Mohair from Angora goats is a lovely fiber that has some wonderful qualities. But have you ever heard of Australian Heritage Angora Goats? They are great goats that have some unique qualities to their fiber.
Like the commercial Angora goats, Australian Heritage Angoras get shorn twice a year. Female Australian Heritage Angoras only give about 4 pounds of fiber at each shearing, which is about half what the commercial Angora will give. And their coats are less even than the commercial Angoras. But unlike normal commercial mohair, Australian Heritage Angora fleece is grease-free! Meaning you can simply use shampoo and hot water (that's still comfortable for bare hands) to wash it. And because it is difficult to felt it makes the washing process even easier.
The Australian Heritage Angora fiber have the same warm and long wearing qualities as normal mohair. But because their fleece lacks the strong curl of commercial mohair they have gentle waves of beautifully silky, soft, fiber. It takes dyes well, and amazingly the only natural fiber that surpasses it in luster is said to be mulberry silk. Plus contrary to popular belief mohair can be spun by itself. Making some beautiful draping yarns for a treasured project. If you use the worsted spinning style you can get a yarn with high luster and a light halo. Or if you want a softer yarn you can spin it in the woolen style for a yarn with a higher halo, but with less luster. However there are many other fun uses for mohair other than spinning. With one of them being some amazing real looking doll hair! Whichever way you like to use it, mohair is a fun fiber and it definitely worth trying yourself!
Unlike commercial mohair, Australian Heritage mohair can be very hard to find. A good place to start looking would be with the breeders who raise this amazing type of goats, like Della Downs in South Gippsland Australia.
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