Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Facts About Mohair Merino Fiber

By Barbara Cole


Economic importance that animals have is the reason why people keep them. The angora goat species have proven to be one the most useful livestock one can keep. Meat, skin and milk are the products it produces. However, most people that rare them do so for its mohair fiber. This is a special fiber that many people seek. It is one of the softest fibers available worldwide. Facts regarding mohair merino fiber.

Its exceptional ability to take dyes is among the qualities that make the product very marketable. It also maintains warmth in winter and coolness in the summer because of its excellent capability to regulate heat. Its flame resistance, natural elasticity, crease resistance, and durability attracts more people to it. These excellent qualities result to it being costlier than other materials such as wool.

History has it that this material is among the oldest textile fibers to have ever been used by man. Its use dates back in the 8th century as fabrics made of this material existed in England at that time. However, the source of this textile, the angora goat is believed to have originated from the mountains of Tibet.

Shaping and twisting can be done to this fiber without causing any damage. This is because it is naturally elastic. The material is applied to make boucle yarn because of this ability. Boucle yarns exhibit fanciness and it is a quality people know them for. With this, it is also possible for a person to design the material into any shape they want.

As such, it is categorized under luxury fibers such as silk, cashmere, and angora. A large part of this fiber is made of a special type of protein known as keratin. Keratin is the same protein found in the skin, horns, hair, and wool of mammals. However, its characteristics in this fiber are different. For instance, its scales are not fully developed as is the case with wool.

A softer touch is given to this material by the underdeveloped scale. Therefore, this fiber has no prickly feeling on skin like that experienced from wool. The range of the diameter of this fiber is between 25 and 45 microns. Therefore, the fiber is classified into kid, adult and goatling mohair. Older goats produce thicker hair whereas younger ones produce finer one.

Knitwear such as clothing, blankets, and scarves are made from finer hair while rugs and other heavier fabrics are made from older hair. People use this fiber textile to make coats, socks, suits, winter hats, and home furnishing. Some high grade doll wigs are also made from this textile while the rooting of customized dolls can be done with mohair. Some millers also blend it with alpaca or wool to achieve various effects.

Finally, one has to take good care of all products made from this material to increase their durability. Washing is part of this care. The advantage of this material is that it cannot felt or shrink as wool does when it comes in contact with water. People can brush it by use of handheld hard brushes. The direction of the fabric nap should be used when brushing. Care instructions should be followed strictly for one to offer the best care.




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