If you've been paying attention then you've noticed that 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 everyone is hoping to get their hands on is angora yarn. Angora wool can exclusively from angora rabbits unlike mohair than comes from Angora goats. Their names may be the same, but each animal produces very different products.

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. If a wool is fine it will have a lower micron count than a wool that is more coarse.

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. As a matter of fact, another reason so many people covet angora wool is because it is one of the warmest types of yarn available.

The warmth is the result of hollow strands of hair. This characteristic gives angora wool insulating properties that make it seven times warmer than sheep's wool.

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 may be easier to find angora knitwear that is also made with some percentage of other wools, even acrylic fibers. This also goes for angora sweaters, mittens, scarves and caps, all of which are made from 100% angora wool.

Luckily, if you're a do-it-yourselfer then you can get hold of 100% angora and make your own project. Because this fiber is natural, you can dye it yourself or simply look for dyed wool.

Angora Rabbits

Similar to sheep's wool, the angora wool is removed directly from the rabbit by one of two processes. The rabbit is either sheared or combed to remove the wool. Combing is often preferred over shearing because it doesn't lead to a cut strand of lesser quality.

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.