Mohair, prized for its brilliant colour and sheen, is known as the diamond fiber.
Mohair dates back to the biblical times and the garments of the wisemen were probably made of this fiber.
Mohair comes from the fiber of the Angora goat. It is sheared every 4 – 6 months. Mohair grease is harder to remove than lanolin from wool. It requires hot water and several washings.
U.S. and South Africa are the largest producers of mohair. In Britain, coloured angora goats were imported from New Zealand. Most breeders have 10 to 30 animals and sell the fiber primarily to handspinners and weavers.
Mohair is loved for its colour, fluffiness and light weight and durability. It is used by knitters and weavers alike, for sweaters, socks, blankets, rugs, upholstery and teddy bears and mohair yarn.
Weaving Tips with Mohair
When you weave with mohair as warp, sett it farther apart than you would with wool of a similar thickness. e.g. if the normal sett for a wool yarn is 8 epi, use a sett of 6 epi, as the fuzzy yarn needs to have more space. A close sett will cause the warp ends to tangle with each other and your loom may get locked up as you try to treadle. Also, change the shed after you beat but before you move the beater back. This helps to open the shed for the next beat.
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