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May 02, 2008
100% Cashmere and Blends
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Cashmere (Kashmir) is characterized as luxuriously soft wool, with high napability and loft. Cashmere is extremely warm (in order to serve its original purpose of protecting goats from cold mountain temperatures). Cashmere Fibers are highly adaptable and are easily constructed into fine or thick yarns, and light to heavy-weight fabrics. Natural colors: Grey, Brown and White.
The Cashmere Goat (Capra hircus Laniger) is a mammal belonging to the subfamily Caprinae of the family Bovidae. The goats produce a double fleece consisting of the fine, soft undercoat or underdown of hair commingled with a straighter and much coarser outer coating of hair called guard hair. In order for the fine underwool to be classified and used as cashmere it must be de-haired. De-hairing is a mechanical process that separates the coarse hairs from the fine hair and after de-hairing the resulting "cashmere" is ready to be dyed to color and converted into yarn, fabrics and garments.
The Cashmere goats reside predominantly in the high plateaus of Asia with the most significant populations being found in the northwestern provinces of China, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan. Many nations in that area rely on cashmere as a luxury product that is exportable for high profit, including the significant supplier countries: China and Mongolia. China is the largest producer of raw cashmere and current estimates of production put their annual clip at approximately 10,000 metric tons. Mongolia produces somewhat more than 3,000 tons annually with Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, India and Central Asian Republics producing significant but lesser amounts.
Pure cashmere can be spun into yarns and knit into sweaters, hats, gloves, socks and other apparel items or woven into fabrics then cut and assembled into garments such as outer coats, jackets, pants, scarves, blankets and other highly luxurious and desirable items. Fabric and garment producers in Italy, Scotland, England and Japan have long been known as market leaders in cashmere although recent trends have seen a growing production from countries that actually produce the fiber like China and Mongolia. The famous Johnstons of Elgin began cashmere weaving in 1797 and are the eldest cashmere mill still in use today.
* for information: most of "commercial cashmere" used in mass knitwear production is made of 100% nylon
Yarns with content of Cashmere less than 10%:
Silkroad Aran, Jo Sharp |
Alpaca Cashmere Tweed, Estelle
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* note: Lang Cashmere Premium [100% Cashmere], double knit weight: 22 sts/ 34 rows (3.5 - 4 mm needles) will be available in August-September
100% Cashmere  |
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CASHMERE LUXE by Lang FIBRE: 100% Premium Cashmere YARN WEIGHT: Aran TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 13 sts/ 20 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 5 mm (US No.7) LENGTH: approx. 50 m / 56 yards BALL WEIGHT: 25 gr * hand wash | made in Italy 
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CASHMERE CLASSIC by Lang FIBRE: 100% Premium Cashmere YARN WEIGHT: Aran TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 16 sts/ 22 rows NEEDLES: 4.5 - 5 mm (US No.8) LENGTH: approx. 50 m / 56 yards BALL WEIGHT: 25 gr * hand wash | made in Italy
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100% CASHMERE, un-dyed by Makalu FIBRE: 100% Tibetan Cashmere 6 ply YARN WEIGHT: Worsted TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 22 sts/ 30 rows NEEDLES: 4 - 4.5 mm (US No.6-7) LENGTH: approx. 132 m / 140 yards BALL WEIGHT: 56 g /2 oz * hand wash | made in China
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Natural Blends |
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CASHMERE Tweed by Lang FIBRE: 35% Cashmere, 65% Merino extra fine YARN WEIGHT: Light Aran TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 26 sts/ 25 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 5 mm (US No.6-7) LENGTH: approx. 78 m / 86 yards BALL WEIGHT: 25 g * hand wash | made in Italy
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ABSOLUTE by Madil FIBRE: 30% Cashmere, 70% New Wool YARN WEIGHT: Worsted TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 20 sts / 26 rows NEEDLES: 4 - 4.5 mm (US No. 6-7 ) LENGTH: approx. 110 m / 121 yards BALL WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Italy
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PASHMINA by Lana Grossa FIBRE: 22% Cashmere, 78% Merino extra fine YARN WEIGHT: Worsted TENSION: 10x10cm (4"): 20 sts/ 24 rows NEEDLES: 4.25 - 5 mm (US No.7-8) LENGTH: approx. 125 m / 139 yds BALL WEIGHT: 50g * hand wash | made in Italy
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