Tips on Working with Angora Bunny Wool

Angora is one of the few animal fibers that can be spun directly off the animal with little or no preparation!

The 1st harvest of hair off the young rabbit is often shorter stapled, cottony and matts easily. It is usually sheared off and is best utilized for felting projects to produce a buttery soft felt fabric.

Prime plucked angora from adult rabbits is best for spinning directly "from the fluff". Prime sheared angora can also be spun directly "from the fluff" or blended with a compatible wool for a more economical and lighter weight yarn.

Bunny wool is very fine, slippery and has little crimp; therefore it requires plenty of twist to keep it together. An average preparation would be 8-9 twists per inch in the singles and then 4 tpi when plyed. Use a high wheel-to-whorl ratio for spinning angora bunny wool with a slow takeup onto the bobbin so that it doesn't keep pulling away from your fingers as you spin. Remember to use frequent hook changes to produce an orderly buildup on the bobbin and to avoid tangles when you reel off the finished singles.

Bunny wool is not an elastic fiber by itself. Blends with wool will give you a more elastic garment with all the warmth and coziness of angora. Or try one ply of 100% angora and 1 ply of 100% wool.

Angora bunny is considered to be as much as eight times warmer than wool! A little goes a long way. As little as 25% angora by weight to a project will increase warmth enormously , while saving weight in your finished garment.

To add strength and luster to an angora yarn, try blending with a wool/silk or wool/mohair blend.

Angora yarn is not fluffy when first spun. The loft occurs with handling, knitting, or weaving.