Fur of four breeds of Angora rabbits produce the fine, warm angora wool. Angora rabbits have been bred for centuries, and are believed to have originated in Turkey.

Each of the rabbit breeds has a different body and fur characteristics.  Some are finer than others, some are stronger, some are shinier. Yarn manufacturers are required to label the fiber source as "Angora rabbit" if that is the source. As you can imagine, it takes a lot of fiber to make yarn, so angora tends to be expensive, but when it is blended with other fibers, it is very reasonable in price.

Super light, fine and warm. The core of the fiber is hollow, giving it superior insulation. Angora blend yarns usually have a distinct fluffy halo, similar to mohair's, but shorter and softer.

The higher quality angora fiber is not sheared from the rabbit, but collected from shedding and brushing. Angora naturally shed their fur layers every few months. The fiber requires little preparation before spinning into yarn.

The fiber length of angora varies by breed. Some of them are even long enough to be spun without blending to be made into commercial yarns. Most often, however, angora is blended with other fibers, such as wool, silk and even cotton.

Angora rabbits naturally come in many colors, from bright white to peach to black. Of course, it can be dyed and comes in a range of colors. 

The fiber of angora is very delicate, but its strength is enhanced by blending with other fibers. Blending also helps angora resist pilling. While it may not be suitable for a hard-wearing garment, like socks, angora is well suited to sweaters, scarves, hats, and anything for keeping you warm and cozy.

Angora fiber is susceptible to attack by moths. Use mothballs to protect yarn, fiber and garments. If you don't like the odor, periodically place the yarn or garment in a plastic bag in the freezer for 48 hours to kill any moth larvae. You should also air out stored fibers in the sun every now and then.

Always read and use the care instructions on your yarn's label. If you need help interpreting the symbols used on the label, check our Yarn Label Symbols page.

For angora, wash by hand and lay flat to dry. Skein Lane recommends using a "wool wash" product such as Eucalan, and tepid water (not cold); it's not just for wools. Never use Woolite, as it contains a bleaching agent that can discolor your yarn. You may also add touch of hair conditioner to rinse water for extra softness.

Like wool, angora is weaker when wet. Do not wring or twist the wet item. Wrap in a towel and gently squeeze out the excess water before laying flat to dry.

Some popular angora and angora blend yarns at Skein Lane are:

• Kimono Angora - Louisa Harding Gathering Roses Collection
• Cotton Angora - Debbie Bliss
• Angel - Lorna's Laces Yarns
• Super Angora - Anny Blatt
• Transitions - Noro

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