Yarn fibers
Mohair Yarn: Kid Mohair, Silk Blends & How to Knit It
Mohair is the yarn behind the fuzzy, cloud-like sweaters you see everywhere, and behind half the shawls that look impossibly light. It's warm for its weight, takes color brilliantly and is famously hard to unravel. Here's what to know before you cast on.
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What is mohair?
Mohair is the hair of the Angora goat, a breed that takes its name from Ankara in Turkey. Today South Africa and the United States, mainly Texas, are major producers. Don't confuse it with angora, which comes from Angora rabbits.
Mohair fibers have flatter surface scales than wool, which gives them their natural luster and lets them take dye with real depth. They're also long and resilient. Most mohair yarn is brushed after spinning to lift the fibers into the soft halo the fiber is known for.
Kid mohair vs adult mohair
A goat's fiber gets coarser as it ages, so mohair is graded by the age of the animal at shearing:
- Kid mohair comes from a goat's first shearings. It's the finest and softest grade, and the one used for next-to-skin yarns.
- Adult mohair is noticeably coarser. It's hard-wearing and suits rugs, outerwear and fabric more than a sweater worn against the neck.
- Super kid mohair is a label for the finest kid fiber, used in the softest laceweights.
If a mohair yarn feels scratchy, it's usually adult fiber or a coarser kid. For anything worn against the skin, look for kid mohair on the band.
Mohair-silk laceweights
The most popular mohair yarns today are fine laceweights of kid mohair spun around a silk core. The silk gives strength and a little shine; the mohair gives the halo. A 25 g ball typically holds 210 to 330 yd, so a little goes a long way.
| Yarn | Fiber | Length per 25 g |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan Kidsilk Haze | 70% mohair, 30% silk | 229 yd |
| Malabrigo Mohair | 72% mohair, 28% silk | 229 yd |
| Sandnes Garn Tynn Silk Mohair | 57% mohair, 28% silk, 15% wool | 231 yd |
| Knit Picks Aloft | 72% super kid mohair, 28% silk | 260 yd |
| Madelinetosh Tosh Silk Cloud | 60% mohair, 40% silk | 328 yd |
Holding mohair double
Mohair laceweight is rarely knit alone in garments. Most patterns hold it together with a second, smoother yarn, which adds a halo, softens the colors and makes the fabric warmer without much extra weight. As a rough guide:
- Fingering + mohair knits up close to a sport or DK gauge.
- DK + mohair knits up close to a worsted or aran gauge.
- Two strands of mohair make a light, airy fabric on large needles.
Matching colors gives depth; contrasting ones give a heathered, marled look. Some brands make pairing easy: Malabrigo Mohair is dyed in the same palette as Malabrigo Rios, and Madelinetosh Tosh Silk Cloud comes in Madelinetosh's hand-dyed colors. Always swatch with both strands: the mohair takes up more room than its weight suggests.
Ripping back mohair
The halo that makes mohair beautiful also makes it cling. Stitches lock together, and pulling hard just tightens the tangle. A few habits make it manageable:
- Put a lifeline in every few inches, so you never rip back further than you need to.
- Rip back slowly, in short, gentle tugs, easing the fibers apart rather than yanking.
- Many knitters put the piece in a bag in the freezer for an hour first. Cold fibers cling less.
- When a stitch snags, separate the strands with the tip of a needle instead of pulling harder.
- For a few stitches, tink back one stitch at a time instead of ripping.
Caring for mohair
Hand wash mohair in cool water with a wool wash, squeeze out the water without wringing, and dry flat. Rubbing and heat will felt it, and mohair-silk laceweights can mat into a solid fabric if agitated. Once dry, a gentle shake or a soft brush lifts the halo again. Store it clean and folded; moths are as fond of mohair as of wool.
Prefer the halo without a second strand? A blend like Knit Picks Ewe and Billy, merino with 25% kid mohair, spins it into a single yarn. See every mohair yarn in the shop.
Questions
Is mohair itchy?
It depends on the grade. Kid mohair is fine and feels soft to most people; adult mohair is coarser and can prickle. Brushed halos can also tickle sensitive skin, so try a ball against your neck before knitting a sweater.
Can I substitute one mohair-silk yarn for another?
Usually, yes. Most mohair-silk laceweights have a similar length per 25 g and a similar blend, and they're forgiving because they're mostly knit at loose gauges or held with another yarn. Our guide to substituting yarn shows how to check.
What weight is mohair-silk yarn?
Most are laceweight, at over 800 m per 100 g. Because of the halo, they're often knit on much larger needles than a smooth laceweight, from about US 3 to US 8, depending on how open you want the fabric.
