between llama and alpaca are in their size, ears, face, personality, and purpose. Let’s go through them one by one and, in the end, see whether you can differentiate among them.

Dimensions

Alpacas are much smaller in size than the Llamas. Alpacas normally weigh between 130 to 160 pounds. On the other hand, llamas can weigh as much as four hundred pounds. While breeding and farming llamas or alpacas, farmers have to consider their size. Ranch sizes differ depending on which animal you want to have.

Alpacas are easier to handle because of their comparatively smaller size. Kids especially enjoy their company because Alpacas don’t necessarily show aggression, and even when they do, they can be controlled easily. 

Llamas are adorable creatures as well. Depending on where you’re keeping them, the size can be a cause of concern. In America, many people in the suburbs get llamas as a pet. Although they aren’t ideal as pets, you can train them to listen to your commands. 

No matter which animal you have, it’s better to get them trained first before they get close to children. Alpacas might not mean any harm, but sometimes they don’t know what they’re doing. Eventually, their movements might end up hurting someone.

The Ears

Compared to the alpacas, llamas have longer ears. Llama ears are almost banana-shaped. Whereas, alpaca ears are small and look like the short tip of a spear.

Right off the bat, by looking at the ears, you can tell llamas and alpacas apart. If you look at pictures of both the animals to understand their physical attribute, the first thing that will catch your eyes is probably the ears. And yes, llama ears do kind of look like a banana whereas, alpacas have ears that are short and pointy. 

The Face

Another key differentiator between llamas and alpacas is their faces. Both their faces are different in size, structure, and shape.

Llama’s noses are longer compared to alpacas. Plus, llamas have a lot of fur over their entire face. Alpacas don’t have as much fur, and their nose is a bit blunt. Many people find alpacas cuter from a facial perspective. 

Alpacas have a tired look about them, and kids love to pet them. Personality-wise the resemblance of alpacas with dogs is something that a lot of farmers use to their advantage to attract visitors to the alpaca ranches. Baby alpacas are so adorable that you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from petting them.

This doesn’t mean llamas are mean looking. They are cute as well, in their unique way. 

Fur

Alpacas have a really fine and soft coat of fur. The size of the fur is around eighteen to thirty microns. This makes the fur perfect for different garments. Alpaca’s fiber can be used to make socks, shawls, hats, and scurf.

On the other hand, the llama has coarser hair fiber. The fur has a length of 55-65 microns. But even though the length is good enough, the quality of the fur isn’t up to the mark for producing garments. Having said that, llama babies have similar fiber to alpacas. Baby llamas have soft and delicate fur, and the length is around 30 microns. Farmers can use either of the two to earn a healthy amount of money. 

The color variations in alpaca’s fiber are much greater than llamas. As discussed earlier, llamas have lesser hair on their face and head than alpacas. This is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart.

Solely based on quality, alpacas have better fiber than llamas. So, if you’re planning to farm either of the two, you should go for alpacas, considering you can sell the fur to the garments industry.  

Personality 

Llamas are confident and independent animals. Even when they are threatened, llamas tend to stand their ground without being flustered. If you ever go to an alpaca ranch, you will see that farmers use llamas to guard their alpaca herd. Llamas and alpacas get along really well and have a friendly relationship. The llamas spend idle time in the ranch until their friend alpacas are in danger.

Llamas distance itself from the herd whenever there is a predator nearby to take it away from the alpaca herd. This mentality shows that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

On the other hand, the alpacas are shy. They prefer to roam in a herd as they are scared of predators. If alpacas feel threatened, they run away from the danger. That’s why llamas and alpacas complement one another.  

Purpose 

Historically, alpacas mainly served the purpose of providing fiber. For over five thousand years, we have bred and farmed alpacas to get their delicate fur. In Peru, alpacas have been bred for meat. The market has broadened now.

A lot of countries now breed alpacas for their meat. Many popular fashion brands use alpaca fiber, and slowly it is starting to become a go-to choice for various garment producers. 

Llamas are used mainly for transportation and meat. As their fiber isn’t of the best quality, garment industries aren’t too keen on using their coat. Llamas are also used to protect farms. While some farms may use guard dogs, a lot of South American ranches use guard llamas. They might look cute, but their protective nature makes them perfectly suited for the job. 

Trekking 

Llamas are great companions for travelers. Whether you are trekking through the wilderness or climbing a hill or mountain, llamas can tag along with you. Traditionally they have been used for this exact purpose. Llamas can carry your equipment and gadgets. If the llama is big enough, it can carry you as well. 

But alpacas can’t be used for hiking. They are comparatively smaller in size to the llamas. Naturally, they aren’t equipped to take on tough tasks because of their structure and built.

The Wild Cousins of Llamas and Alpacas 

Vicuna and Guanaco are known as the wild cousins of the Cameloid family. They live in the wilderness, and because of their traits, these animals aren’t bred and farmed.  

The Guanaco is bigger than an alpaca but smaller than an average llama. Studies say the Guanaco is the early ancestors of the llama that we see in the current times. The Vicuna, on the other hand, is a relative of the alpaca specie. Because they roam in the wild, at one point, they were listed as an endangered species.

They were in the risk of going extinct in many countries, but after the implementation of various regulations, the numbers have grown. Still, they are a threatened species, and most governments are trying to protect them.

The Guanaco is much heavier than the Vicuna. Vicunas have overall better fiber, and that’s why they get hunted so much in South America. Hunters and garment industries make a huge profit from their fiber. Just to put things into perspective, a vicuna fiber scarf retails for as much as $1300.

The product also includes a certificate that states the country of origin, which is stamped by the respective country’s approval stamp. No wonder they were on the verge of going extinct!

Protecting the Cameloid Family  

As things stand, it is evident that all the species of the Cameloid family, including llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas, are of great importance to us. We have found ways to tame and breed llamas and alpacas. But the other two species remain in the wild.

To protect the Vicuna and Guanaco from going extinct, governments need to put strict laws in order. Otherwise, hunters and poachers will keep on killing them for fiber. Many animal research centers are trying to breed the Vicuna in an unnatural environment. Domesticating them could be a viable option to keep them safe.

Final Words

Llamas and Alpacas are adorable animals, and they are of great importance to us both financially and environmentally. Knowing the differences between the two should help you in identifying them. 

The uniqueness of Llamas and Alpacas is what makes the two species truly special.

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know was originally published on Holiday Nomad

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know posted first on https://holidaynomad.com/

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Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know

Humans have been using alpacas and llamas, much like camels, for several thousand years. Both species have helped us to travel to distant lands. Their wooly fur is used to make coats and different garment products. But because they are so alike, someone who doesn’t have any prior knowledge of the two won’t be able to tell them apart. Today, we’re here to help you differentiate between Llamas Vs Alpacas with some major points.

They can be found in South America, primarily in Bolivia and Peru. But with the advancement of agriculture, they are farmed in many parts of the world. Alpacas and Llamas are part of the camel family, named Camelidae. There are two other species of the same family called Guanaco and Vicuna. Interbreeding among all the four species is possible. The offspring of such interbreeding is known to be fertile.

The main differences are in their physical characteristics. Almost all South American farmers can differentiate between the two. But for us, we need to learn about them first. Llamas vs alpacas are used for different purposes. But first, let’s get to know them better. 

Major Differences: Llamas Vs Alpacas    

The noticeable differences between llama and alpaca are in their size, ears, face, personality, and purpose. Let’s go through them one by one and, in the end, see whether you can differentiate among them.

Dimensions

Alpacas are much smaller in size than the Llamas. Alpacas normally weigh between 130 to 160 pounds. On the other hand, llamas can weigh as much as four hundred pounds. While breeding and farming llamas or alpacas, farmers have to consider their size. Ranch sizes differ depending on which animal you want to have.

Alpacas are easier to handle because of their comparatively smaller size. Kids especially enjoy their company because Alpacas don’t necessarily show aggression, and even when they do, they can be controlled easily. 

Llamas are adorable creatures as well. Depending on where you’re keeping them, the size can be a cause of concern. In America, many people in the suburbs get llamas as a pet. Although they aren’t ideal as pets, you can train them to listen to your commands. 

No matter which animal you have, it’s better to get them trained first before they get close to children. Alpacas might not mean any harm, but sometimes they don’t know what they’re doing. Eventually, their movements might end up hurting someone.

The Ears

Compared to the alpacas, llamas have longer ears. Llama ears are almost banana-shaped. Whereas, alpaca ears are small and look like the short tip of a spear.

Right off the bat, by looking at the ears, you can tell llamas and alpacas apart. If you look at pictures of both the animals to understand their physical attribute, the first thing that will catch your eyes is probably the ears. And yes, llama ears do kind of look like a banana whereas, alpacas have ears that are short and pointy. 

The Face

Another key differentiator between llamas and alpacas is their faces. Both their faces are different in size, structure, and shape.

Llama’s noses are longer compared to alpacas. Plus, llamas have a lot of fur over their entire face. Alpacas don’t have as much fur, and their nose is a bit blunt. Many people find alpacas cuter from a facial perspective. 

Alpacas have a tired look about them, and kids love to pet them. Personality-wise the resemblance of alpacas with dogs is something that a lot of farmers use to their advantage to attract visitors to the alpaca ranches. Baby alpacas are so adorable that you wouldn’t be able to stop yourself from petting them.

This doesn’t mean llamas are mean looking. They are cute as well, in their unique way. 

Fur

Alpacas have a really fine and soft coat of fur. The size of the fur is around eighteen to thirty microns. This makes the fur perfect for different garments. Alpaca’s fiber can be used to make socks, shawls, hats, and scurf.

On the other hand, the llama has coarser hair fiber. The fur has a length of 55-65 microns. But even though the length is good enough, the quality of the fur isn’t up to the mark for producing garments. Having said that, llama babies have similar fiber to alpacas. Baby llamas have soft and delicate fur, and the length is around 30 microns. Farmers can use either of the two to earn a healthy amount of money. 

The color variations in alpaca’s fiber are much greater than llamas. As discussed earlier, llamas have lesser hair on their face and head than alpacas. This is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart.

Solely based on quality, alpacas have better fiber than llamas. So, if you’re planning to farm either of the two, you should go for alpacas, considering you can sell the fur to the garments industry.  

Personality 

Llamas are confident and independent animals. Even when they are threatened, llamas tend to stand their ground without being flustered. If you ever go to an alpaca ranch, you will see that farmers use llamas to guard their alpaca herd. Llamas and alpacas get along really well and have a friendly relationship. The llamas spend idle time in the ranch until their friend alpacas are in danger.

Llamas distance itself from the herd whenever there is a predator nearby to take it away from the alpaca herd. This mentality shows that they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save others.

On the other hand, the alpacas are shy. They prefer to roam in a herd as they are scared of predators. If alpacas feel threatened, they run away from the danger. That’s why llamas and alpacas complement one another.  

Purpose 

Historically, alpacas mainly served the purpose of providing fiber. For over five thousand years, we have bred and farmed alpacas to get their delicate fur. In Peru, alpacas have been bred for meat. The market has broadened now.

A lot of countries now breed alpacas for their meat. Many popular fashion brands use alpaca fiber, and slowly it is starting to become a go-to choice for various garment producers. 

Llamas are used mainly for transportation and meat. As their fiber isn’t of the best quality, garment industries aren’t too keen on using their coat. Llamas are also used to protect farms. While some farms may use guard dogs, a lot of South American ranches use guard llamas. They might look cute, but their protective nature makes them perfectly suited for the job. 

Trekking 

Llamas are great companions for travelers. Whether you are trekking through the wilderness or climbing a hill or mountain, llamas can tag along with you. Traditionally they have been used for this exact purpose. Llamas can carry your equipment and gadgets. If the llama is big enough, it can carry you as well. 

But alpacas can’t be used for hiking. They are comparatively smaller in size to the llamas. Naturally, they aren’t equipped to take on tough tasks because of their structure and built.

The Wild Cousins of Llamas and Alpacas 

Vicuna and Guanaco are known as the wild cousins of the Cameloid family. They live in the wilderness, and because of their traits, these animals aren’t bred and farmed.  

The Guanaco is bigger than an alpaca but smaller than an average llama. Studies say the Guanaco is the early ancestors of the llama that we see in the current times. The Vicuna, on the other hand, is a relative of the alpaca specie. Because they roam in the wild, at one point, they were listed as an endangered species.

They were in the risk of going extinct in many countries, but after the implementation of various regulations, the numbers have grown. Still, they are a threatened species, and most governments are trying to protect them.

The Guanaco is much heavier than the Vicuna. Vicunas have overall better fiber, and that’s why they get hunted so much in South America. Hunters and garment industries make a huge profit from their fiber. Just to put things into perspective, a vicuna fiber scarf retails for as much as $1300.

The product also includes a certificate that states the country of origin, which is stamped by the respective country’s approval stamp. No wonder they were on the verge of going extinct!

Protecting the Cameloid Family  

As things stand, it is evident that all the species of the Cameloid family, including llamas, alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas, are of great importance to us. We have found ways to tame and breed llamas and alpacas. But the other two species remain in the wild.

To protect the Vicuna and Guanaco from going extinct, governments need to put strict laws in order. Otherwise, hunters and poachers will keep on killing them for fiber. Many animal research centers are trying to breed the Vicuna in an unnatural environment. Domesticating them could be a viable option to keep them safe.

Final Words

Llamas and Alpacas are adorable animals, and they are of great importance to us both financially and environmentally. Knowing the differences between the two should help you in identifying them. 

The uniqueness of Llamas and Alpacas is what makes the two species truly special.

The following blog post Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know is courtesy of Holiday Nomad

Llamas Vs Alpacas: Interesting Differences You Should Know published first on https://holidaynomad.com/