100% Angora and Blends

Albrecht Dürer "Hare", 1502, Watercolour.

ANGORA FIBER is specially bred Rabbit's Wool. The first mention of angora yarn in print was given in 1833. It was described as "Rabbit's hair from the city of Ankara (Turkey)". Because the angora rabbit has been specially bred for its long fur for many centuries (were bred by the French nobility), they would not survive for long in the wild. Their fur would get tangled in the underbrush, making them easy prey for predators. For more information about angora rabbits and breeds, visit Wikipedia.org

ANGORA WOOL: Angora is very soft, fluffy, light and warm. It is one of the most exquisite, light and beautiful fibers in the world. But its remarkable beauty is only one of its many benefits. Angora Rabbit's Wool is fine, very soft and 7 - 8 times warmer than Sheep's Wool. Angora knitwear was doctor-prescribed in Europe for the relief of pain, without drugs. "It is a natural hollow chambered fiber that provides the best natural insulation, while allowing body moisture to escape, keeping the wearer dry, as well as warm." The angora wool fibers measure 10-13 microns. English Angora is the silkiest of the Angoras. It does not have guard hairs. French Angora is supposed to consist of 30% guard hair. There is not much difference in the actual spinning of the two fibers. However, French Angora blooms more due to the guard hairs. English Angora needs to be "abused" a little to achieve this bloom. German (Giant) Angora was developed through selective breeding, resulting in a rabbit with very high fur yields. Its fur is strong enough for commercial processing. Satin Angora is lighter weight than the other Angoras and for this reason it takes more of it to make an ounce.

GRADING THE QUALITY OF THE WOOL
Quality also depends not only on where the wool is harvested from but how clean it is and how free of matts it is.
Premium 1st Quality: The premium 1st quality wool is taken from the back and upper sides of the rabbit. This is usually the longest and cleanest fiber on the rabbit and is absolutely matt free and perfectly clean. There should not be ANY hay or vegetable matter in the rabbit fiber. This is difficult because it is necessary to feed quality hay to the rabbits to help prevent wool block and they are messy eaters.
Second Quality: Second quality is from the neck and lower sides and may have some vegetable matter.
Third quality: is the rear-end (or butt) and legs and any other areas that easily matt and are of shorter length and have may have some vegetable matter and small matts.
Fourth quality is totally unsalvageable and consists of the larger matts or stained fiber. (Third and fourth quality are perfect for cutting up for the birds to use in lining their nests.) - Spinning Angora, "Completely Angora" by Sharon Kilfoyle and Leslie Samson, Samson Publishing.
All about angora rabbits: AngoraRabbit.com
Angora Fiber, Spinning Angora: Tanger Song Farm

German: Incredible 4 ply, Orkney Angora Incredible DK, Orkney Angora Lambgora, Orkney Angora

French: Angora, Lang Nature, Lanas Stop

Other (* ask manufacturer): Cloud 9, Cascade Lambgora Paint, Makalu

100% Pure Angora

INCREDIBLE 4 ply by Orkney Angora FIBRE: 100% Angora YARN WEIGHT: 4 ply Fingering TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 28 sts / 36 rows NEEDLES: 2.25 - 3.25 mm (US No. 1-3) LENGTH: 400 m / 445 yards BALL WEIGHT: 50 gr * hand wash | made in Scotland

INCREDIBLE DK by Orkney Angora FIBRE: 100% Angora YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 10x10 (4"): 20 sts / 28 rows NEEDLES: 3.25 - 4 mm (US No.3-6) LENGTH: 200 m / 223 yards BALL WEIGHT: 50 gr * hand wash | made in Scotland

NATURE by Lanas Stop FIBRE: 100% Angora YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 30 sts / 29 rows NEEDLES: 3.25 - 3.5 mm (US No. 3-4) LENGTH: approx. 50 m / 54 yards BALL WEIGHT: 10 gr * hand wash | made in Spain

Luxurious Blends

ANGORA by Lang FIBRE: 70% Angora, 30% Merino extra fine YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 21 sts / 30 rows NEEDLES: 3.75 - 4 mm (US No.5-6) LENGTH: approx. 125 m / 138 yards BALL WEIGHT: 25 gr * hand wash | made in Spain

LAMBGORA by Orkney Angora FIBRE: 50% Angora, 50% Lambswool YARN WEIGHT: Double Knit TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 20 sts / 24 rows NEEDLES: recommended 3.75 mm (US No.5) LENGTH: approx. 200 m / 223 yards BALL WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Scotland

CLOUD 9 by Cascade FIBRE: 50% Puruvian Merino, 50% Angora YARN WEIGHT: Heavy Worsted TENSION: 1 inch = 5.5 sts NEEDLES: 4.25 - 4.5 mm (US No. 6-7) LENGTH: approx. 100 m / 109 yards SKEIN WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Peru