One of nature’s most luxurious fibres, kid mohair is highly treasured for its silky-smooth lustre and cloudlike aura, but don’t let the ‘lighter than air’ quality fool you, this is a resilient yarn that traps warmth into every stitch. Originally domesticated in Turkey, mohair goats were closely guarded and protected until the nineteenth century when they were exported to farms in Australia, America, and South Africa.
Kid Mohair Goat
Mohair grows in locks, adults have a curly wave, and kids have fine glossy ringlets. These locks grow very quickly, about an inch every month and shearing takes place in the Spring and Fall, each goat producing an average of six kilograms of mohair per year. This lustrous fibre is extremely smooth (lacking scales found in sheep wool), reflects light and absorbs dyes exceptionally well, producing some of the most vivid hues in the yarn industry.
Kid and Adult Mohair Locks
The lock at the top of this image is from an adult mohair goat, and the lower sample is from a kid. The first, second, and occasionally the third shearing produce the finest grade kid mohair for knitting, and give an extra-soft halo effect.
Stricktrends Winter 2011
Irresistiable in indigo, this featherweight shawl drifts gently over the shoulders for an added layer of warmth. Knit in Hommage from On Line, a blend of kid mohair with polyamide for core strength, and available in twenty-three shades, including these inspiring autumn hues, cerise, auburn, and chestnut.
Louisa Harding Simonetta
Introducing Simonetta from Louisa Harding, an exquisitely unique combination of kid mohair enhanced with whiskers of gilded gold and silver metallic. When the light catches this yarn in just the right way, the effect is shimmery. One of ten designs in the Simonetta Collection, ‘Agnelia’ is a cropped cardigan with delicately laced bell sleeves. Choose from twelve romantic shades, including baroque, patina, cocoa, and duck egg (shown above).
Debbie Bliss Party Angel
Another new addition for this season, Party Angel from Debbie Bliss. Take one highly coveted yarn, Angel, add a subtle sliver of metallic and look how pretty this shawl turns out with a little holiday sparkle. Available in ten fresh colours including chamois, silver grey, and rose.
