Merino vs alpaca — which wool should you choose for a sweater?

24 June 2026· The Handmade Heaven workshop

It’s the question we hear most often from customers: merino or alpaca? Both wools are natural, warm and noble, but they differ more than you’d think. Here’s an honest comparison.

Quick comparison

Feature	Merino wool	Alpaca wool
Warmth	very warm	about 3–4× warmer (hollow fibre)
Weight	medium	lighter at the same warmth
Softness	very soft	baby alpaca — comparable, regular — slightly coarser
Does it itch?	no (17–22 micron fibre)	baby alpaca doesn’t, regular may slightly
Elasticity	very elastic, holds its shape	less elastic, may “grow”
Allergies	contains lanolin	lanolin-free — hypoallergenic
Pilling	moderate	minimal
Yarn price	medium–high	high

Choose merino if…

• you wear your sweater directly on your skin — merino is reliably itch-free,
• you care about a fitted cut — the elastic fibre springs back into shape,
• the sweater has to work on the move: on walks, in the city, when travelling — merino regulates temperature and wicks away moisture beautifully,
• you’re on a tighter budget — merino offers the best quality-to-price ratio.

Choose alpaca if…

• you feel the cold — alpaca’s hollow fibres work like a thermos flask,
• you have a lanolin allergy or very sensitive skin,
• you want a sweater light as a feather but very warm,
• pilling annoys you — alpaca pills noticeably less than merino.

Or why not both?

Merino–alpaca blends combine merino’s elasticity with alpaca’s warmth — a frequent choice for chunky winter sweaters. In our workshop we knit with both wools: see the merino sweaters and the alpaca sweaters, and if you’d like a sweater in a specific yarn — we’ll make it to order.

Frequently asked questions

Does merino wool itch? No. Merino fibres are 17–22 microns thick — below the threshold of human skin sensitivity. It’s sweaters in coarse sheep’s wool (30+ microns) or with synthetic blends that itch.

Which is warmer: merino or alpaca? Alpaca — its fibres are hollow inside and insulate about 3–4 times better than sheep’s wool at the same weight.

Which wool is more durable? Both last for decades with good care. Alpaca is more resistant to pilling, merino holds its shape better.

Does merino wool cause allergies? Very rarely. A true allergy involves lanolin (the natural wax in sheep’s wool) — if you have one, choose alpaca, which contains no lanolin. A “wool allergy” is most often simply irritation from coarse fibre, which merino doesn’t cause.

Does alpaca wool itch? Baby alpaca (up to 22.5 microns) doesn’t itch and is comparable in softness to merino. Regular alpaca can be noticeable against bare skin — which is why our workshop uses baby alpaca only.

Does merino wool pill? Moderately — less than cashmere, more than alpaca. A few bobbles in the first weeks of wear are the normal behaviour of shorter fibres; they’re removed with a fabric shaver and over time the effect almost disappears.

Can merino wool go in the washing machine? Only on the “wool” cycle (30°C, no spin) and ideally in a laundry bag. You’ll find the details in our guide how to wash a wool sweater.