Let me introduce mohair wool today. In short – mohair is a silky fabric or yarn made from the coat of Angora goat (see picture below) and it is one of the oldest textile fibers in use. Mohair wool is harvested twice a year by shearing the goat – one animal can produce 11-17 pounds (5–8 kg) of mohair wool a year.

Mohair is a strong, lustrous fiber that makes a perfect yarn and fabric. Fabrics made from mohair wool yarn drape well and resist wrinkling and shrinking. Notable for its sheen mohair is often used in fiber blends to add these qualities to a textile. Apart from being warm and having great insulating properties mohair very durable, resilient and resistant to moisture-wicking, stretch, flame and creases.

Mohair isn’t “itchy” because it doesn’t have scales like wool. Although mohair wool accepts dye exceptionally well, natural colors of mohair have lots of shades that are extremely beautiful.

Mohair wool yarn is considered to be a luxurious fiber, like cashmere, angora and silk, and is most often pricier than other wool types that come from sheep.

Compared with alpaca or cashmere, or synthetic fibers or wools (that are usually treated to enhance softness) mohair is not a very soft yarn. Value of mohair is derives from other certain unique characteristics: mohair wool is warmer than other fibers and therefore is used to make a light-weight garment and is often blended with wool for this purpose; mohair yarn has a distinctive sheen created by the way it reflects light.

As mohair absorbs dyes exceptionally well, pure mohair wool yarns are usually recognizable for their bright saturated colors. One more important quality of mohair is easy washing. Mohair products don’t felt or shrink like those made of other wools. In normal circumstances the usual required care will be brushing the fluff with a stiff hairbrush. If washing is needed (e.g. for your blanket), hand wash the item gently in tepid water with a small amount of detergent or soap powder. Drain, and then rinse in clean cold water. After rinsing a second time in tepid water add a small amount of fabric softener for ideal results, drain and lay flat to dry followed by a brisk brush to fluff it up.

Mohair is used in producing lots of garments: scarves, hats, sweaters, coats, jackets, suits, and socks as well as home furnishings. Mohair wool yarn is also found in carpets, decorative fabrics, knitting yarns, and many other fabrics.

Please take a look at some gorgeous mohair wool items I found on internet!

• super-stylish designer mohair coat from Asos,
• beautiful knitted mohair wool scarf from Plumo,
• gorgeous mohair jacket from Frassy.

In my next post find out about sheep wool.