If you hadn't noticed, 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 revered for its low micron count. A micron is the measurement used to express the diameter of a wool fiber. A fiber with a low micron count is much finer than one with a higher micron count.

As a point of reference, merino wool ranges from 10-25 microns while mohair has a micron count of 25-45 microns. Angora wool, however, maintains a micron count of 12-16 microns.

Angora wool is also noted for its halo or fluffiness. 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. In fact, angora wool is also one of the warmest types of yarn.

If you're wondering why this wool is so warm it's simply because of the hollow strands of hair, a characteristic that gives angora wool insulating properties.

Some people may find the halo bothersome or inconvenient, especially if they have allergies. However, angora can be spun with other wools. This will decrease its softness and price, but makes it more versatile.

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. However, you may be able to find smaller accessories (mittens, scarves and caps) that are made with 100% angora wool.

Fortunately, 100% angora yarn can still be purchased if you are interested in making your own garments. Since it is a natural fiber, you can dye angora wool with a variety of different dyes. You can also purchase dyed wool.

Angora Rabbits

As with other wool-giving animals, angora wool is removed from the rabbit by one of two processes. The rabbit will be either sheared or combed to remove the wool. Shearing produces cut fibers while combing insures a long, uncut strand.

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 does require a certain level of investment, both in time and money.