PLY article index

Preparing and spinning fiber from the fleece of a crossbred sheep intended for handspinners.

Profiling the Devon & Cornwall Longwool, a UK breed with a large and heavy fleece.

Beyond the appeal of cashmere goats’ magnificent stature and sinfully soft fiber is the equally sweet softness of the people who raise them, the Chang pa nomads of Ladakh in the High Himalayas. This article chronicles their herding and spinning culture from one American visitor.

To create superior fiber art, craft must be joined with high-quality materials. Some of the world’s most beautiful fiber originates with Orenburg goats in the Eurasian Steppe near the southern tip of the Ural Mountains. This article shares the basic facts to know about this breed.

Cashmere, mohair, angora—all three mean both an animal and a fiber it produces, but there’s tricky overlap in this naming system. What are the differences? This article does the research for you!

Goat fiber is fine and fly-away, PLY readers give you their best tips for dealing with these fun fibers.

Want a quick reference on major goat breeds and the qualities of their fiber? This is the spread for you! Includes notes on origin, fiber name, fiber type, staple length, fineness, luster, and dyeability.

As an unassuming animal, it seems doubtful that the goat is “greatest of all time,” but it is a creature that spans both the planet and human history—even far beyond our spinning wheels. This article surveys mythical goats from around the world.

Mohair fleeces are rich andvaried, adding special luster to yarns. There is a mohair fleece for all kinds of handspun projects: reference this article for a rundown of what to expect and what to look for when planning a mohair project.

Reluctant to comb or card out the luscious curls of mohair locks? Here’s an introduction to using them as-is in corespinning, lockspinning, and tailspinning.

Following a long-held vision of creating soft yet substantial fabric from fine kid mohair, with testing of three different fiber preparations (mini comb prep, hand prep, and drum carder prep).

Fine woven mohair fabrics have an unusual look, balancing their shine and shape. Pattern for a woven huck lace shawl requiring a 4-shaft loom with 16-inch weaving width and 10-dent reed.

Using a kid mohair/silk laceweight as a carry-along yarn is popular in current knitting patterns. How can we spin our own? This article dissects a commercial yarn to replicate its traits.

Colored Angora goats come in a staggering range of colors and patterns. In this article, learn about the life cycle of an Angora fleece from goat to spinning prep.

Five spinners share their favorite ways to use mohair in spinning.

Want to jump from a more traditional corespun yarn to wirecore? This spinner/jewelry maker collects her best tips for success when combining wire with mohair.

This project combines clean lines and natural surfaces with kinetic components in a design inspired by modernist jewelry works. With the addition of a textile component in the wirecore yarn from wired mohair mingling with geometric shapes and movement, these earrings are a unique design for all skill levels.

There is endless debate over what yarn creates the hardest wearing socks. This article tests the addition of mohair to an afterthought heel.

As handspinners, we can create smooth or brushed mohair yarn depending on our needs—and the methods are identical until the finishing stage. This article compares the effects of brushing on 100% mohair yarn and multiple blends.

If a handspinner appreciates the connection between fiber and farm and seeks a memorable project inspired by fairy-like creatures with delightful dispositions and fleeces, it is time to experience that dream and seek out the enchanting Pygora: a hybrid of the spinnable Angora and colored Pygmy goats. This article introduces the breed and their fiber.

A fiber journey from the high altitudes of the Tajik Pamir Mountains to modern yarn production.

Processing luxurious cashmere is a worthwhile endeavor which you can accomplish in your own home with basic fiber tools, a few household items, and patience. Use this article as a guide for every step from purchasing to preparing.

Takhli, drop spindle, charkha, treadle wheel, e-spinner: the ability to spin for a single project across all these tools takes practice and time. Here’s a process for recreating a yarn on different equipment.

The recent history of the cashmere goat in Mongolia provides just one example of the tensions between modernity and history, economy and ecology, individuality and cultural expectations. Explore the complexities faced by modern herders in this article.