Since July 15 the new Rowan Yarn Autumn/Winter Collection is on its way to the customers.

In this season Rowan will bring a lot of stunning new yarns and one of them is Angora Haze. Rowan Angora Haze will be available in 13 shades and contains 69% Angora, 11% Wool and 20% Polyamide.

Along with the new yarn a brochure with 14 stunning designs by Martin Storey featuring this new yarn is on the book shelfs.

Before reviewing the designs of this lovely brochure by Rowan Yarns in the next few weeks I will give some advice to care for your knitted Angora garments.

First of all Angora wool or Angora fibre refers to the downy coat produced by the Angora rabbit. While their names are similar, Angora fibre is distinct from Mohair, which comes from the Angora goat. Angora is known for its softness, thin fibres, and what knitters refer to as a halo (fluffiness). It is also known for its silky texture. It is much warmer and lighter than wool due to the hollow core of the Angora fibre. It also gives them their characteristic floating feel. Because the hairs are relatively short, Angora is commonly combined with other fibers to facilitate spinning. Angora is a soft, luxurious fiber, but it sheds and is expensive due to the low annual yield per animal.

Angora garments should be wet-blocked by spraying.

If your Angora garment have to be washed:

• Wash your garment only by hand
• Only use mild detergents or a baby shampoo
• Do not use a detergent that has dyes or perfumes
• Use lukewarm water, place your Angora garment into the water. Push down on the garment and gently squeeze, use the same action as if you were kneading dough. Do not twist or pull on the garment.
• Let the water out of the sink or bathtub ad refill with clean water, press down and gently squeeze the garment.
• Let the water out of the sink or tub.
• Press down on the garment to remove some of the excess water. Do NOT twist or wring the garment.
• Lay the garment flat to dry on a clean, dry, white towel. Do NOT press on the garment with the towel because you will flatten the fluffy finish of the garment. Change the towel often and flip the garment over while it is drying. When flipping or handling only handle the towel and use the towel to flip the sweater to avoid stretching the garment out of shape.
• Do not allow an Angora garment to dry in the sun or near a heat source.
• Do not iron, heat can be very damaging to Angora.
• Knowing the appropriate way to store Angora will also help extent its life. A well-ventilated closet is your best bet. Use cedar blocks or moth balls to help keep insects away. Pieces can be stored either hanging or folded. Do not store Angora pieces in plastic bags or boxes as these will not allow the fabric to breathe. A special sweater bag is, however, acceptable and will prevent insect damage. If hanging, use a padded clothes hanger to help maintain the shape of your piece. When you are ready to wear, hang the article on a padded hanger in a steamy bathroom for about 24 hours. This will help remove any wrinkles that my have become present during storage.

Because Angora wool is such a delicate fabric, the most important thing to remember is to treat it with care. Keep it protected as much as possible when in storage. Being cautions will help your Angora garments remain beautiful and functional as long as possible.

Happy knitting and watch out for the Divas to come!

Konrad