Mohair
Hand Dyed Mohair Yarn
At Hue Loco, we love all of our hand dyed yarns, but we especially love Mohair yarn, because it takes color beautifully and has a shiny, silky luster. Our customers love Mohair, too, because it’s warm, breathable, and relatively easy to use!
Here’s an introduction to Mohair yarn, which we have available in 60+ different hand-dyed colors.
What Is Mohair Yarn?
Mohair is a natural fiber yarn that comes from the fleece of Angora goats. Known for its silky sheen, lightweight warmth, and soft “halo” of fine fibers, Mohair yarn is airy and beautiful.
Hue Loco’s Mohair Yarn Blend
Our Mohair yarn is made from 74% Kid Mohair and 26% Silk. Blending silk with Mohair enhances its natural halo while adding durability, smoothness, and subtle shine.
Our Mohair is always available on our in-stock speckled and semisolid colorways, so there is always plenty to choose from. It is also available in our preorder collections and as part of our monthly full skein releases!
- Weight: Lace
- Structure: 1 ply
- Yardage: 458 yards / 50 gram skein
- Recommended Needle Size: US 000-1, 33-40 stitches per 4"
- Recommended Hook Size: B, 32-42 stitches per 4”
- Available in 50 gram full skeins across our in-stock semisolid, tonal, and speckled colorways, as well as in our preordered collections.
Mohair pictured in Cider yarn and Caper yarn
Mohair Yarn Characteristics
Mohair yarn is best known for these characteristics:
- natural luster
- softness
- lightweight warmth
- breathability
Kid mohair has long, smooth fibers that can lightly felt over time, especially with wear. To help maintain its texture, avoid exposing mohair to strong agitation, heat, or excess moisture.
Also, for those with sensitive skin, Mohair can sometimes feel a little itchy. Our hand dyed Suri Alpaca yarn is a good alternative. Suri Alpaca achieves a similar look and feel to Mohair, but it’s not quite as shiny.
Types Of Mohair Yarn
Mohair yarn is typically classified by the age of the goat. Kid Mohair comes from younger goats and is very soft and fine, while Adult Mohair comes from older goats and is slightly coarser and more durable. Mohair is also often blended with other fibers, such as silk, wool, or nylon, which add strength, sheen, and/or texture. Available in a variety of weights and ply styles (from lace to bulky), Mohair is used for a wide range of knitting and crochet projects when warmth, softness, and drape are desired.
Mohair Yarn Weights
Mohair yarn is most commonly available in lace, fingering, and DK weights. We offer lace-weight Mohair, popular for its light, airy texture and its ability to be held double with other yarns to enhance a project’s halo effect.
Common Mohair Yarn Uses
Mohair yarn is primarily used for knitting, but can be used for crochet too. Mohair can be knit on its own or held together with another strand of yarn (referred to as “held double”). When Mohair is held alongside other yarns, it creates this beautiful, airy, “halo” effect that’s perfect for sweaters, shawls, and other lightweight garments.
Mohair Yarn vs Suri Alpaca Yarn
Mohair yarn and Suri Alpaca yarn are both natural animal fibers. Mohair comes from Angora goats. Suri Alpaca comes from a rare breed of South American Alpacas.
Texture: Mohair yarn is light, airy, and fuzzy with a pronounced halo, while Suri Alpaca yarn is smooth and silky with a subtle, soft halo that adds gentle texture and drape.
Softness: Mohair yarn can feel slightly fuzzy or textured and may be itchy for some. Suri Alpaca yarn is exceptionally soft and gentle against the skin.
Color: Mohair and Suri yarns take on dye with a watercolor effect, resulting in subtle shifts in hue and a beautifully diffused color across the fiber.
Elasticity: Mohair yarn has moderate elasticity, giving it some stretch and resilience, while Suri Alpaca yarn has low elasticity with fluid drape.
Warmth: Mohair yarn is warm, yet lightweight, providing good insulation. Suri Alpaca yarn is also lightweight, but provides excellent warmth, often comparable to or slightly more than Mohair
Durability: Mohair yarn is strong (but can be delicate in lightweight forms), while Suri Alpaca yarn is generally more resilient and resistant to wear.
Care Instructions For Mohair Yarn
For Mohair yarn, gentle handwashing in cool water with a wool wash is best. Minor bleeding might occur on your first wash. Lay flat to dry, and never wring or hang your garment. To remove excess moisture, gently roll your garment in a towel and apply light pressure. When possible, dry on a blocking mat to help the garment dry faster and maintain its shape. Once your garment is dry, you can restore the fluffiness of the halo by brushing the surface with your fingers.
Tips For Knitting With Mohair Yarn
Below are some of our favorite tips for working with Mohair yarn:
Hold double: Pair Mohair yarn with another fiber to achieve a halo effect and maintain the structure of your garment.
Use larger needles or hooks: Mohair is light and airy, larger tools will help emphasize its halo.
Keep stitch patterns simple: Mohair has a fuzzy halo that can soften stitch definition, so very intricate stitch patterns, like cables or lace motifs, can get a bit “lost” in the fluff.
Handle gently: Avoid excess pulling and friction when using Mohair yarn, and wind carefully.
Test gauge: Mohair can knit up more open than it looks, so swatch before starting projects.
Avoid frogging: Mohair fibers cling together, which makes it difficult to unravel mistakes once worked up.
Sustainability And Ethical Sourcing Of Mohair Yarn
At Hue Loco, every fiber we offer is carefully selected to honor the animals, the land, and the makers behind it. Our Mohair yarn is RMS Certified (Responsible Mohair and Alpaca Standard), which sets high standards for the welfare of the Angora goats, the health of the land, and traceability.
If you have any questions about our Mohair yarn or would like some help with color pairing our yarns, please feel free to reach out to us! You can e-mail us at hello@hueloco.com or send us a message through our contact form.
Mohair Project Ideas
You can do just about anything with a strand of mohair, but we’ve put together a selection of projects that highlight its best qualities. For more inspiration, take a look at our Ravelry Bundles page for additional pattern ideas.
photos courtesy of designers
- Wayworn by Melanie Berg
- Floof Moof (free) by Debbie Seton
- The Little Scarf by Gavriella Treminio
- Dust Bunny (free) by Beata Jezek
See also:
Hand Dyed Suri Alpaca Yarn
