My Fuzzy-Wuzzy Love

Most of those who know me know about my obession for mohair.  And why not?  To me, mohair is the perfect yarn: soft, light, warm, with the glowing perfection of saturated color as the final touch.   Mohair fiber and the way it’s spun – the yarn is composed of a core strand with the mohair spun into/around it — is what gives mohair yarns their “fluff factor” and keeps them lofty during knitting.  But this technical detail doesn’t figure into my fuzzy-wuzzy love:  Like most knitters, it’s the way yarn  FEELS that matters to me, and mohair is the ultimate “feels yummy!!” for me.

 

Many knitters don’t like to knit with mohair as they think it’s “too hard to knit with” or “it’s too hard to rip out” or the complaint I love, “it’s toooooo scratchy!”   Let me address those problems succinctly:

 

Too hard to knit with?  Pshaw!  Mohair is not too hard to knit with – it requires, like any other yarn, the proper pattern, GAUGE, and needle size.  Amazingly, most mohair requires anything from a size 9 needle up to a 15.  You want a light, open fabric that is not too tightly knit – the mohair fibers of the yarn will fill in the gaps between any stitches, which makes it a forgiving yarn for beginning knitters.  This means a gauge between 3.5 to 4.5 stitches/inch.  Yes, you have seen mohair sweaters knitted more tightly, but frankly, I find those pieces suitable for January in the Arctic.

Too hard to rip out?  Having ripped many a mohair piece out in my day, I say again, Pshaw!  It will require some patience, quiet time, and good lighting (good daylight, with a contrasting surface under your mohair to save your eyesight!), but it can be done. 

The main thing is to keep the yarn nearly horizontal with your knitted piece as you GENTLY pull it out – you cannot yank your stitches out vertically like you do with a smooth yarn.  In addition, you may find that mohair fibers will interlock between your core strands.  This is where the judicious use of small, very pointy scissors comes in handy.  Just clip the interlocked fibers, NOT the core strand, and continue on. 

Another handy tip is to stuff the offending piece in the freezer in a bag for a few days and then undo it.  I  have not found a scientific reason why this works, but it does help, and you now have a new place to store any unauthorized stash you may have lurking about…

Tooooo Scratchy?  PSHAW AND PFOOEY!  Mohair is just like any other yarn:  you have to find the kind that suits YOU.  If one brand of mohair is too scratchy for you, keep looking!  It depends on the processing and the addition of other fibers to the mohair yarn.  You may prefer a blend of less mohair and more wool or silk or vice versa.  If you are truly dermatologically challenged,  kid mohair is the softest of all, and rivals cashmere for delicacy and thinness of fibers. 

Remember, mohair is perfect for OUTER garments.  Its warmth and lightness will serve you well over your regular clothing  during the fall and winter, no matter if it’s knitted into a shawl, sweater, vest, scarf, hat, or mittens.