what is an angora

Angora refers to the long hair harvested from an Angora rabbit, which is spun into a soft, fluffy yarn thats used for knitting clothes. Angora wool is known for its softness, thin fibers, and what knitters refer to as a halo (fluffiness) . It is also known for its silky texture and is much warmer and lighter than wool due to the hollow core of the angora fiber. The Angora rabbit is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit and is bred for the long fibers of its coat, which are gathered by shearing, combing, or plucking. There are several varieties of Angora rabbits, including the English Angora, French Angora, and Giant Angora, each with different characteristics and wool production levels. Angora wool can be blended with wool to give the yarn elasticity, as Angora fiber is not naturally elastic. The blend decreases the softness and halo as well as the price of the finished object.