Angora wool is the only natural fiber that can be spun immediately after harvesting.
You don't have to wash or card it.
Spinning: This is one of the most cheering and meditative activities I know! The interaction between hands and feet, holding the fibers and let them go again and the fascination of the thread getting longer and longer out of the "emptiness" is wonderfull and peacefull!
Angora fibers should be spun with more twist and finer than sheep wool. Normally for knitting I make a two-ply yarn which is stronger and evens out too much twist .
If I use a single ply yarn (to weave fine tissue) I wash it gently and let it dry on a reel. That fixes the twist.
Dyeing: Angora wool can be dyed with commercial wool dyes or -very fascinating- with herbs. All recipes for dyeing sheep wool with herbs can be used for angora, too. Just one difference: angora is dyed at a temperature of 70° C, never let it boil! It is important that the yarn is treatened gently - no squeezing, no wringing and no temperature shocks!
Special effects you get dyeing a yarn made of one ply angora and one ply silk. They take the dyeing differently which results in a wonderfull shaded yarn.
Felting: To felt the angora fibers have to be carded. You can mix the angora fibers with sheep wool for a more durable felt.
To get a colored felt you dye the fibers and card them afterwards or you simply dye the finished felt.
Prices for angora fibers and yarn you find here.
© Ursula + Pascal Glauser 28.10.99
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