I got a question via my Etsy shop yesterday. Lady in question was asking me if I do just angora, since I do spin angora with silk a lot. Now for those of you who are not experienced with Angora as fibre or yarn, here is the answer.
Angora rabbit, which is the "giver" of this super light and fluffy fibre is an amazing animal. The hair is harvested by just brushing out or by shaving. Now this is important for the bunny, since the poor animal could suffocate on its own hair as well as get intestinal blockage by it. So by shaving it and brushing it, it has safe life. The hair this special bunny has is amazing. It can be a wee ticklish when used by itself, but it sheds even when spun into yarn- it is just so fine!. Therefore other fibres are added to keep it in place. The mix with silk is a classic. Angora hair is and always was considered a luxury fibre.
So, next time you are buying angora yarn in shop, you might buy just those 200g needed for sweater if it is 100% angora, but you will be covered in the hair all the time. You could however get a 70/30 or 50/50 mix in which case you will follow the yardage for the sweater you want to make in needle size recommended and be fluff free.
So, there. My reason for spinning angora mixes.
Angora/angora/angora...
There are angora cats.
Angora rabbits...
and angora goats...
There are people out there who spin angora cat hair and make it into clothing, bags, accesories etc.
Angora rabbit produces Angora fibre.
Angora goat produces Mohair fibre.
Many Thanks to Betty who fixed a mistake I made in this post originally, regarding goats and their fibre!
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