The popularity of mohair yarn has risen to great height due to an explosion of new patterns that use mohair silk lace, either held on its own or held together with another yarn. Today, there are almost 31,000 clothing designs that use mohair blend yarn and you probably have one of them in your wardrobe. But, what you actually know about this fibre? Mohair fibre comes for Angora goats and it is often confused with Angora rabbits form which angora fibre is produced. These animals share the same name due to their place of origin.
Mohair fibres containing microscopic scales that are smoother, larger and thinner than those found on wool. These scales give mohair its beautiful shine while preventing it form felting and providing resistance from water and dirt. Mohair is warmer than would and flame resistant. However, if washed over 60 °C the fibre will turn brittle and yellow and lose its lustre. Although is mainly used for carpets and upholstery, mohair blend yarn found its place in the knitting world as well. Mohair fibre comes in two types: superfine mohair which comes from the first shearing of the goat when is about six-months-old and it feels like cashmere. On the other hand, kid mohair comes for the second shearing and s lest soft than superfine.
Knitting with mohair is magical, especially when holding it double with another yarn, the colour effects that happen are simply amazing. Mohair yarns are a joy to knit with and the result is a soft, warm and cosy piece to wear. If you still haven't tried to knit with mohair, maybe now is the time. So, if you feel interested to try working with mohair, make sure you keep these few things in mind.
- Drape - The soft texture of mohair allows it to drape beautifully. Remember this for scarves, wraps or any other accessory that calls for an elegant, luxurious drape.
- Ripping mohair - It's ok to make a mistake. When this happens during knitting all you need to do is to rip out your project. Because of the long, delicate fibres, ripping mohair can be a bit challenging. So, rip the yarn slowly and grip it as close to the work as possible. We know it's frustrating to pull your work apart but take your time. Keep your hands near the tangles and don't add extra stress to part unless. Rather apply your energy and time to the points that are nearest the bound spot or tangle.
- Texture - As we mentioned, mohair creates a beautiful drape, so why simply not leave it just like that? Don't go too insane with the texture of the stitches. There is no need to adding any social stitches or fancy cables as mohair is already making a statement on its own. If you are a fan of lace knitting, consider mohair for your next project. Its airy texture goes perfectly with most of the lace patterns.
Mohair knitting tip
This versatile yarn works well in many different kinds of knits. So, here are few ideas for your next mohair knitting projects. So, here are some tips and tricks when knitting with mohair.
- Yarns like mohair tend to blend together when you are counting our stitches on your needle and tear them apart can be really tricky. It will be easier if you simply count the knitted stitches when you choose a knitting needle that is a different colour from the yarn and creates a good contrast.
- When you need to unravel several rows, put the knitting in a sealed bag and place it in the freezer for a couple of hours. By lowering the temperature, it will be much easier to undo without lots of the fibres shedding or sticking.
- Always keep a track on which row you are. For this reason, you may want to use a row counter or keep a tally. Keeping a note on how many rows you have done can be hard while you are looking at your work, especially if you are making some decorative lace patterns.
- In order to prevent tangles and knots make sure you rewind any lengths of the yard to the ball before you stop knitting and put your work away.
- Make sure you don't get too tired so you can see what you are doing. As the days get shorter make an effort to put lights on so that your eyes don't get tired. Also, if you are wearing sunglasses for reading you should wear them you knit as well.
Mohair knitting creates garments that are airy and open but still warm. There are two preferred needle styles for knitting with mohair. Due to some people knitting with blunt tips needles forces you to have more even knitting where you attempt to knit in the centre as where there should be the least resistance from the halo. However, if you knit wit a lace pattern, then this needle style can add to difficulties. For such projects, you can consider lace needles which allow to pierces thought the cloud and stitch without struggling with the halo. This way you will stitch into the halo without catching the yarn's structural core.
