1/ Where does mohair come from?
Mohair is the name given to the fleece of the Angora goat.
It originates from the high plateaus of Anatolia in Turkey, in the Ankara region.
It is a small, hardy goat, well adapted to arid regions. Its coat is entirely white, with long, silky, lustrous locks.
Today, South Africa is the world's largest producer of mohair (around 50% of global production), followed by the United States (in Texas), Argentina and Turkey. There are also over a hundred small breeders in France.
2/Mohair / Angora, what's the difference?
Mohair wool comes from the fleece of Angora goats, while Angora wool comes from the fur of Angora rabbits. Both types of hair make pretty, furry sweaters, but with quite different characteristics.
Mohair sweaters are generally lighter than Angora sweaters, which are denser and warmer.
Angora sweaters are generally more fragile and more difficult toCare instructions.
Mohair wool also has a curlier, shinier texture than angora wool, which has a softer, fluffier texture.
3/ Ismohair wool?
The first definition of wool is that of a fiber derived from sheep's fleece. However, other animal fibers such as alpaca, angora, mohair and cashmere are also considered wool.
4/ Does mohair shed?
Yes, but more or less! Spinning mohair is a multi-stage process: the fibers are arranged, intertwined and assembled, then a small loop is scraped to bring out the hairs on the yarn. It is at this stage that some hairs almost, but not quite, escape. When it comes to industrial washing, these "almost escaped" hairs will be gone for good. But some may still escape when you start wearing your sweater. In general, if the yarn is of good quality and made up of long fibers, the sweater will stabilize fairly quickly and hair loss will be minimal, but if it's made up of low-quality short fibers, then it could lose a lot of hair. Indeed, the longer the fibers, the better they are maintained. However, let's not forget that we're talking about a natural material that is never the same, so it's very difficult to generalize at 100%.
5/Does mohair itch?
Once again, it all depends on the quality, but also on the tightness of the stitch during knitting.
It originates from the high plateaus of Anatolia in Turkey, in the Ankara region.
It is a small, hardy goat, well adapted to arid regions. Its coat is entirely white, with long, silky, lustrous locks.
Today, South Africa is the world's largest producer of mohair (around 50% of global production), followed by the United States (in Texas), Argentina and Turkey. There are also over a hundred small breeders in France.
2/Mohair / Angora, what's the difference?
Mohair wool comes from the fleece of Angora goats, while Angora wool comes from the fur of Angora rabbits. Both types of hair make pretty, furry sweaters, but with quite different characteristics.
Mohair sweaters are generally lighter than Angora sweaters, which are denser and warmer.
Angora sweaters are generally more fragile and more difficult toCare instructions.
Mohair wool also has a curlier, shinier texture than angora wool, which has a softer, fluffier texture.
3/ Ismohair wool?
The first definition of wool is that of a fiber derived from sheep's fleece. However, other animal fibers such as alpaca, angora, mohair and cashmere are also considered wool.
4/ Does mohair shed?
Yes, but more or less! Spinning mohair is a multi-stage process: the fibers are arranged, intertwined and assembled, then a small loop is scraped to bring out the hairs on the yarn. It is at this stage that some hairs almost, but not quite, escape. When it comes to industrial washing, these "almost escaped" hairs will be gone for good. But some may still escape when you start wearing your sweater. In general, if the yarn is of good quality and made up of long fibers, the sweater will stabilize fairly quickly and hair loss will be minimal, but if it's made up of low-quality short fibers, then it could lose a lot of hair. Indeed, the longer the fibers, the better they are maintained. However, let's not forget that we're talking about a natural material that is never the same, so it's very difficult to generalize at 100%.
5/Does mohair itch?
Once again, it all depends on the quality, but also on the tightness of the stitch during knitting.
High-quality mohair like the one I use is made up of long, very fine fibers (less than 28 microns), giving it maximum softness. The higher the quality, the softer the mohair.
A tighter knit will result in a less soft sweater.
A tighter knit will result in a less soft sweater.
For example, my Kika and Mag 3-thread models are generally softer than other models.
Dyeing can also influence softness. Ecru is often softer than colors.
6/ Can I be allergic to mohair?
Our skin is more or less sensitive, but it would seem that mohair, like wool, is not an allergen. What itches sensitive people is the coarse fiber of certain yarns that protrude from the stitches. When the fiber is coarse, it can be irritating, but merino wool, SuperKid mohair and fine cashmere are not necessarily irritating.
7/Should I machine-wash or hand-wash my sweater?
For sweaters that can be washed in water, I'm more in favor of machine washing (with the right settings), because if you wash them by hand, you run the risk of running the water too hot for a few seconds, using a little too much detergent, leaving them to soak too long, and wringing them out too hard... and in the end, the risk of damaging the knitwear is greater if you wash them by hand.
When machine-washing, however, you need to choose for the right settings! See our Care page .
8/ Are thereany mohair farms in France?
Yes, there are about a hundred. From around 10 to 250 goats. Most of them belong to an association called Le Mohair des Fermes de France. Most of the breeders have developed products (sweaters, scarves, gloves...) that they sell on the internet or at local markets, which provides them with an income.
For my part, I manage to buy pelotes from certain breeders to offer you Partron/Pelotes Kits or finished Love and Confetti sweaters.
I worked with Ferme aux 4 vents to obtain a larger quantity of yarn, which enabled me to make reference Margot in machine knitting at Marzia, but production was very, very laborious because this yarn is so handmade! I intend to persevere!
9/ Putting mohair in the freezer?
Does putting your mohair sweater in the freezer prevent pilling?
Does putting your mohair sweater in the freezer slow down hair loss?
Personally, putting my sweater in the freezer isn't my first instinct.
In practical terms, it's especially useful in the event of moth infestation. See our article on moths.
The freezer also kills odors and bacteria.
Some say that freezing shrinks natural fibers (much as cold water tightens the pores of the skin) so that sweaters don't puddle so much or stay beautiful longer. I've done the test and I'm not very convinced.
10/ Do moths like mohair?
Yes, moths like fibers that contain keratin, a protein that nourishes them. So they love wool, mohair, alpaca, silk and cashmere.
If you have moths in your closet, read our article on moths here.
11/ How to remove odours from your sweater?
To eliminate the smell of food or cigarettes, for example, simply aerate the knitwear. Natural fibers breathe and, when exposed to air, they will rid themselves of unpleasant odors.
6/ Can I be allergic to mohair?
Our skin is more or less sensitive, but it would seem that mohair, like wool, is not an allergen. What itches sensitive people is the coarse fiber of certain yarns that protrude from the stitches. When the fiber is coarse, it can be irritating, but merino wool, SuperKid mohair and fine cashmere are not necessarily irritating.
7/Should I machine-wash or hand-wash my sweater?
For sweaters that can be washed in water, I'm more in favor of machine washing (with the right settings), because if you wash them by hand, you run the risk of running the water too hot for a few seconds, using a little too much detergent, leaving them to soak too long, and wringing them out too hard... and in the end, the risk of damaging the knitwear is greater if you wash them by hand.
When machine-washing, however, you need to choose for the right settings! See our Care page .
8/ Are thereany mohair farms in France?
Yes, there are about a hundred. From around 10 to 250 goats. Most of them belong to an association called Le Mohair des Fermes de France. Most of the breeders have developed products (sweaters, scarves, gloves...) that they sell on the internet or at local markets, which provides them with an income.
For my part, I manage to buy pelotes from certain breeders to offer you Partron/Pelotes Kits or finished Love and Confetti sweaters.
I worked with Ferme aux 4 vents to obtain a larger quantity of yarn, which enabled me to make reference Margot in machine knitting at Marzia, but production was very, very laborious because this yarn is so handmade! I intend to persevere!
9/ Putting mohair in the freezer?
Does putting your mohair sweater in the freezer prevent pilling?
Does putting your mohair sweater in the freezer slow down hair loss?
Personally, putting my sweater in the freezer isn't my first instinct.
In practical terms, it's especially useful in the event of moth infestation. See our article on moths.
The freezer also kills odors and bacteria.
Some say that freezing shrinks natural fibers (much as cold water tightens the pores of the skin) so that sweaters don't puddle so much or stay beautiful longer. I've done the test and I'm not very convinced.
10/ Do moths like mohair?
Yes, moths like fibers that contain keratin, a protein that nourishes them. So they love wool, mohair, alpaca, silk and cashmere.
If you have moths in your closet, read our article on moths here.
11/ How to remove odours from your sweater?
To eliminate the smell of food or cigarettes, for example, simply aerate the knitwear. Natural fibers breathe and, when exposed to air, they will rid themselves of unpleasant odors.
Place your sweater on a chair or flat on a clothesline, preferably outside (but not in direct sunlight). In just a few hours, the odors will be gone.
Putting your sweater in the fridge is also a solution, albeit less practical, for getting rid of odors.
Putting your sweater in the fridge is also a solution, albeit less practical, for getting rid of odors.
Don't hesitate to contact us by e-mail at contact@katiasanchez.com with any questions you may have!
