If you hadn't noticed, knitting has become a very popular trend in the past few years. Online and physical yarn stores are popping up everywhere, not to mention the fact that novelty and traditional yarns have become readily available in a variety of textures, thickness, and colors.

One type of yarn that has become quite popular is angora yarn. Angora wool is obtained from angora rabbits, not to be confused with mohair which is obtained from Angora goats.

What you Don't Know about Angora Wool

Angora yarn is so highly valued because it has a low micron count. What is a micron? A micron is the measurement used to express the diameter of a wool fiber. A fiber with a low micron count is much finer than one with a higher micron count.

As a comparison, merino wool can range from 10-25 microns while mohair ranges from 25-45 microns. On the other hand, angora wool maintains a micron count of 12-16 microns.

Angora wool is also very valuable because it has an incredibly fluffy feeling. So if you've ever wondered how you can get hold of that light and downy appearance you've noticed in certain garments, the answer is fluffy angora yarn. In fact, another reason angora wool is so sought after is because it is also one of the warmest types of yarn.

If you're wondering why this wool is so warm it's simply because of the hollow strands of hair, a characteristic that gives angora wool insulating properties.

Some people don't like the halo effect that surrounds this type of wool, however it can be spun together with other wools to make it less irritating and also less expensive.

In fact, it is probably easier to find angora knitwear that also contains some percentage of other wools, even acrylic fibers. This also goes for angora sweaters, however, you can also find smaller accessories such as mittens, scarves and caps made with 100% angora wool.

Fortunately, 100% angora yarn can still be purchased if you are interested in making your own garments. If you don't find the color you want you can even dye it yourself, something that is possible because angora is a natural fiber.

About Angora Rabbits

As with other wool-giving animals, angora wool is removed from the rabbit by one of two processes. The rabbit will be either sheared or combed to remove the wool. Shearing produces cut fibers while combing insures a long, uncut strand.

Unlike larger animals, rabbits can be kept in residential areas. This is why so many people decided to raise their own animals and spin their own yarn. However, this isn't precisely something that appeals to everyone, especially considering that it does require a certain level of investment, both in time and money.