What is Angora Wool?
Angora wool is an extraordinarily soft knitting fiber produced from the fur of the Angora rabbit. It can only be spun from the hair of Angora rabbits, while the product of angora goats is called mohair. Angora fiber has a very soft, silky texture and is usually 10 to 13 microns thick. The fibers are also hollow, which gives them loft and a characteristic floating feel. In addition, angora fibers are very short, which can effect stitch density when the knitter is using angora wool with a high percentage of angora.
Pure angora wool is impossible to make, because the fibers are too fine and the wool will simply unravel. Angora fibers are usually mixed with other soft fibers, such as cashmere and lambswool. Angora wool tends to be very warm and is frequently used to trim sweaters or to knit hats and scarves. Angora is generally viewed as a luxury fiber, and most angora wool products are very expensive, reflecting the laborious harvesting process and the small number of producers.
Angora rabbits can be combed or gently sheared for their fur, and they have been used for that purpose in Turkey for centuries. Angora first became popular in Europe in the late 18th century, when it was popularized by the French. In the Americas, angora wool didn't touch the popular imagination until the 20th century, when small cottage breeders began raising Angora rabbits and spinning their fiber.
There are four breeds of Angora rabbits, beginning with the English breed, which weighs 5 to 7.5 pounds (2 to 3.5 kilograms). The English breed produces a very large amount of fur and must be combed regularly to keep the hair free of tangles and debris. The good natured rabbits are popular in show, and their fiber wraps very tightly when spun, making an even and strong wool.
The French breed ranges from 7.5 to 10.5 pounds (3.5 to 4.5 kilograms) and has a higher proportion of guard hair to wool. Guard hairs take color better, and many colored angora wool products come from the French breed. The French breed requires less grooming than other breeds and is recommended for novice breeders.
The Satin breed has very shiny, soft fur with a satiny appearance. It is easy to collect and spin, and the 6.5 to 9.5 pound (3 to 4 kilogram) rabbits are favored by fiber collectors because their fur spins quickly and easily. The breed also tends to be richly colored, producing wool with high color saturation, although the all white Satins produce fur that takes dye very well.
The Giant breed is significantly larger than the other breeds, often weighing more than 20 pounds (9 kilos). The breed most often appears in white, and its wool must be harvested by shearing, because the rabbits do not naturally molt or shed. For sheer volume of collection, the giant breed is an excellent choice for breeders attempting to produce angora fiber for commercial use.
Angora wool can be harvested year round, although it requires careful handwork, as most rabbits are combed. Most Angora rabbits are amenable, but nervous, and it is important to be gentle with them. The wool produced can be used in a wide variety of applications in which insulation, comfort, and warmth are needed, and the fibers are pleasurable to work with because of their luxurious look and feel.
Written by S.E. Smith
