Fine
mohair roving for handspinning
Our inventory of handspinners
roving changes from shearing day to shearing day. Although we usually
have white kid and white fine adult on hand, or blends and what we have
on hand varies. Our favorite blends are: black kid/black Border Leicester
lamb, white kid or fine adult mohair/white lamb or fine adult Border Leicester
and black or Natural Gray mohair/fine Romney wool. We are also beginning to blend
ginger llama and ginger/apricot mohair.
Most of our roving
is offered at $7-$8 per 4 oz.
Please contact us
for a current inventory, price list, or samples.
Mohair
fleece
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 Natural 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 2001 Fiber Jubilee.
The prices of raw
mohair are:
Colored and white kid, first and second clip, $15 per lb.
Colored and white yearling, $14 per lb.
Adult colored $3-$12 per lb. (e-mail for exact price)
White adult $2-$8 per lb. (e-mail for exact price)
We shear the first Saturday in April and the first Saturday in October. Please contact us about fleece availability.
About our mohair and mohair/wool products
. . .The
word mohair is derived from the Arabic meaning "choice"
or "select." 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 "itchy"
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 sitting in the washer, not agitating 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 1/2"
(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 suppliers - Finnsheep
wool from Sandy DeMaster, The Wee Croft, Oconomowoc, WI (414-646-5845);
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 "luster 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,
Natural 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.
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Our
blankets and throws are custom woven all natural color, chemical free
fiber— 50% mohair, generously donated by the pampered Angora goats at
Tall Grass Farm, and 50% thoughtfully selected virgin wool. The look and
feel of our blankets reflect our dedication to the ideal weave and mix
of mohair and wool. Mohair adds durability—mohair is the most durable of
the natural fibers—luster and elasticity and the wool we select adds
bounce and loft.
