Mohair - is it worth it?

TestKnit

Hi everyone,

Today, on things an intermediate knitter wants to know, is mohair that great? I see sooo many patterns that call for it! I've never minded those instructions to hold my yarn double with it, as I like the 'clean' look simple yarn has. But, lately, I've been looking at a lot of Claire Garland's plushies... and while I'm not interested just yet in knitting those, the mohair does look absolutely cute!

The question is then, is it worth it? Does it stay looking fluffy and nice or will it pill horribly after a while? Will it shed? What kinds of mohair are even out there? I've seen some made from angora fur and others with polyester. Is it different to actual mohair from a goat?

Any anecdote, experience or recommendation welcome :)

pitussa

Mohair is great... BUT: it is scratchy (allergy?) for some people, it sheds like crazy, you get fluff everywhere when you wear it, and it is VERY warm (to me, but I live in a warm climate, we barely have a proper winter here).

I say you try it in a small project, like a cowl, or hat to see if you like it or not, if it makes sense for your weather.
I knit a short sleeve tee with mohair in it, it made no sense, LOL, too warm for short sleeve, but I am lucky I tolerate it close to my skin.

Also it is VERY hard to frog or undo, it is very sticky!

My only advice is, buy some (not too cheap, not too expensive), I think 80% mohair and a silk thread (20%) to give it stability. The brands mentioned above are good enough to give you a good idea. Also, brushed alpaca is a substitute for those with allergies, it is as warm, sheds just as much and is half the price LOL

Experiment, and decide for yourself! We all like different things!

lycisy

The more synthetic fibres it contains, the more prickly and less durable the mohair is.
The best is still the mixture of goat mohair and silk in a ratio of 70-80% mohair to 30-20% silk.

I have never had mohair made from angora. I don't think the individual hair fibres are long enough for that.
Maybe it will tear quickly or require a lot of synthetic fibre for stability.

A long time ago *sigh* there was a real hype about angora, must have been in the late 70s/early 80s. Material mix jumpers were all the rage.
A few balls of angora still live here in the household, a bit of nostalgia. The mix was always 60-70% angora (rabbit) and 30-40% polyester.
The only problem was that it was still fluffing away. You always left a trail of fibres behind with these jumpers.

Edit says I forgot to mention:
for me the best Mohair yarn is ITO Sensai and Rowan KidSilk Haze. Both are a bit exprensive but worth it.
A low-cost alternativ is Drops KidSilk.
Give it a try, you won't regret it.

Filokolobrzeg

Hi, my bestfriend knit for herself with mohair from Knitting for Olive and Sandnes Garn as she is a big fan of their designs ( and yarn!) but knitting toys could be expensive... if I will knit sth one day I will start with mohair from Drops.

M1370

Thank you...

MissPriss

I absolutely love the look of mohair paired with wool, but it's unbearable for me to wear - and I'm someone who can tolerate "scratchy" wools that other people would never wear next to their skin. I don't know how well it would hold up, since I've never used it in a project (due to itchiness). It sounds like you plan to use it for a toy, so the next-to-skin itchiness may not be a factor for you. But if you plan to make anything that will be touching your (or someone else's) skin during normal use, you may want to try lightly rubbing a skein of mohair across your wrists to see if it will bother you or not. I tried that test, and decided that no matter how gorgeous mohair looks photographed in projects, it would never be worth adding it to a sweater for myself.

punkkua

I LOVE mohair yarn! I can recommend HipKnitShop mohair, it is so soft and not at all itchy. It keeps its fluffyness nicely. At least not for me.

TestKnit

Hi everyone, thanks for all the warm answers :)

1) Wow! I had no idea mohair had a scratchy texture! It always looks so soft in pictures, and since it's not really used where I live (Argentina), I always assumed the fibres would be lovely and soft!

2) Angora does shed, in my experience, but I can deal with that, with the long mohair fibres... not so much. That's what I feared the most, adding it to a project and spreading microplastics around like the flu on a playground. Will consider the alternative of Brushed alpaca, as it is locally produced in my country up north. And I will look, in any case, for an all natural fibre content.

and finally, thanks for the knitting suggestions with it! If I do decide to bite the proverbial bullet, I'll make sure to come back and show my little project and thoughts. Thanks everyone!

Hensies

I’m afraid to use it. I have sensitive skin and it can get itchy. Would be a shame to work on a sweater for it to be unwearable.

cxex

Hensies replied at 2025-6-11 18:38
I’m afraid to use it. I have sensitive skin and it can get itchy. Would be a shame to work on a swe ...

Maybe you can knit a pair of mittens as a test? That way, it's only a small amount of time and yarn, and if you can't wear it, it's not a huge loss of effort.