Organic Clothing - Alpaca Sweater | Bedding - Duvet (Doona / Comforter) | Alpaca Accessories | FAQ: Alpaca Bedding
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Duvets/Quilts/Comforters/Doonas - Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is the real benefit of using alpaca fibre in a duvet? A: It is light and warm. The duvet’s combination of warmth and lightness substantially derives from the nature of alpaca fibre which is both light in weight and hollow. The hollowness adds to its insulating (warmth) properties, as well as providing the basis of its light weight. Q: Just how warm are they? A: The “standard” alpaca duvet we sell has been tested by an independent laboratory to have a TOG [Thermal] Rating of 9.0; this is the [very rough] equivalent of three and a half standard blankets though far lighter of course. When tested recently the “thermal resistance” compared more than favourably with its pure wool equivalent while the "warmth to weight ratio" exceeded that of the wool duvet by some ten percent. Q: Why is it necessary to add wool to the duvet? Why is it not 100% alpaca fibre? A: There are no barbs on the individual alpaca fibres – only a light “scale” whereas wool has a high barb content. This means that the alpaca fibre will not “bind” in the same way that wool does; a duvet made entirely of alpaca fibre fleece will “move” around inside the duvet cover, making it less effective and quite uncomfortable; hence the need for the addition of the wool fibre to help bind the fibre inside the duvet covering. Some duvets have as little as 50% alpaca fibre, whereas we have found with everything else our manufacturer is able to do, that we can provide a fine quality product with more than 80% alpaca fibre. We have found that the only way to use 100% alpaca fibre is to narrow the size of the rows between stitching and to use cross stitching to “hold” the fibre together. This tends to increase the stitching to a point where the duvet cannot be properly aerated loosing too much of its lightness and warmth. Q: So, just exactly how are the duvets made? A: When the alpacas are shorn at Benbellen farm, the fleeces are given a primary clean by removing burrs, stones and other obvious “foreign matter”. [The best quality and finest fibre which is anything from 15 to 20 microns is then hand spun and hand knitted into fine quality fashion garments: sweaters, shawls, scarves, snoods and berets in natural colours.] The [slightly] coarser quality fleece, usually from older animals, is sent to our manufacturer for processing into duvets. Here the raw fleece is “carded” and then sent to the CSIRO laboratories where it is “scoured” and made into “batts”, looking rather like the insulating batts used in the building industry. All batts contain a “blending oil” to eliminate static and to keep fibres moist and pliable. The batts are then sewn into a duvet covering made of high quality japara cotton or sateen in an off-white colour; the japara cotton and the sateen are chosen because of the denseness of their weave and the lustre of their finish. The coverings are channel stitched (rather than box stitched) every 250 millimetres and are edged in satin. Q: What does carded mean? A: Carding is a process whereby the finer solid “foreign” matter that is present in the fleece is removed and the fibre is “straightened” so as to provide for even layers of fibre in the duvet. Q: What does scoured mean? A: Scouring is a process involving a final clean of the fleece using a soapy wash prior to drying and the preparation of the batts. The process also removes residual grease and oil as well as any minute particles of dirt and dust and any dead scale present prior to “shrinking” and the preparation of the batts. Q: Does the fibre move about within the covering? A: We have found that the channel stitching is sufficient to prevent any movement of the fibre batts while still allowing for them to be adequately bounced or fluffed up for maximum aeration and therefore warmth. Q: Does the fibre emerge at all from the cotton or sateen covering? A: Not at all. The japara cotton and sateen are both quite densely woven fabrics and we have had no experience of the alpaca fibre emerging through the covering. The only [indirect] experience of this occurring was when the manufacturer could trace the emergence of the fibre to an enlarged needle hole rather than through the japara cotton or sateen itself. We have no direct experience of this in the many duvets we have supplied. Q: How light are the alpaca duvets? A: A queen duvet is 2100mm x 2100mm (4.41 sq metres) has a gross weight of 2500 gms (567 gms per sq metre) and a net weight of 1900 gms of fibre (431 gms per sq metre). The table below sets out the size and gross weight of each duvet size.
Q: Are “odd” sizes available? A: We have stock of the most common of the number of US Queen Sized duvets; other sizes can be made to order with the need to allow for a week or so additional manufacturing time. Costs – normally just a 10-15% extra on the nearest “standard” – are provided on request. Orders need to be placed by phone or fax rather than through the secure cart system available for standard sizes. Q: What is a his/hers duvet? A: One side of the duvet has a double batt thickness; it is designed for those couples where one person has a greater need for warmth than the other, or, maybe, for a single person with different seasonal needs. Q: How do I look after the duvet to get the most out of it? A: Always use a duvet cover (to match your bedroom furnishings perhaps) and regularly bounce or fluff the duvet to fully aerate it. The duvet can also be aired on a clothes line without movement of the fleeces. Q: How should it be cleaned? A: Looked after well the duvet should not need frequent cleaning. Whenever it does, however, have it put through a gentle dry cleaning process - never wash it! Washing causes the fibre to “felt” thus losing its lightness and much of its insulating properties. The duvet should never be vacuumed! Q: Is the duvet damaged in humid conditions? A: Alpaca will absorb no more than 7% water in any atmospheric conditions ensuring they retain their warmth and lightness in humid areas. Q: How allergenic is the alpaca fibre? A: Alpaca fibre is generally regarded as highly hypo-allergenic. Our manufacturer reports that, in more than ten years of working with alpaca fibre, he has not seen or heard of any allergic reaction to it. Q: Do you supply duvet covers? A: We have decided to stick to what we do best: proving the best quality alpaca fibre duvets available. This allows you to focus on making sure it “fits” by purchasing covers that match your own bedroom furnishing and any changing moods you may have in this regard. Q: Do you supply pillows? A: We recently introduced two lines in alpaca-wool pillows; one soft and the other firm and reaction so far has been very positive. Q: What other products do you supply? A: Hand spun and hand knitted fashion sweaters, shawls, scarves, snoods and berets in natural colours (no bleaching or dying); horse saddle blankets and sleeping bags are also available. |  Benbellen Alpaca Products - Duvet 
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