subject: Angora Knitwear: Don't Worry About Cold Winter Days [print this page] The sudden interest in knitting has brought a great deal of attention to natural fiber yarns. One of the most popular types of natural yarns is angora yarn. This type of yarn has been revered for its low micron count, halo (fluffiness) and warm nature for years.
Angora wool is attained by combing or shearing angora rabbits, a very harmless process that helps fur.
Since angora rabbits can be bred in residential areas, it is absolutely possible that anyone can raise, spin and dye their own yarn. Keep in mind that these animals should be well taken care of, just like any household pet.
Finding and Making Angora Knitwear
Because it's not easy to raise your own angora rabbits, nor is it easy to comb, spin, or dye your own yarn, you can find a wide range of online and local stores that carry angora yarn for knitting. Some of these stores also offer handspun wool versus machine spun. This gives the yarn a more unique quality.
Angora knitwear is also available in a variety of stores, however, an angora blend that includes other types of yarn is much more common. This is mostly because angora wool can be bothersome to people with allergies.
Angora blends include angora, sheep's wool, and acrylic fibers. The purpose of these blends is to help the angora fiber stay in place and to reduce the fluffiness that can be inconvenient for some people.
Angora Garments and Their Benefits
If you do not mind fluffy angora yarn then you can reap all of its benefits. One of the biggest benefits is that angora is one of the warmest yarns available, in fact, it is seven times warmer than traditional sheep's wool.
This characteristic is the result of the hollow strand of angora fiber. The hollow chamber acts as an insulating element, an aspect that is much needed in colder climates.
Angora yarn is also light and airy, a characteristic that is noticeable simple by touching the fibers. This can also be accredited to the hollow fibers.
Because it is a natural fiber it can be hand-dyed to match any color you'd like. Dyeing should be done using the cold-dye method in order to avoid possible felting when dyed in hot water.
The versatility of this product is one of its most attractive features. Nevertheless, angora yarn is also one of the most esthetically pleasing yarns.
