Handcrafted Gray & Olive Alpaca Throw

Handwoven from alpaca yarns in medium gray, dark gray, and olive green, this throw is finished with hand-tied fringe on the long ends. Alpaca is a touch sensory experience.

Alpaca fiber is hollow, which gives it insulation and light weight, and it is naturally free of lanolin. Weavers wrap the yarns around a wooden frame to map the pattern, work the loom by hand, and brush the finished throw with a native teasel plant. A wooden block hand-irons it.

Alpaca fibers' hollow structure makes them lightweight and buoyant, avoiding a downward pull. This gentle contact maintains a small gap, softly separating the fabric during subtle movements. Peripheral mechanoreceptors in the skin detect this light pressure and send signals via dorsal column pathways, which the brainstem interprets as a soft, cushioned sensation (Abraira & Ginty, 2013). Their research indicates that gentle pressure, similar to that of an alpaca, can help reduce overload or anxiety, making people feel more at ease.

Drape the throw over a bed or a sofa.

Details

• Product: Throw blanket
• Material: Alpaca yarn
• Colors: Medium gray; dark gray; olive green
• Construction: Handwoven on a loom; brushed by hand with teasel; hand-ironed with a wooden block
• Finish: 4 in. (10.2 cm) hand-tied gray fringe on the long ends
• Dimensions: 90 in. x 45 in. (228.6 x 114.3 cm) (length x width)
• Craft origin: Woven in Otavalo, Ecuador

Pairing Note

Textiles provide tactile grounding by activating the skin’s mechanoreceptors to produce calming physical feedback (McGlone et al., 2014) and ease tension (McEwen, 2007). Visual: People often look at color, pattern, and form while touching fabric. The eyes help the brain understand what the hands are feeling (Lakoff, 1987). When the visual cue matches the texture, the sensory cue helps the brain process the experience more efficiently, making the experience clearer. This visual-tactile pairing creates a small resonance of emotional steadiness (Juslin & Västfjäll, 2008) and strengthens memory through familiar sensory combinations (Herz, 2016).