What is angora wool used for?

Hi everyone,

I bought a bunch of leftover yarn on eBay... and some of it is angora wool. What can I use it for? I mean, what can I actually make with it that makes sense?

Thanks
Best regards, Karo
 

Hi Karo,
You can make beautiful scarves with angora wool—sweaters also look great with it. Since you mentioned leftover yarn, I’m guessing you don’t have that much wool. Angora wool also combines well with other smooth yarns—it’s just more of a winter thing. I used to work with angora wool a lot; it’s better suited for knitting than for crocheting.

Best regards, Yvonne 

Angora comes from rabbits—is that right?

Angora wool comes from rabbits, cats, and goats. As far as I know, it’s obtained in a cruel way, especially from rabbits, which is why I haven’t used it in years. It’s somewhat similar to cashmere and mohair, but not all manufacturers use the same methods. 

Thanks for the reply. Do the manufacturers list the origin of the wool on the label?
I was actually planning to buy a nice cashmere sweater at the store, but I guess I should think that over again.

I think a good yarn shop would be happy to give you information about that. I'm not sure whether it's listed on the labels, but I think you can find quite a bit about it online. Before next fall comes, I also wanted to take another look at what has happened on the market, because animal suffering is absolutely not okay with me; I have a dog myself and love all animals.
Best, Yvonne 

I meant “banderole”; the “animal cruelty” part came from typing too fast. Have a nice day!

Thank you, have a great day too!

Hello,
thanks for all the information. Is there anything special I need to keep in mind when washing the yarn?

Best, Karo

Since this wool sheds a lot, you’re supposed to put it in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer for a short while after washing it (the label usually says “delicate cycle” or “hand wash”) so that the angora fibers stand back up; otherwise, the wool will clump together after washing—as far as I can remember.

Best regards, Yvonne 

That’s a lot of work for just one sweater or scarf

Is angora wool actually very scratchy?

Hi Muetzekatze, angora wool is very soft and fluffy, but the higher the angora content, the more it sheds.