Have you ever been in a store during the winter, pulled a wonderfully soft cardigan off the rack, seen the price tag, and thought, “Wow, that’s a lot of money!”? Chances are, that cozy cardigan or sweater was made of mohair. Would you like to make your own piece from this luxurious yarn, choose your own color combination, and decrease the pain in your wallet? Then get started with mohair yourself! How? Read the blog! :)
When we think of wool, we tend to think of a sheep’s fleece. With mohair, however, it’s not the sheep but the goat that sheds its coat. Angora goats—especially the young ones—are known for their silky, lustrous hair.
As you can imagine, there are more sheep than Angora goats in the world. And even though everything we use from an animal is precious, an Angora goat’s coat falls into the “extra precious” category. The price of a ball of mohair makes that clear right away. So before you start working with your very first ball of mohair, it’s helpful to know a few things about the yarn. We’d love to fill you in! :)
Differences in Mohair Yarns
This yarn is known as the crème de la crème of natural fibers. This is due to its highly sought-after lustrous appearance and the fact that this sheen is not lost after dyeing. The yarn feels light, yet it also offers excellent insulation and superior temperature regulation.
When you’re looking for mohair yarns, you’re sure to come across different types of skeins (with different textures). This is because mohair yarns are almost always blended with another type of yarn, such as wool, merino, alpaca, camel hair, Polyamide, polyester, Acrylic, or Silk. The reason mohair is blended with other types of yarn is to make the ball of mohair yarn more durable. The blend used with the mohair yarn determines not only the look and feel of the yarn but also the price of a ball. For example, a ball of yarn that’s a mix of mohair, Acrylic, and Polyamide (such as Rico Fashion Big Mohair) falls into a somewhat lower price range than a ball made of mohair and silk, like Lana Grossa Silkhair.
In addition to the types of yarn used and the price, there is also a noticeable difference in the length of the yarn’s fibers. For example, Katia Igenua and Lana Grossa Brigitte No. 3 have long-fiber yarn, while Lana Grossa Silkhair has somewhat shorter fibers.
We recently added some lovely balls of mohair to our (online) storefront. For example, the Katia 50 Mohair Shades. Small 20-gram balls with a length of no less than 200 meters. Mix and match to your heart’s content and treat yourself to a luxurious new cardigan or an ultra-soft scarf. Other new must-have mohair yarns include the Katia Ingenua Moda, the Lana Grossa Silkhair Haze Dégradé, and the Yarn and Colors Elegant.
Check out all the mohair yarns we have in our collection here!
Working with Mohair
Crocheting or knitting with mohair is a whole different ballgame than working with cotton or sheep’s wool, for example. So when working with Angora goat yarn, keep the following points in mind:
- Always make sure you insert the needle properly and pick up the threads;
- For your project, unravel the stitches one by one. Don't pull on them, or the yarn will get tangled.
- Mohair yarns tend to be itchy. So before you start a project, hold a ball of yarn against your skin and see if working with mohair is really such a good idea. Mohair sweaters and cardigans look great, but scratching all day long isn’t much fun.
- Choose the right needles for your craft project. Make sure to select smooth needles without any irregularities for the job. If you use a Crochet Hook with irregularities, the thin thread might get caught somewhere, and we definitely don’t want that!
Projects with mohair
Now that you know a little more about the yarn itself and the dos and don’ts of working with mohair, it’s time to choose your new mohair project! This luxurious yarn is perfect for sweaters, cardigans, and scarves. Consider, for example, the Knipmode cardigan or the Cloud Cardigan Degradé! A gorgeous knitted Must-have available in various shades. The cardigan is knitted with a soft, fluffy yarn and a gradient effect—a real sight to behold!
If you’re more into crocheting, the Bernadette Cardigan Crochet Kit is a really fun project. With high-quality yarns from Lana Grossa, its fantastic comfort, and elegant look, it’s a pleasure to crochet. The cardigan pairs easily with jeans, slacks, a skirt, or a dress and can be worn all year round. So it’s a great investment! :)
Caring for Mohair Clothing
Mohair clothing must be washed with care. It is therefore very important to follow the Care Instructions to preserve the quality of the garment. Mohair does not need to be washed after every wear. Because of its smooth fibers, simply shaking out the garment is usually more than enough to remove most dust and dirt. Are you bothered by unpleasant odors? Hang the mohair sweater in the fresh air or on a hanger in the bathroom. And if it gets stained or sweaty and a wash is unavoidable, hand washing, the special wool cycle, or a cold-water cycle is your best bet. Then lay the wet garment flat on a drying rack to dry.
What kind of project are you going to make with mohair? Will you share it on Instagram and Facebook using #Yarnplaza? Because we’re really curious to see your new project! :)
