eNewsletter
February 2007

What is Angora?

Angora is the ancient name of the city of Ankara (Capital city of Turkey). Ankara has shared its name with several animals from that area including Angora rabbit and Angora goat.

The fleece of Angora goat is Mohair and we have talked about its characteristics in our September 2006 issue of the newsletter. For more information, check the archives available on NU’s website.

Angora is the fleece of the Angora rabbit, which is very soft. It became popular in Europe in the 18th century. Angora was not known in the US market until early twentieth century, when it was introduced through the small cottage industry.

There are four different breeds of Angora rabbit, the English, French, Satin and Giant (German) breeds.

The English breed is the smallest and weighs about 5 to 7.5 pounds (2 to 3.5 kilograms). They produce a large amount of fur, and their fur should be combed regularly to keep it clean and free of debris.
The French breed weighs about 7.5 to 10.5 pounds (3.5 to 4.5 kilograms). Their fur is easiest to keep clean and takes dyes better.
The Satin breed weighs about 6.5 to 9.5 pounds (3 to 4 kilograms). Their fur is very shiny and comes in different colors. At the same time, the white variety takes dyes very well.
The Giant breed weighs about 20 pounds (9 kilograms). They appear mostly in white. Their fur should be sheared, as the rabbits do not molt. The Giant breed produces more fur than any of the others.

Angora can be harvested year round and the fiber is very soft. It is usually spun with other fibers such as cashmere or lamb’s wool. Angora rabbits are usually calmer than any other kind, and should be treated gently. Since Angora production is very labor-intensive and limited, it is very expensive and is considered luxurious. It is mostly used for making small items such as hats and scarves.

For more information about Angora rabbits check http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-angora-rabbits.htm.

Nazanin S. Fard

Needlecraft University

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