Specialty Fiber

Mohair: luster, halo and surprising strength.

Mohair comes from the Angora goat, not the Angora rabbit. Its smooth, flat scales reflect light, so it has a natural shine, takes dye brilliantly, and is one of the most durable animal fibers there is.

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Kid vs. Adult Mohair

Angora goats are usually shorn twice a year, and their fiber gets coarser as they age. The first clips are the finest and most valuable.

Grade	Approx. µm	Typical use
Kid mohair	23–28	Fine lace and fluffy knitting yarns, often blended with silk
Young goat	28–32	Knitwear, blended yarns
Adult mohair	32–40+	Upholstery, rugs, coats, durable fabrics

Ranges are approximate; mills sort by fineness, not strictly by the animal's age.

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What Makes Mohair Different

Luster: flatter, smoother scales than sheep's wool reflect light like silk.
Dye uptake: takes color deeply and vividly.
Strength and resilience: resists crushing and abrasion, which is why it's used in upholstery velvet.
Halo: brushed mohair yarns have a fuzzy cloud of fiber that makes fabric look soft and blurs stitches.
Little felting: smoother scales felt less readily than most sheep's wool.

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Where Mohair Comes From

South Africa produces the largest share of the world's mohair, with the United States (mostly Texas), Lesotho and Turkey also significant producers.

The Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) certifies animal welfare and land management, similar to RWS for sheep's wool.

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Knitting with Mohair

Go up in needle size: kid mohair-silk is often knit loosely on larger needles for an airy, see-through fabric.
Hold it double: knit a strand of kid mohair along with another yarn to add halo and warmth.
Use lifelines: mohair is hard to unravel because the halo tangles. Run a lifeline every few inches in lace.
Chill to frog: if you must rip back, a few hours in the freezer makes the fibers stiffer and easier to separate.
Care like wool: cool hand wash, dry flat. A gentle brush revives a flattened halo.