Naturally colored and white mohair fleece and mohair roving for spinning and weaving
Fall 2000 Fiber Jubilee
at Tall Grass Farm
Sat., October 7, 2000
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Naturally colored and white mohair fleece and mohair roving for spinning and weaving |
Fall 2000 Fiber Jubilee at Tall Grass Farm Sat., October 7, 2000 |
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The Mohair Connection promotes the production and use of naturally colored and white mohair - the "Diamond Fiber". From fiber production to end use items, we focus on quality in our value-added mohair products.
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Why is Mohair Called the Diamond Fiber?
Mohair is one of the most versatile textile fibers. Its characteristics are similar to wool, except that it does not have the scales that can irritate the skin. Mohair has several unique properties that are not found in any other animal fiber
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Insulating capacity - mohair's hollow fibers do not conduct heat; like wool, mohair provides good insulation, even when wet. |
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Durability - mohair can be twisted and bent without damage to the fiber; it is the most durable animal fiber. |
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Comfort - the smooth fibers of mohair do not irritate the skin, even for people who are sensitive to wool. |
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Strength - mohair is stronger than steel of the same diameter. |
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Shrink resistance - because its smooth fibers do not felt, mohair fabrics shrink much less than wool. |
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Elasticity - mohair is very elastic; it can be stretched up to 30%, and will spring back to shape; mohair garments resist wrinkling, stretching, or sagging. |
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Moisture transfer - mohair easily absorbs and releases moisture, moving perspiration away from the skin; it is comfortable to wear in cold and hot weather. |
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Luster - one of mohair's most important qualities is its ability to take dye and to display brilliant colors that resist fading by time or hard wear. |
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Lightweight - mohair's smooth fibers can be made into fabrics that have a cooling effect; it is ideal for summer garments. |
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Non-flammability - mohair will not burn unless it is exposed to a direct flame. |
Fine
mohair roving for handspinning
from the Mohair
Connection
100% Mohair
50% Mohair/50% Finnsheep (medium gray)
50% Mohair/50% fine Romney (white)
50% Mohair/50% fine Border Leicester (white)
50% Mohair/50% Shetland (white)
Coming soon: White Kid Mohair/Lamb Border Leicester & Black Kid Mohair/Lamb Border Leicester - super and bouncy.
All roving is $6.25 per 4oz plus shipping.
We offer raw (unwashed) white and colored mohair for the handspinner and fiber artist. We have variety of natural colored animals producing lustrous fiber in shades ranging from pale gray, rich pewter, brown, solid midnight black, dark champagne, and silver/taupe. White mohair is available in grades from strong, for rug making, to fine adult, yearling and kid, favored by our craftsmen customers for dolls and santas.
Most of our colored mohair is sold through our mailings prior to shearing day and on shearing day (Fiber Jubilee). We have white mohair available at this time. If you are not presently on our mailing list for advance sale notice, please call or email and we will make sure you receive information prior to the Fall 2000 Fiber Jubilee (October 7, 2000).
The prices of raw mohair are: colored and white kid, first and second clip, $20 per lb.; colored yearling and adult, $15-$18 per lb.;white yearling and adult $9-$12 per lb.
About our mohair and mohair/wool products . . .The word mohair is derived from the Arabic meaning Achoice@ or Aselect.@ Mohair is a strong, lustrous fiber that makes an ideal yarn and fabric. It drapes well and resists wrinkling or shrinking. It is stronger and warmer than wool, keeping heat in during cold weather and is a barrier against hot summer temperatures. Mohair isn=t Aitchy@ because it doesn=t have scales like wool. It accepts dye with an exuberance that is unparalleled. Natural colored mohair has variations of shades that are exceptionally beautiful. Mohair can be blended with other fibers to take advantage of the best qualities of each. Wool and mohair blends have luster and strength from mohair (depending on the amount of mohair in the blend), and bounce and body from wool.
Raw mohair is easy to wash because it doesn=t felt like wool. I do a rinse in really hot water to get most of the dirt and grease out then let it sit in a sink of hot water to which I have added a liberal amount of Joy dish detergent. I move it around a bit, then a final rinse in hot water, put the fiber in a large mesh laundry bag, toss it in the washer and spin the water out. Voila! Clean mohair. (I have tried washing it in the mesh bags Csitting in the washer, not agitatingC and I haven=t been satisfied with the results.)
Mohair is easy to spin. Because it is a smooth fiber, it drafts beautifully. First clip kid mohair can be a little challenging because it is so fine.
Mohair /wool blends blends: We mix our mohair with thoughtfully selected fine wool. The truth is, we=re downright picky about the fleece we use for our handspinners roving. Although we do have breed preferences, the wool we use is chosen based on individual characteristic. We select wool that complements the qualities and color of mohair and adds bounce and loft. Most of our roving is 100% mohair or a blend of 75% mohair/25% wool.. All of the fleece we select, whether Finnsheep or Navajo Churro, has a staple length of at least 2 2" (a must for blending with mohair), is fine, soft and highly crimped for multiple use - next to the skin items or outerwear. Because we strive for a superior end product, we know that it is essential to start with superior wool. So, here=s a plug for some of our coveted suppliersCFinnsheep wool from Sandy DeMaster, The Wee Croft, Oconomowoc, WI (414-646-5845); Romney wool from Elise Herout, Black Oak Romneys, Antioch, IL (847-395-7032); and Border Leicester from Lora Valenta, J & L Farm, Two Rivers, WI (920-793-1838).
Here=s some information about the wools we use that you may find useful.
Romney: Romney is one of the Aluster
long wool@ breeds of sheep. The fiber
has luster, well-defined crimp, a staple length of 4-8 inches, and a numerical
count of 48-54. White Romney readily takes dye and the natural black, gray,
silver and brown colors of Romney sheep are splendid.
Finnsheep: The fleece is semilustrous, has a numerical count of 50-60 and
a staple length of 3-6 inches. The fiber is highly crimped with a silky handle
and adds bounce to mohair blends.
Rambouillet:: The Rambouillet originated with Spain=s
famous Merino flocks. The fleece is very soft with a tight crimp which adds
elasticity and loft. The average staple length is 3 inches and it has a
numerical count of 60-80. Rambouillet wool can be used for baby wear and
next-to-the-skin knitted or woven fabrics. All of these characteristics make it
a good choice for blending with Mohair.
Border Leicester: The fleece is long, lustrous and curly. Fine Border
Leicester has a silky handle and is a good marriage to mohair. Staple length is
6-8 inches with a numerical count of 36-48. We like to blend our kid mohair with
Border Leicester lamb fleece.
Navajo Churro: Churro is wool traditionally used by the Navajo Indians to
make rugs. The fleece is admired for its luster, silky hand, variety of natural
color and durability. The Navajo Churro is double coated breed; the staple
length of the outer coat is 4-14" and the undercoat 2-4 inches. As with all
breeds, fleeces vary from animal to animal, from coarse to fine and silky.
We offer two and three ply yarns that are 100% mohair or 75% mohair/ 25% wool. The mohair is generously donated by our pampered Angora goats and the wool is thoughtfully selected to add bounce and loft to the yarn. We have a range of natural colors, supplied by our colored Angoras, as well as white and unique colors developed using dye materials supplied by nature or concocted using Gaywool and Cushing dyes.
Current offerings are two ply yarns, 75% fine mohair/25% fine wool:
Unique color #9629, Tasman Twilight - soft taupe purple, reminiscent
of an early evening sky
Unique color #9630, Adelaide Hills - a muted silvery gray-green that
goes with just about anything
Unique color 9631, Nalligine - a burnished yet mellow terracotta
Yarn is offered in 1/4 lb. skeins at $16 per skein.
A few words about yarn structure, or "Why
Ply"?
Creating a high quality spinning yarn involves more than fiber selection and
preparation and spinning technique. Yarn character is equally influenced by the
number of strands in the end product. In addition to increasing the fiber
diameter, plying changes the appearance and physical properties of the final
yarn.
Singles yarns are smooth, rounded and tend to vary somewhat in diameter over the extended yarn. Singles yarn has a soft, smooth hand that tends to flatten out when knitted. This characteristic makes it a good choice for intarsia designs. However, because the whole structure of the strand is exposed to abrasion, it has little resistance to pilling.
Two-ply yarns are bumpy with hills and valleys developing as the two stands are twisted together. These irregularities, however, tend to even out as the two strands are plied together. This produces a pebbly surface when knit and a hand that is more bouncy and robust. Two ply yarn is a good choice for most types of knitting.
Three-or-more-ply yarns are smoother, both in appearance and feel. The addition of the third strand fills in the valleys of the two ply without increasing the yarn diameter as much as one would think. The yarn,and the knit fabric is soft, smooth and regular. Adding additional plies does not significantly change the appearance or hand of the yarn but does increase the yarn diameter. Multi-ply yarns can be used in all types of of knitting but are especially suited to garment elements such as cowl necks and batwing sleeves where drape is important.
Tall Grass FarmNaturally colored and white Angora goatsFeaturingTexan, South African, and New Zealand Blood LinesQuality Breeding Stock Mohair FiberBreeding for fleece quality, animal health, and color intensitySusan and Sam MillerN6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, WI USA 53115 (608) 883-2025 fax 883-6905 email skmiller@idcnet.com Map to Tall Grass Farm |
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The Angora goat originated in the area of Asia Minor that is now Turkey. The Angora dates back prior to early biblical history; mention is made of the use of mohair at the time of Moses. Angora goat fiber — called mohair — became a valuable product in commerce early in the nineteenth century.
Angora stock was distributed to various European countries, with limited commercial success. But when Angoras were taken to South Africa in 1838, mohair production was established in that country. The Union of South Africa is one of the three leading mohair-producing sections in the world and is exceeded in production only by the United States and Turkey. The most valuable characteristic of the Angora as compared to other goats is the value of the mohair that is clipped. The average goat in the U.S. shears approximately 5.3 pounds of mohair per shearing (mohair grows at the rate of 1" per month) and is usually sheared twice a year.
The Angora is very picturesque animal in which both sexes are horned. The bucks usually have a pronounced spiral to the horn, which comes back and away from the head; the horns of mature bucks sometimes reach two or more feet in length The ears are heavy and drooping. The Angora goat is a small animal as compared to sheep, common goats, or milk goats. There is considerable variation in the size of goats, but mature bucks will range from 150 to 225 pounds; does weigh 70 to 110 pounds when mature.
Carlie Crest Ontario
| Sired by Bojangles -- AAGBA 646194 out of Texas Schmidt line. Dense tightly curled fleece all the way down to his hooves. Shears 10-12 lbs per year. Throws outstanding kids. |
Zephyr -- b. 4/24/98, AAGBA registered. Dense cover with tight curl. Dam: Fancy, AAGBA 637180. $175.
Baxter -- b. 5/02/98, AAGBA registered. Dense cover with tight curl. Dam: Minit, AAGBA 623046. $175.
Micah -- b. 4/27/98, AAGBA registered. Dense cover with tight curl. Dam: Nadia, AAGBA 637173. $175.
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Tall Grass Farm N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, WI 53115 (608) 883-2025 |
| Fiber Jubilee - a celebration of mohair. Twice a year at the angora goat shearing, Tall Grass Farm invites visitors to see the mohair harvest and enjoy our participants' natural fiber exhibits. | ||
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N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd. Delavan, WI 53115 (608) 883-2025 |
Fiber Jubilee Participants October 7, 2000 Tall Grass Farm Raw mohair, colored & white, breeding stock The Mohair Connection Custom spun yarn, mohair & mohair blend roving, mohair trappings Studio S Fiber Arts All the tools and supplies you need for weaving, spinning, knitting, crocheting, and other fiber arts Hand Woven Baskets Exquisite creations by Elise & Ann (useable art at sensible prices) Charitable Soap Works Organic lotion bars, soap & body products to delight the senses Longwinter Farm Rambouillet wool, (hand dyed & natural) and herbal products Wee Croft Finn wool & yarn from jacketed sheep |
Black Oak Romneys Exceptional Romney wool LondonDairy Alpacas Alpaca fiber, yarn, sweaters, gloves, and other fine apparel items * live, huggable baby Alpacas * The Country Gourmet Goat cheese, flowerpot bread & all manner of seasonal yummies fresh from the kitchen Spring Prairie Wool Shed Handspun natural & hand painted yarns, Corriedale & Australian Bond roving Ewesful Gifts Jewelry, notecards and unique clothing for shepherds of all ages Beekeeper Bob Wisconsin honey, regular & crystallized, to delight your taste buds Phillain Llamas Llama fiber, raw & roving (100% Llama, Llama/Mohair and Llama/wool), custom colors |
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N6623 Lake Lorraine Rd., Delavan, WI 53115 (608) 883-2025 skmiller@idcnet.com
