Mohair is a great fiber, actually as warm as wool, but stronger. It does not come from the Mo, but from the Angora goat – an original native of Ankara, Turkey, but now mostly from South Africa, with the US (Texas!) a close second in production.
Mohair is flame retardant, absorbs moisture but stays dry feeling like wool, has flatter scales so it has a bit of shine, and takes dyes easily. It can feel itchy/scratchy.
Mohair fibers are usually plied with fine nylon as they’re spun, creating a bouclé looking yarn. Or, it can be brushed to create the fuzzy mohair we commonly think of.
boucle
- mohair
You find mohair mostly in blends. My favoriate yarn, Brown Sheep’s Lamb’s Pride is a 85wool/15 mohair blend, which gives it a bit of a sheen, and a halo when knit, and especially when felted.
