Brilliant comprehensive video. I've always been very wary of using silk mohair due to the itch factor but your in depth research has really helped me choose the right one for me. Thank you.
Thanks Sophie. Huge fan of mohair myself so excellent to have so many reviewed in one go. Will be watching this again before starting to track down the ones I want to try.
Thank you for sharing your extensive research! In New Zealand we don't have any of the brands you mentioned except for Rowan, at least from chain store yarn shops. It's definitely treated as a luxury brand. We have some tiny businesses that bring in overseas yarn brands and I recently purchased some Hedgehog Fibres Kidsilk Lace mohair. It was the most I have ever spent on a single skein of yarn. $50! I think yarn here is generally more expensive as indie-dyed yarn from festivals or on dyers websites tend to be about $38 per skein for a standard 100% merino yarn. More if there is silk. This is not a cheap hobby! Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on Hedgehog Fibres mohair?
Absolutley love how passionate you are about these yarns. Thank you for the accurate review on them, taking into account several things and not just price.
Thank you in particular for including alternatives to mohair! Is there a way to decrease the itch factor in pieces that are already knitted in mohair (Sandnes Tynn Silk Mohair in this case)?
Thank you for this video! I personally like Alpaca Blaze from Hobbii 😅 I find it very nice next to skin and less itchy/prickly than some other mohair/suri yarn I’ve tried. But to each their own! Will definitely check out some of your other recommendations
WOW! What an incredibly informative video. Thank you for the time you took to compile this!! You are indeed an expert. I have started to knit with unspun yarn and I need to use a laceweight yarn to knit with it so it doesn't fall apart. This was so helpful and very appreciated.
Thank you for this video, Im new to holding mohair with a fingering weight yarn, currently knitting up a sweater for my granddaughter using Knitting for Olive. The first thing I looked for was ethically treated critters. I have book marked the other stores you suggested in that topic and will give one of them a try with the next sweater I make for myself.
Loved this review ☺️🙏🏼 I remember my very first mohair experience when I was a teenager and since then I always considered it to be such a yucky yarn (sorry). I would avoid anything that looked like it, even in clothes shops. I then realised that first yarn I had wasn’t real mohair, it was all synthetic and had this plasticky feel to it. It’s very recently, yeeeears later, that I decided it might be time to explore this option again so thanks for all the tips!
My early experiences of "mohair" from the 60s were of nasty, scratchy sweaters! At age 72, I'm now just exploring mohair again - as a spinner! Completely different fibre from that horrible stuff in my early knitting years! Thanks for this review!
Hello Sophie, Thank you for this review, it was very informative. I like using mohair in moderation, I love the luxurious, a bit fluffy look it gives to the finished project, it adds more structure and evens out stitch definition in stokinette if used stranded with other yarns. It also prevents excessive pilling in many yarns and is hard wearing. My favourite combination is mohair plus lace, not too hot but warm and cozy. I know mohair since the 80’s, and we have come a long way, with the fiber being more skin friendly and less shedding. I use it in moderation, only because I find the extra fuzz not practical on the day to day wear. I also enjoy wearing more smooth yarns and plant based fibres. I agree on all your comments, on the yarns that I am familiar with. My favourite luxury mohair is Shibui Silk Cloud with 40% silk content and a bit less fuzz. Cheers Kasia
Hi Kasia! Thank you for watching and I'm glad it was informative :) Yes I'm with you there! It's amazing how much it can reinforce a more delicate yarn. It's really helpful to hear your perspective here! I definitely agree that it's a fibre for 'special' garments or for yarns that fall a bit flat without the added texture. Ooh I haven't actually tried the Shibui so I will try to track some down. Thanks for the tip! You might also like Ito Sensai, Lang Lace and the Krea Deluxe which have similar blends! Have a lovely week x
Love this podcast! I’ve been dipping my toes into the world of mohair yarn, and this is extremely helpful!!! I just purchased some Knitting for Olive mohair, and am glad that it got a good review!!
Thank you so much! I hope that you enjoy playing with it :) I love the KFO so, so much. They have such a great eye for colour and texture. Let me know what you think of it! x
A very helpful video 🙏 I’ve only used two mohair’s so far which of both I liked - onion and ITO . I’m just about to cast on with Drops mohair as it is mentioned so often !
Hi Sophie and thank you so much for this very in depth analysis of mohair/silk/alpaca yarns. Amazing and very well done. You have helped me to decide on using mohair as many many years ago I only experienced this yarn in purchased garments and found them extremely irritating on my skin. I have never knit or crochet with this yarn before so this will be the first time. So, I have hopped over to Fine Fettle Fibre store and purchased the Along Alec Anna yarn.🧶🙏🏿😃
Thank you , this was very instructive! I am still learning about yarns so have yet to try most of them, some of them I already have that are waiting to be knitted...I DEFINITELY want to try the ONION mohair, I really love anything with silk and it looked gorgeous!
This is a great podcast! Thank you so much! I see you haven't podcasted for a while so i hope you will make a come back! I have recently purchased some of your patterns via ravelry! You are a star so I really really hope you will continue to upload videos, here on RUclips xxx
Super helpful and I'm grateful for the accompanying blog so I can easily refer back to try some of these! The only mohair I've tried with a full garment is Knit Picks Aloft, which I thought was really nice and a much more affordable option than the others I saw, not sure how reasonable KnitPicks international shipping prices are (I live in the States) but am so curious to see how it compares to some of your options. It was lovely enough that I'm definitely hooked on mohair!
I'm glad to hear it! Yes, I have tried Aloft! Someone very kindly sent me some of their leftovers and it's really nice and the price point is excellent. I think, as you say, the international shipping isn't great. Hopefully one day they'll expand it as I'm desparate to try more of their yarns!
Thank you for this review. I like the look of mohair held double with another yarn, and I really would like to like it - however, my sensitive skin loathes the feeling. I'm always desperate to tear the garment off as soon as possible. I knitted a couple of Petite Knits recently including mohair, but get around the sensitivity issue by wearing a silk scarf around my neck beneath the knit - all of which makes me too hot! Therefore thank you for showing some alternatives to mohair, I'll give those a go.
I haven't watched it all yet (just skipped to the bits that interest me most but will deffo come back and also read the blog post too) but this is so helpful! I definitely need to try the CaMaRose, sounds amazing. Just a suggestion but maybe include a sensitive skin category in the future, I get really nervous about trying any animal fibres due to this, but again just a suggestion don't feel obliged :)
Haha yes that's very fair - it's a loooong one haha! Yes that's a good suggestion, thank you. It's a really tricky one to assess because it's so personal. What can feel like needles to one person is just fine for another and I am lucky enough to not have any sensitivities to animal fibres, despite having very easily irritated skin. It's something I'll try and look into further so thank you!
@@the_knit_purl_girl I hope that didn't sound rude about the video length, I'm just personally not the long video type but I've since read the full blog post. Yeah that's definitely a very good point that I didn't think of! Anyway thank you for providing this hugely helpful resource!
thank you for your review of Mohair yarns. It really is helpful for me as I have not yet used this fiber. My primary concern is cruelty free mohair. Do you have any other research on this aspect of the yarns that you sampled?
Thank you!! Excellent idea to review all of these mohairs and substitutes! I 'grew up' on Rowan Silk Haze and used it in the late 70s to knit my first ever sweater. Good to know what else is out there. The further detail on your website is fantastic and will be a great resource for lots of people. Go mohair!!
Ah sorry for the slow reply!! Thank you for watching :) Yes I've had a few people say similar things - it's so great to compare notes over time :) Thank you again - I really appreciate it.
Have you tried Southampton from Webs? It’s US brand and it’s quite reasonable at around $9.99 US per skein. They clock it in as as light DK but it really does knit up more like a lace weight despite this and the bloom which isn’t overwhelming but IS lovely.
It was really interesting to listen, thank you.🥰😍 I have very similar opinion about the most of the yarns. The only difference is that I in my opinion Isagers mohair is so much (like really heaven vs. hell :D) more superior in quality than Drops. :) Isager`s quality is consistent and I can be sure about it, while Drops wears off easily. Hugs from fellow mohair lover🥰 By the way, I also didn`t feel the chunky mohair thing, but just for a few days ago I just got so into it so now I love it. Worth to give it a go again😁
Thanks for sharing - I truly appreciate your efforts. I’m loving the effect of mohair held with another yarn. On an odd note, I don’t like knitting with superwash yarn but have some in my stash. I was thrilled to realize that silk mohair held with fingering superwash can produce a drapey, lovely fabric - I held Emma’s Hella Hank (sw merino and cashmere) with Biches et Buches silk mohair. I recently finished a Woolyknits British Wool and B et B held together - the colors are wonderful. The feel is still a bit rustic with some toothy feel still apparent but not dominant.
Thank you, Julie! I'm glad to hear that. Yes, it yields such a lovely result. I'm right with you there! It totally transforms the fabric. I'm the same way with the Along Avec Anna Merino yarn, which is superwash (though not *too* superwash-feeling, as these things go!) and adding the mohair really makes it come alive. Such a good not-a-hack-but-sort-of-a-hack haha!
Thank you for your informative video! I’m a newby and have just recently embarked on a project knitting lace mohair ( purl soho brand. I’m wondering if you can give me some guidance - I’m going to knit a simple scarf. I’ve had a go with some merino lace wool and came up with a simple pattern to avoid rolling sides and to ensure neat edges - ( slip first stitch purlwise, kk,pp,kk,pp,kk,pp then knit or purl row, kk,pp,kk,pp,kk,pp knit last stitch. This has worked well with normal yarn. The edges look neat . But when I’ve tried a swatch with mohair yarn, the edges look very messy and loose. Any advice you have to solve this problem would be greatly appreciated! Regards Dohotay
I really enjoyed the reviews, its amazing just how many mohair yarns are out there! Very helpful to hear a brief description of them, and also will be useful to refer back when trying to source a particular type of yarn. Thanks for taking the time to do all the research ♥️🧶
I loved this video (of course!) I agree with your thoughts around Midnatssol and consider it the best budget, non-itchy and ethical choice of them all. I know it doesn't have the sheen of mohair but it ticks so many other boxes. I do find KFO a true "workhorse" mohair that I've loved all project I've knitted in it and it is high on my list of yarns I will continue to use. Isager is just..... stunning. Definitely would like to knit another project in it. I wish you'd spoken more about baby suri alpaca silk blends but then if you're not wool sensitive, then I understand why you'd stick to actual mohairs as there's a definite trade-off in looks and gauge. I don't like the feel of Tynn Silk nor Drops Kid Silk - both too scratchy for me! But it just shows how individual softness is. I'd like to try the Navia alpaca as generally I love alpaca.
Thanks, Karoline!! I think the reason I didn't speak about the Suri options so much is because I really don't think of them as being mohair alternatives because almost all of them are so much thicker than probably 95% of the mohairs I tried. In my knitting, at least, they were consistently so much thicker. So, personally, I couldn't use Cumulus, say, as a mohair substitute in a pattern unless I also went down a weight category for my main yarn, if that makes sense. I find them to be a really different kettle of fish! xxx
I tried the Navia & was completely underwhelmed - it actually felt like there were synthetic fibers in it :/ I’m curious what you think of it, though (loved your mohair podcast - thanks!) F
What color is the Drops Alpaca Silk in your video please? Is it Morning Mist or Light Sea Green? Thank you. An excellent and detailed description of all the lovely mohair choices. Well done!
Thank you so much for your thorough academic assessments! I tried Drops Kidsilk and unfortunately it was too scratchy/itchy to wear. I don't know if I'm allergic or just sensitive, or if my skin just has expensive taste. I want to give mohair one more try - which option(s) would you say are the least scratchy?
I also cannot wear drops kidsilk (way too sensitive to it) but I have found the Knitting for Olive to be really soft, especially combined with their merino. It is more expensive though, so I bought one skein first to try it out.. Hope this helps 😊
I sat down to watch this while knitting a project made with Alpaca Blaze and had a good laugh when you mentioned it right off the bat! Thank you for doing the legwork to recommend such a range of budget options-can't wait to try your suggestions and go up from here!
Such a cool video. So useful to get an idea of what's out there. I agree with what you've said. I can understand the appeal of budget yarns but some are just not worth it. The yarn may be cheap but if you then never wear the finished item or don't even finishing knitting it then it's such a waste of money. Better to wait and try and save up a bit of money to get something slightly more expensive. I recently worked with Knitting for Oliver mohair for the first time and I love it so much! It's so fluffy 😍 All this mohair talk is making me want to go mohair crazy at EAYF 😂
Thank you. Nina!! Yes, that's it. It's a true false economy, to my mind. I think that if you can save up an extra £20, you can get so much more bang for your buck. Yesss the KFO is so good! Haha be careful!!!
Very interesting and thank you for going to all that trouble and expense. As a much older knitter who has been using mohair since the 80s, I was surprised you didn’t mention Rowan Kid Silk Haze which for probably about 20-30years was pretty much the only mohair silk available in the UK as far as I know. I’m still boycotting Drops because of them stealing designs and publishing them for free so it was great to hear of alternatives. Melissa from Espace Tricot who was one of the first to spearhead the recent mohair craze really rated the Shibui one as having a high silk content and low prickle. I must admit that while I enjoy mohair/silk held with another yarn, I was pretty miffed when they came into fashion again. It can significantly bump up the price of a garment. As you say, there’s also the ethical questions as well as accessibility and affordability so everyone will make their own choices based on the criteria which are important to them. You have provided loads of information to help with those choices.
You're very welcome! The Rowan Kid Silk Haze does get a quick mention but, honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by it at its price point! I always find Rowan yarns quite expensive compared to other options on the market so I struggle to recommend them, to be honest. I did think that it was Rowan who popularised mohair in the UK, though, so it's good to know I was on the right track with that! And good for you for boycotting Drops! I wasn't aware that they'd been plagiarising smaller designers so thank you for letting me know. I did how they were able to come up with so many free patterns..! Yes, totally get what you mean RE: adding to the price of a project. It's crazy how much it can add. I try and be strategic and buy it when it's on sale but even so... £££! Thank you for watching and for sharing your experience!
The moments you have made in your reply are exactly the same as my views on mohair. My long time favourite mohair has and I think always will be, is Rowan kid silk haze., and I was surprised it wasn't mentioned more.
thank you sophie and a special thanks to editing sophie! hahaha, i absolutely love your videos, have always loved your talking stories on instagram so these long videos are awesome while knitting myself! i love how honest you are, it was really helpful! 🥰
This was SO comprehensive and so helpful!! I'm new to the world of mohair and I've tried a few that were gorgeous and soft and a couple that were scratchy and not that nice, glad to save time looking for options with your list haha
Ah thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it was helpful. Yes, there's a lot of variation in quality out there and yarns that look the same on paper most certainly aren't in reality. Thank you so much for watching! x
Thank you for this very informative video Sophie! There's so much out there and so difficult to choose from! I've been tempted by Lang Lace it's been a while :). And I agree that CaMaRose is a very lovely option and quite special considering how inexpensive it is. I am currently knitting with it, held double with Nutiden unspun yarn, and if you haven't tried it before it's a special combination as it blends beautifully with Nutiden :). I have also tried Krea Delux, held double, for a cardigan and it's one of the softest and most elegant thing I have! I also just came across Pascuali Manada, a blend of mohair, silk merino and yak, very soft and lovely (Loop London has it, if interested). Finally, I am personally very driven towards small producers, so yes, Whilstlebare's Yeavering Bell and Black Isle Yarns's Killen Sock are very soft and lovely mohair blends (but wool is the highest percentage for both) and so sustainable and special too. Xx
Thank you so much for watching and giving such a thoughtful reply - sorry for taking so long to respond!! I bet that the CaMaRose is beautiful with Nutiden :) Ah yes I've seen the Pascuali yarn but haven't tried it yet - it's top of my list next time I'm in Loop :) I ordered some of the Yeavering Bell recently and it's so beautiful. I can't wait to knit it up! Thank you again :) x
Thank you so much for this video Sophie! I’ve never been a huge mohair fan - I think holding yarns double or holding a strand of mohair with another yarn is more popular in the UK and Europe than it is here in Canada. Never the less, I’m starting to get into it now and it helps to have a resource like this. I’ve only used one mohair I don’t like (Debbie Bliss, which I think is discontinued now), and one lace weight alpaca yarn that I loved. I recently bought some of the Drops Brushed Alpaca Lace and can confirm, it’s so soft and fluffy! And the added bulk from holding this year with some DK alpaca is helping me meet the gauge of the pattern I’m doing without choosing a heavier yarn.
Thank you so much, my lovely! Yes, definitely. I think a lot of Danish designers, yarn producers, and knitters have led the trend and it's working its way throughout the continent and into the UK more and more. I'm glad you're liking the Drops! It is really lovely and, as you say, it's so useful when you need to add some bulk to your fibre. I tried the Debbie Bliss mohair for this project and it's... okay..? If you want to dabble further in fluffy yarns like this, I'd either stick with the alpaca-based options or try something with a higher silk content as they tend to be softer :) x
oooh, the exact YT video I was looking for after going to drops kidsilk from fyberspates silk alpaca and hating the former but having to knit with it for a whole hat! I can't wait to see all the expensive mohair I can't afford rn and dream!
Very nice review, Sophie! I love mohair, but can only wear the very softest brands - and mostly they are priced beyond my budget. Having said that, your review was helpful to show me some brands that I hadn’t heard about, that are available that I can try. My only suggestion about this review is… you seemed in too much of a hurry. The little bits of writing that you added to the screen were not up long enough for me to read through (I had to rewind several times). The yarns you would recommend were covered a bit too quickly, as well. I don’t blame you for not taking time on the ones that you wouldn’t recommend, but you could definitely spend more time on the ones that you DO recommend. If I blinked, I missed the swatch! 😊 You were very thorough, you covered a lot of the important aspects of each yarn, maybe I just didn’t want it to end so soon! ❤️
Thank you! That's good feedback to have. I think I conceptualised this video as being more of an overview rather than anything thorough but I guess I didn't actually say that haha! I will try and go through the categories in a bit more depths in some more videos, maybe :) Thank you for watching! x
Thanks for this review. I can't wear mohair (those guard hairs!) and I don't love brushed alpaca, but I still found the comparisons really interesting.
This was such a thoughtful and well considered video! I've only knit one garment with mohair, and it was Hobbii Diablo held double. I was feeling hesitant to spend, as I wasn't even sure if I liked mohair, and had not been actively knitting for that long. I love the cardigan I made, but it has these fluffy pills that I can't depill??? I have a sweater planned with holding Knit Picks Aloft, and it feels sooo much nicer, and has such a pretty sheen!
Yep, I totally get that feeling! It's a really tricky one because, as you say, it's a great way to dip your toes into the wonderful world of mohair without fully committing money-wise... but then it doesn't really give you the same results and that's what leaves me feeling cold about it. KnitPicks Aloft is beautiful!! Such a great option! I wish it were easier to source in the UK but, yes, totally with you there :) x
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it's helpful :) If you ever have any questions about a given yarn, feel free to email me and I can always send you my thoughts if I've tried it x
Such a useful study and so kind of you to share it. Have you tried any smaller producers like Whistlebare and Garthenor? They are beautiful yarns and great companies to support. Could you give small yarn producers a try in a future episode?
Thank you so much, Rachel! So the jumper I'm actually wearing in this video is made with Garthenor Number 3 and I spoke quite a lot about them in my first Podcast episide :) I'm absolutely in love with their yarns and can't wait to try more of them in the future. I'm yet to try Whistlebare but they're on my list as I do want to move towards more sustainable and minimally processed yarns going forward. Thanks for watching! x
I'm very curious about the following mohair alternative: have you ever tried Drops Melody? It is a combination of 71% Alapca + 25% wool + 4% polyamide. I think it would be very nice if I can hear your opinion on it 😊 I'd really appreciate it
Ah that's one of the only ones I haven't gotten around to trying! Next time I'm ordering from a shop that stocks Drops, I'll give it a go. It always looks really nice when I see it used in a project and it looks like a good alternative to the chunky mohairs I briefly mentioned.
I've recently knitted a slipover In Drops Melody and in my opinion it just looks like a cheap acrylic yarn, it's quick to knit and very soft to touch but looks a little matted when knitted up, my favourite mohair is Rowan Kidsilk haze .
Wow that was an incredible tour through the world of mohair! So helpful as we are all mostly buying online these days as so few shops are left (at least where I live) so thank you so much. I am dying to try the Onion brand mohair, it looks very unique but I just bought some hand dyed mohair on Etsy because I wanted something tonal as I’m knitting the “Sky Map” by Emily Foden and she is out of her “cosmic” color way :( And of course I just gotta knit it NOW and can’t wait until she restocks lol PS I got here through your blog which shows a picture of the swatches also very helpful in comparing because you can gaze at them for hours! LOL
Hi Sophie. My 2 favourite mohair silk yarns that I have worked with were Debbie Bliss Angel and Berroco Ariel. I find that the Debbie Bliss does not shed at all and the Berroco, while I have seen bits of hair on a light coloured shirt I wore under the knit cardigan, the shedding does not get into my face like some mohair yarns have. (I DO think I had heard the the Debbie Bliss brand carries some controversy which I am not fully aware of). The worst mohair silk yarn I've used was a very pricey yarn from an indy dyer and it sheds like mad. It doesn't make me itch but I am ultra aware of it both on my skin and when the fibres continually fly into my face as I wear it, especially into my eyes. I have a Drops Kid Silk that I am going to try next. Thank you for this interesting video!
Thank you so much for this Jennifer! Yes, I was really impressed by the Berroco Ariel when I tried it for this project (it's one of the bright yellow swatches in the thumbnail); it has such a pretty sheen. That's interesting that the indie-dyed yarn was so sheddy. I wonder if their dying process damaged the fibre a bit? Haha yes I get what you mean there. I had to pause my recording so many times because of all the fluff flying around! Thank you for watching :) x
Interesting video 😀 another lovely option would be whistlebare yeavering 4ply, I have some in my stash that I'm precious about breaking into but they are lovely family run business in Northumberland 😊
Highly interesting! Thanks for going through and swatching all those products! It was nice to know that KfO is not the only ethical silk mohair, have to try the other ones too. My experience of Filcolana Tilia is that even if it’s as fluffy as Isager’s, Tilia’s fluff detaches (I don’t know if “detach” the word to use here, but Tilia’s fluff ends up in your nose and on your lap 😅). I’ve used and enjoyed Ito Sensai, which is very thin and not so fluffy.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it! Yes, I think that brands offering more ethical yarns is going to be a growing trend (or at least I hope so!). Yes, I've heard that from other people too but I haven't experienced/noticed it personally. I wonder if it's a bit of a batch issue? Ito Sensai is lovely! If you like it, you might also like Lang Lace, Onion Silk + Mohair, and Krea Deluxe. They've got a similarly high proportion of silk in their blends!
Very interesting video!...thanks!.. there is another yarn, which is an alternative to mohair. The name ist Setasuri from Lana Grossa. It has suri alpaca and silk and is a dream! veeeery soft and the price is also very good in my opinion. Thank you again 🙂
Incredibly informative thankyou. I can’t wear mohair but love the middnosol. I do think as a community we should be trying to use sustainable non cruel yarns, so are then any of the substitutes which wait the bill?
Thank you so much Maggie! Yes, I'm right with you there. So, it's a tricky one this because we as customers are reliant on brands providing information about the production of their fibres and many are vague, at best. Tess of @evergreen_knits has a blogpost coming out/available now that gives good summaries of what different standards actually mean. But the problem is that many of them don't have a clear, fixed meaning. I'd definitely recommend reading Tess' blog when it's live because she also has excellent templates we can use to contact yarn manufacturers to ask about their animal welfare standards. This is a bit of a wishy-washy answer but I hope it's still helpful! And, FWIW, CaMaRose is a good, responsible manufacturer as far as I can tell :)
A great and informative video! My thoughts on the different mohairs are similar to yours (have not tried all of them) Next I am hoping to work with Sensai from ITO
what a video! I used the alpakka navia already and I really liked it as a mohair alternative. I held it double with arwetta and it worked really well together. It doesnt feel hard or scratchy either as it does as a skein. I'm definitely curious about how you find it :)
Thank you so much, such an informative and interesting video!👏👏👏 I will be definitely checking out The Onion, CaMaRose and Krea Delixe! 😊👍🏻 My current favourite mohair is so far Premia by Lamana which I find to be very silky and not-itchy (definitely prefer silkier over fluffier yarns, personal preference I guess 🤷♀️), but I'm very much looking forward to trying your options! 😍
Great & very helpful video! I haven't been a fan of the mohair I've used thus far though I have some others in stash. I also have suri alpaca in stash to try as a potential sub, but not sure we'll I will actually try it. I do want to try the Biches & Bûches Le Gros Silk & Mohair that you reviewed - perhaps for a 2nd Cumulus Blouse. I love v-necks, but the one I knit is a bit big and the Rowan Kid Silk Haze is a bit scratchy for me (even though I like rustic yarns). If you ever try Shibui Silk Cloud (I haven't yet), would love to hear what you think. Or La Bien Aimee's silk mohair. Thanks again for the video!
Thank you so much for watching and sorry for the slow reply! Yes I can see what you mean with the Rowan Kid Silk Haze... It definitely isn't the softest option out there, even compared to other 30:70 blends. I will keep my eyes peeled for those yarns next time I'm shopping and will definitely report back! Thank you again x
Hi Sophie, I wanted to try the CaMaRose midnatssol but their choice of colour is not the best. I see you have the white, which is the one I would go for. Can you tell mr if it's really bright or if it's more like an off white? Thanks
Hi Simona! Sorry for the slow reply. I'd say it is quite a bright white, in all honesty. I haven't seen their full colour range in person so couldn't really speak to alternatives within the range, but it is a lovely yarn all the same. Sorry to not be more helpful! x
@@the_knit_purl_girl Thank you Sophie, I've decided to go for it to make the soufflé from Penrose knits as I tried a mohair swatch and found it a bit itchie. I've ordered white, regardless of the shade I feel that will be an appropriate colour as the soufflé looks like a cloud. Thanks again for replying though, I hope I made a good choice with this yarn, it costs enough!
I want to say thank you for talking about both plastic and how it’s horrible for the environment, but also low price yarns. I want to go duetter in my ”thinking out loud”; The low price is there for a reason. As consumers we need to start making active choises. I’d rather just skip the mohair than buy crap from crap big brands. And no, I can’t afford a lot of nice yarns. But I try to make active choises and pick different yarns and projects, until I can afford other stuff.
Yes I am totally with you here and am trying to model that exact same behaviour myself. I never want to be a 'gatekeeper' or a 'yarn snob' and would never look down on someone for their yarn choice but I would always prefer to buy less and buy better myself (though I acknowledge I'm fortunate to be able to make that choice). Solidarity, friend! x
i really agree with your value of money vs being a yarn 'snob'. at this point, i'd rather save up for a few months to be able to afford the nicer quality yarn than paying a cheaper price. in the long run, it'll last and wash longer and everytime I have waited, it was so so worth it
Yes that's it! I think that if you're investing hours of your life into a project, you might as make it as worthwhile as possible (without overstretching your budget, that is!). Thank you so much for watching :) x
I feel like nobody talks about how Mohair is shedding when working with it or even wearing it. I hate the shedding it gets everywhere when I‘m knitting with it but I love the look of Mohair. Anyone else feel the same way? Can someone recommend me tips on how to get rid of that shedding or any mohair brands that won‘t shed as much?
Hey! Sorry for the slow reply! So, I'd say that if shedding really puts you off then you might prefer yarns that have a higher silk content as there's less fluff to shed. You might also find a mohair/wool comb useful for maintaining the fibre. Personally, it doesn't bother me too much because I'm used to having cat hair on my all the time (the joys of cat ownership..!) but I totally get where you're coming from. Hope this helps a bit! x
I’m using Kremke Silky Kid at the moment and there’s very little shedding if any. I’m wearing black jeans at the moment while knitting and there’s nothing on them so I definitely recommend Silky Kid!
Funnily enough, I tried to order some the other week but they wouldn't ship to where I live! I will try again and report back if I manage to get some :) Thanks for the tip! x
@@user-fc3sx2cw5x There aren't any in my area, sadly. I think my nearest one is Nottingham which is still quite far away! Fingers crossed they expand into the south-east more :)
@@the_knit_purl_girl what a shame! Let’s hope someone actually lives near enough a store as well as lives within your country and is able to buy this yarn and then send it off for you to review it!
I watched with interest, I truly did not know about the horn removal, there’s a lot of yarn consumption in the video of stuff you claim you’d stay away from ethically….. apart from for this video. But that comment was buried very deep in the video so I have to wonder is that really your view - Or just a disclaimer?
Hey! Yes it really is my view. If you look through my Instagram (which is my main platform; I don’t have the time for RUclips at the moment) at the types of yarns I use on a regular basis, you’ll see a lot of yarns made by brands with strong ethical stances on animal welfare (KfO, Sandnes Garn, Along Avec Anna). I think because it is a stance I take seriously, I don’t feel the need to proclaim it because I just take it for granted, if that makes sense? I also don’t want to shame others who take a different stance because it’s not my place to do so. Thanks for the comment!
Your swatches really help us to see the subtitle differences in those skeins. This was super helpful!
Thank you for doing this!
Highly informative, I have to watch this video again there was so much knowledge about my favorite yarn. Thank You
An excellent video! Instructive, very comprehensive and very well presented. Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge.
Brilliant comprehensive video. I've always been very wary of using silk mohair due to the itch factor but your in depth research has really helped me choose the right one for me. Thank you.
Thanks Sophie. Huge fan of mohair myself so excellent to have so many reviewed in one go. Will be watching this again before starting to track down the ones I want to try.
Thank you so much for watching, Jo-Anne! I really appreciate this. I'm always happy to chat more about mohair haha! x
Thank you for sharing your extensive research! In New Zealand we don't have any of the brands you mentioned except for Rowan, at least from chain store yarn shops. It's definitely treated as a luxury brand. We have some tiny businesses that bring in overseas yarn brands and I recently purchased some Hedgehog Fibres Kidsilk Lace mohair. It was the most I have ever spent on a single skein of yarn. $50! I think yarn here is generally more expensive as indie-dyed yarn from festivals or on dyers websites tend to be about $38 per skein for a standard 100% merino yarn. More if there is silk. This is not a cheap hobby! Anyway, I was wondering what your thoughts are on Hedgehog Fibres mohair?
Here on Karoline's recommendation, and subscribed -- thank you both --
This is such a great resource! I'll definitely be coming back to this video time and time again when I'm planning project with mohair.
Ah this means the world! Thank you so much x
Absolutley love how passionate you are about these yarns. Thank you for the accurate review on them, taking into account several things and not just price.
Ah thank you so much Agathe! I really appreciate it :)
Thank you so much for putting in the time to review these yarns. Much appreciated.
Thank you so much! I hope it's helpful :) x
Great video. Wonderful to get your views on so many mohair and other fluffy yarns.
Thank you so much! I hope it's helpful :)
Thank you so much, excellent video and I learnt a lot! :-) Appreciate the effort and also that you shine a very beautiful energy, smile and voice. 🙂
Idea: the onion mohair in that gold color in a modified Zozia wrap + gold dress with an organza or tulle skirt for a non-trad wedding dress
Thank you in particular for including alternatives to mohair!
Is there a way to decrease the itch factor in pieces that are already knitted in mohair (Sandnes Tynn Silk Mohair in this case)?
Thank you. Very informative, natural, and unpretentious.
I would looove this Kind of Video for Merino wool 😍😍 Thank you very much for this video, it is very helpful😊
Thank you for this video! I personally like Alpaca Blaze from Hobbii 😅 I find it very nice next to skin and less itchy/prickly than some other mohair/suri yarn I’ve tried. But to each their own! Will definitely check out some of your other recommendations
WOW! What an incredibly informative video. Thank you for the time you took to compile this!! You are indeed an expert. I have started to knit with unspun yarn and I need to use a laceweight yarn to knit with it so it doesn't fall apart. This was so helpful and very appreciated.
Thank you for such a thorough review!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you for this video, Im new to holding mohair with a fingering weight yarn, currently knitting up a sweater for my granddaughter using Knitting for Olive. The first thing I looked for was ethically treated critters. I have book marked the other stores you suggested in that topic and will give one of them a try with the next sweater I make for myself.
Loved this review ☺️🙏🏼 I remember my very first mohair experience when I was a teenager and since then I always considered it to be such a yucky yarn (sorry). I would avoid anything that looked like it, even in clothes shops. I then realised that first yarn I had wasn’t real mohair, it was all synthetic and had this plasticky feel to it. It’s very recently, yeeeears later, that I decided it might be time to explore this option again so thanks for all the tips!
Ah thank you so much for watching! Yeah I had similar experiences with 'mohair' sweaters too. They are not all created equally!! x
My early experiences of "mohair" from the 60s were of nasty, scratchy sweaters! At age 72, I'm now just exploring mohair again - as a spinner! Completely different fibre from that horrible stuff in my early knitting years! Thanks for this review!
Hello Sophie, Thank you for this review, it was very informative. I like using mohair in moderation, I love the luxurious, a bit fluffy look it gives to the finished project, it adds more structure and evens out stitch definition in stokinette if used stranded with other yarns. It also prevents excessive pilling in many yarns and is hard wearing. My favourite combination is mohair plus lace, not too hot but warm and cozy. I know mohair since the 80’s, and we have come a long way, with the fiber being more skin friendly and less shedding. I use it in moderation, only because I find the extra fuzz not practical on the day to day wear. I also enjoy wearing more smooth yarns and plant based fibres. I agree on all your comments, on the yarns that I am familiar with. My favourite luxury mohair is Shibui Silk Cloud with 40% silk content and a bit less fuzz. Cheers Kasia
Hi Kasia! Thank you for watching and I'm glad it was informative :) Yes I'm with you there! It's amazing how much it can reinforce a more delicate yarn. It's really helpful to hear your perspective here! I definitely agree that it's a fibre for 'special' garments or for yarns that fall a bit flat without the added texture.
Ooh I haven't actually tried the Shibui so I will try to track some down. Thanks for the tip! You might also like Ito Sensai, Lang Lace and the Krea Deluxe which have similar blends!
Have a lovely week x
Love this podcast! I’ve been dipping my toes into the world of mohair yarn, and this is extremely helpful!!! I just purchased some Knitting for Olive mohair, and am glad that it got a good review!!
Thank you so much! I hope that you enjoy playing with it :) I love the KFO so, so much. They have such a great eye for colour and texture. Let me know what you think of it! x
Super helpful and informative, Sophie. Thank you!
You're very welcome, thank you for watching!
A very helpful video 🙏
I’ve only used two mohair’s so far which of both I liked - onion and ITO . I’m just about to cast on with Drops mohair as it is mentioned so often !
I'm glad it was helpful! Yes ITO is another great high-silk content option. Let me know what you think of it!
I really like ITO it appears to give a softness to the fingering weight yarn without being ‘fluffy ‘ if that was a factor you wished to consider.
Hi Sophie and thank you so much for this very in depth analysis of mohair/silk/alpaca yarns. Amazing and very well done. You have helped me to decide on using mohair as many many years ago I only experienced this yarn in purchased garments and found them extremely irritating on my skin. I have never knit or crochet with this yarn before so this will be the first time. So, I have hopped over to Fine Fettle Fibre store and purchased the Along Alec Anna yarn.🧶🙏🏿😃
Thank you , this was very instructive! I am still learning about yarns so have yet to try most of them, some of them I already have that are waiting to be knitted...I DEFINITELY want to try the ONION mohair, I really love anything with silk and it looked gorgeous!
Thank you for this very informative episode! Love it! 🥰
I'm glad to hear it! Thank you so much
I would love feedback on which mohair sheds the least..?Thanks!
Definitely helpful and nice to see some new brands and options.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it :)
This is a great podcast! Thank you so much! I see you haven't podcasted for a while so i hope you will make a come back! I have recently purchased some of your patterns via ravelry! You are a star so I really really hope you will continue to upload videos, here on RUclips xxx
Very helpful video, thank you!!! 🧶
Super helpful and I'm grateful for the accompanying blog so I can easily refer back to try some of these! The only mohair I've tried with a full garment is Knit Picks Aloft, which I thought was really nice and a much more affordable option than the others I saw, not sure how reasonable KnitPicks international shipping prices are (I live in the States) but am so curious to see how it compares to some of your options. It was lovely enough that I'm definitely hooked on mohair!
I'm glad to hear it! Yes, I have tried Aloft! Someone very kindly sent me some of their leftovers and it's really nice and the price point is excellent. I think, as you say, the international shipping isn't great. Hopefully one day they'll expand it as I'm desparate to try more of their yarns!
Thank you so much, this is the ultimate video I could have asked for!
I'm glad to hear it! Thank you Niamh x
Thank you for this review. I like the look of mohair held double with another yarn, and I really would like to like it - however, my sensitive skin loathes the feeling. I'm always desperate to tear the garment off as soon as possible. I knitted a couple of Petite Knits recently including mohair, but get around the sensitivity issue by wearing a silk scarf around my neck beneath the knit - all of which makes me too hot! Therefore thank you for showing some alternatives to mohair, I'll give those a go.
I haven't watched it all yet (just skipped to the bits that interest me most but will deffo come back and also read the blog post too) but this is so helpful! I definitely need to try the CaMaRose, sounds amazing. Just a suggestion but maybe include a sensitive skin category in the future, I get really nervous about trying any animal fibres due to this, but again just a suggestion don't feel obliged :)
Haha yes that's very fair - it's a loooong one haha! Yes that's a good suggestion, thank you. It's a really tricky one to assess because it's so personal. What can feel like needles to one person is just fine for another and I am lucky enough to not have any sensitivities to animal fibres, despite having very easily irritated skin. It's something I'll try and look into further so thank you!
@@the_knit_purl_girl I hope that didn't sound rude about the video length, I'm just personally not the long video type but I've since read the full blog post. Yeah that's definitely a very good point that I didn't think of! Anyway thank you for providing this hugely helpful resource!
thank you for your review of Mohair yarns. It really is helpful for me as I have not yet used this fiber. My primary concern is cruelty free mohair. Do you have any other research on this aspect of the yarns that you sampled?
I had to do a thumbs up for this video even though I don't use mohair of any kind. Keep taking care xx
Not you too!
Thank you! Great video
Thank you!! Excellent idea to review all of these mohairs and substitutes! I 'grew up' on Rowan Silk Haze and used it in the late 70s to knit my first ever sweater. Good to know what else is out there. The further detail on your website is fantastic and will be a great resource for lots of people. Go mohair!!
Ah sorry for the slow reply!! Thank you for watching :) Yes I've had a few people say similar things - it's so great to compare notes over time :) Thank you again - I really appreciate it.
Have you tried Southampton from Webs? It’s US brand and it’s quite reasonable at around $9.99 US per skein. They clock it in as as light DK but it really does knit up more like a lace weight despite this and the bloom which isn’t overwhelming but IS lovely.
It was really interesting to listen, thank you.🥰😍 I have very similar opinion about the most of the yarns. The only difference is that I in my opinion Isagers mohair is so much (like really heaven vs. hell :D) more superior in quality than Drops. :) Isager`s quality is consistent and I can be sure about it, while Drops wears off easily. Hugs from fellow mohair lover🥰 By the way, I also didn`t feel the chunky mohair thing, but just for a few days ago I just got so into it so now I love it. Worth to give it a go again😁
Loved this video format - very informative!
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it :)
Thanks for sharing - I truly appreciate your efforts. I’m loving the effect of mohair held with another yarn. On an odd note, I don’t like knitting with superwash yarn but have some in my stash. I was thrilled to realize that silk mohair held with fingering superwash can produce a drapey, lovely fabric - I held Emma’s Hella Hank (sw merino and cashmere) with Biches et Buches silk mohair. I recently finished a Woolyknits British Wool and B et B held together - the colors are wonderful. The feel is still a bit rustic with some toothy feel still apparent but not dominant.
Thank you, Julie! I'm glad to hear that. Yes, it yields such a lovely result.
I'm right with you there! It totally transforms the fabric. I'm the same way with the Along Avec Anna Merino yarn, which is superwash (though not *too* superwash-feeling, as these things go!) and adding the mohair really makes it come alive. Such a good not-a-hack-but-sort-of-a-hack haha!
Thank you for your informative video! I’m a newby and have just recently embarked on a project knitting lace mohair ( purl soho brand. I’m wondering if you can give me some guidance - I’m going to knit a simple scarf. I’ve had a go with some merino lace wool and came up with a simple pattern to avoid rolling sides and to ensure neat edges - ( slip first stitch purlwise, kk,pp,kk,pp,kk,pp then knit or purl row, kk,pp,kk,pp,kk,pp knit last stitch. This has worked well with normal yarn. The edges look neat . But when I’ve tried a swatch with mohair yarn, the edges look very messy and loose. Any advice you have to solve this problem would be greatly appreciated! Regards Dohotay
I really enjoyed the reviews, its amazing just how many mohair yarns are out there! Very helpful to hear a brief description of them, and also will be useful to refer back when trying to source a particular type of yarn.
Thanks for taking the time to do all the research ♥️🧶
Thank you so much for watching! There's so much variety out there so I hope that this was indeed helpful :) x
This podcast was so good that I’m watching it again!
Ah thank you so much!!! xxx
I loved this video (of course!)
I agree with your thoughts around Midnatssol and consider it the best budget, non-itchy and ethical choice of them all. I know it doesn't have the sheen of mohair but it ticks so many other boxes. I do find KFO a true "workhorse" mohair that I've loved all project I've knitted in it and it is high on my list of yarns I will continue to use. Isager is just..... stunning. Definitely would like to knit another project in it.
I wish you'd spoken more about baby suri alpaca silk blends but then if you're not wool sensitive, then I understand why you'd stick to actual mohairs as there's a definite trade-off in looks and gauge.
I don't like the feel of Tynn Silk nor Drops Kid Silk - both too scratchy for me! But it just shows how individual softness is.
I'd like to try the Navia alpaca as generally I love alpaca.
Thanks, Karoline!! I think the reason I didn't speak about the Suri options so much is because I really don't think of them as being mohair alternatives because almost all of them are so much thicker than probably 95% of the mohairs I tried. In my knitting, at least, they were consistently so much thicker. So, personally, I couldn't use Cumulus, say, as a mohair substitute in a pattern unless I also went down a weight category for my main yarn, if that makes sense. I find them to be a really different kettle of fish! xxx
I tried the Navia & was completely underwhelmed - it actually felt like there were synthetic fibers in it :/
I’m curious what you think of it, though (loved your mohair podcast - thanks!) F
What color is the Drops Alpaca Silk in your video please? Is it Morning Mist or Light Sea Green? Thank you. An excellent and detailed description of all the lovely mohair choices.
Well done!
Thank you, such a helpful episode!
Glad to hear it!! xxx
Thank you so much for your thorough academic assessments! I tried Drops Kidsilk and unfortunately it was too scratchy/itchy to wear. I don't know if I'm allergic or just sensitive, or if my skin just has expensive taste. I want to give mohair one more try - which option(s) would you say are the least scratchy?
I also cannot wear drops kidsilk (way too sensitive to it) but I have found the Knitting for Olive to be really soft, especially combined with their merino. It is more expensive though, so I bought one skein first to try it out.. Hope this helps 😊
I sat down to watch this while knitting a project made with Alpaca Blaze and had a good laugh when you mentioned it right off the bat! Thank you for doing the legwork to recommend such a range of budget options-can't wait to try your suggestions and go up from here!
Have you heard of Pickles in Oslo? Just found them yesterday, might want to look into them?
Thank you for what you've done here. What is the sweater you are wearing in this video? I love the texture.
The brown one that looks like the Terni pullover, but has what looks like raglan sleeves.
Such a cool video. So useful to get an idea of what's out there. I agree with what you've said. I can understand the appeal of budget yarns but some are just not worth it. The yarn may be cheap but if you then never wear the finished item or don't even finishing knitting it then it's such a waste of money. Better to wait and try and save up a bit of money to get something slightly more expensive. I recently worked with Knitting for Oliver mohair for the first time and I love it so much! It's so fluffy 😍 All this mohair talk is making me want to go mohair crazy at EAYF 😂
Thank you. Nina!! Yes, that's it. It's a true false economy, to my mind. I think that if you can save up an extra £20, you can get so much more bang for your buck. Yesss the KFO is so good! Haha be careful!!!
Very interesting and thank you for going to all that trouble and expense. As a much older knitter who has been using mohair since the 80s, I was surprised you didn’t mention Rowan Kid Silk Haze which for probably about 20-30years was pretty much the only mohair silk available in the UK as far as I know. I’m still boycotting Drops because of them stealing designs and publishing them for free so it was great to hear of alternatives. Melissa from Espace Tricot who was one of the first to spearhead the recent mohair craze really rated the Shibui one as having a high silk content and low prickle. I must admit that while I enjoy mohair/silk held with another yarn, I was pretty miffed when they came into fashion again. It can significantly bump up the price of a garment. As you say, there’s also the ethical questions as well as accessibility and affordability so everyone will make their own choices based on the criteria which are important to them. You have provided loads of information to help with those choices.
You're very welcome! The Rowan Kid Silk Haze does get a quick mention but, honestly, I was a bit underwhelmed by it at its price point! I always find Rowan yarns quite expensive compared to other options on the market so I struggle to recommend them, to be honest. I did think that it was Rowan who popularised mohair in the UK, though, so it's good to know I was on the right track with that!
And good for you for boycotting Drops! I wasn't aware that they'd been plagiarising smaller designers so thank you for letting me know. I did how they were able to come up with so many free patterns..!
Yes, totally get what you mean RE: adding to the price of a project. It's crazy how much it can add. I try and be strategic and buy it when it's on sale but even so... £££!
Thank you for watching and for sharing your experience!
The moments you have made in your reply are exactly the same as my views on mohair. My long time favourite mohair has and I think always will be, is Rowan kid silk haze., and I was surprised it wasn't mentioned more.
thank you sophie and a special thanks to editing sophie! hahaha, i absolutely love your videos, have always loved your talking stories on instagram so these long videos are awesome while knitting myself! i love how honest you are, it was really helpful! 🥰
Ah thank you so much my lovely! Me and my editing self are very grateful haha! x
This was SO comprehensive and so helpful!! I'm new to the world of mohair and I've tried a few that were gorgeous and soft and a couple that were scratchy and not that nice, glad to save time looking for options with your list haha
Ah thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it was helpful. Yes, there's a lot of variation in quality out there and yarns that look the same on paper most certainly aren't in reality. Thank you so much for watching! x
Thank you for this very informative video Sophie! There's so much out there and so difficult to choose from! I've been tempted by Lang Lace it's been a while :). And I agree that CaMaRose is a very lovely option and quite special considering how inexpensive it is. I am currently knitting with it, held double with Nutiden unspun yarn, and if you haven't tried it before it's a special combination as it blends beautifully with Nutiden :). I have also tried Krea Delux, held double, for a cardigan and it's one of the softest and most elegant thing I have! I also just came across Pascuali Manada, a blend of mohair, silk merino and yak, very soft and lovely (Loop London has it, if interested). Finally, I am personally very driven towards small producers, so yes, Whilstlebare's Yeavering Bell and Black Isle Yarns's Killen Sock are very soft and lovely mohair blends (but wool is the highest percentage for both) and so sustainable and special too. Xx
Thank you so much for watching and giving such a thoughtful reply - sorry for taking so long to respond!! I bet that the CaMaRose is beautiful with Nutiden :) Ah yes I've seen the Pascuali yarn but haven't tried it yet - it's top of my list next time I'm in Loop :) I ordered some of the Yeavering Bell recently and it's so beautiful. I can't wait to knit it up! Thank you again :) x
Thank you so much for this video Sophie! I’ve never been a huge mohair fan - I think holding yarns double or holding a strand of mohair with another yarn is more popular in the UK and Europe than it is here in Canada. Never the less, I’m starting to get into it now and it helps to have a resource like this. I’ve only used one mohair I don’t like (Debbie Bliss, which I think is discontinued now), and one lace weight alpaca yarn that I loved. I recently bought some of the Drops Brushed Alpaca Lace and can confirm, it’s so soft and fluffy! And the added bulk from holding this year with some DK alpaca is helping me meet the gauge of the pattern I’m doing without choosing a heavier yarn.
Thank you so much, my lovely! Yes, definitely. I think a lot of Danish designers, yarn producers, and knitters have led the trend and it's working its way throughout the continent and into the UK more and more. I'm glad you're liking the Drops! It is really lovely and, as you say, it's so useful when you need to add some bulk to your fibre. I tried the Debbie Bliss mohair for this project and it's... okay..? If you want to dabble further in fluffy yarns like this, I'd either stick with the alpaca-based options or try something with a higher silk content as they tend to be softer :) x
Off the subject, which is exactly what I need right now, is that an antique Irish oak chest? It’s so beautiful!
It is! We got it for £10 on Facebook, believe it or not. The lovely vendor just wanted to get rid of it. We feel very lucky to own it :)
oooh, the exact YT video I was looking for after going to drops kidsilk from fyberspates silk alpaca and hating the former but having to knit with it for a whole hat! I can't wait to see all the expensive mohair I can't afford rn and dream!
Where can I find 100% mulberry silk yarn, possibly 6a? Thank you 🙏
Very nice review, Sophie! I love mohair, but can only wear the very softest brands - and mostly they are priced beyond my budget. Having said that, your review was helpful to show me some brands that I hadn’t heard about, that are available that I can try. My only suggestion about this review is… you seemed in too much of a hurry. The little bits of writing that you added to the screen were not up long enough for me to read through (I had to rewind several times). The yarns you would recommend were covered a bit too quickly, as well. I don’t blame you for not taking time on the ones that you wouldn’t recommend, but you could definitely spend more time on the ones that you DO recommend. If I blinked, I missed the swatch! 😊 You were very thorough, you covered a lot of the important aspects of each yarn, maybe I just didn’t want it to end so soon! ❤️
Thank you! That's good feedback to have. I think I conceptualised this video as being more of an overview rather than anything thorough but I guess I didn't actually say that haha! I will try and go through the categories in a bit more depths in some more videos, maybe :) Thank you for watching! x
Brilliant! Thanks for such a comprehensive review! I currently using Kremke mohair and it’s beautiful ❤️
Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate it!
Thanks for this review. I can't wear mohair (those guard hairs!) and I don't love brushed alpaca, but I still found the comparisons really interesting.
Thank you so much! I'm glad it was helpful.
This was such a thoughtful and well considered video! I've only knit one garment with mohair, and it was Hobbii Diablo held double. I was feeling hesitant to spend, as I wasn't even sure if I liked mohair, and had not been actively knitting for that long. I love the cardigan I made, but it has these fluffy pills that I can't depill??? I have a sweater planned with holding Knit Picks Aloft, and it feels sooo much nicer, and has such a pretty sheen!
Yep, I totally get that feeling! It's a really tricky one because, as you say, it's a great way to dip your toes into the wonderful world of mohair without fully committing money-wise... but then it doesn't really give you the same results and that's what leaves me feeling cold about it. KnitPicks Aloft is beautiful!! Such a great option! I wish it were easier to source in the UK but, yes, totally with you there :) x
Very useful, thank you 😊
Thank you so very much for this information!😃 Great info👍
Thank you so much! x
Is there a difference in feel with the Camarose yarns or just the look?
Very informative -loved it - thanks, Jacki P.S.:I took notes, but plan to rewatch it also.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it's helpful :) If you ever have any questions about a given yarn, feel free to email me and I can always send you my thoughts if I've tried it x
Such a useful study and so kind of you to share it. Have you tried any smaller producers like Whistlebare and Garthenor? They are beautiful yarns and great companies to support. Could you give small yarn producers a try in a future episode?
Thank you so much, Rachel! So the jumper I'm actually wearing in this video is made with Garthenor Number 3 and I spoke quite a lot about them in my first Podcast episide :) I'm absolutely in love with their yarns and can't wait to try more of them in the future. I'm yet to try Whistlebare but they're on my list as I do want to move towards more sustainable and minimally processed yarns going forward. Thanks for watching! x
Great review! Thank you
Thank you so much, I'm glad to hear it!
I'm very curious about the following mohair alternative: have you ever tried Drops Melody? It is a combination of 71% Alapca + 25% wool + 4% polyamide. I think it would be very nice if I can hear your opinion on it 😊 I'd really appreciate it
Ah that's one of the only ones I haven't gotten around to trying! Next time I'm ordering from a shop that stocks Drops, I'll give it a go. It always looks really nice when I see it used in a project and it looks like a good alternative to the chunky mohairs I briefly mentioned.
I've recently knitted a slipover In Drops Melody and in my opinion it just looks like a cheap acrylic yarn, it's quick to knit and very soft to touch but looks a little matted when knitted up, my favourite mohair is Rowan Kidsilk haze .
Wow that was an incredible tour through the world of mohair! So helpful as we are all mostly buying online these days as so few shops are left (at least where I live) so thank you so much. I am dying to try the Onion brand mohair, it looks very unique but I just bought some hand dyed mohair on Etsy because I wanted something tonal as I’m knitting the “Sky Map” by Emily Foden and she is out of her “cosmic” color way :(
And of course I just gotta knit it NOW and can’t wait until she restocks lol
PS I got here through your blog which shows a picture of the swatches also very helpful in comparing because you can gaze at them for hours! LOL
Hi Sophie. My 2 favourite mohair silk yarns that I have worked with were Debbie Bliss Angel and Berroco Ariel. I find that the Debbie Bliss does not shed at all and the Berroco, while I have seen bits of hair on a light coloured shirt I wore under the knit cardigan, the shedding does not get into my face like some mohair yarns have. (I DO think I had heard the the Debbie Bliss brand carries some controversy which I am not fully aware of). The worst mohair silk yarn I've used was a very pricey yarn from an indy dyer and it sheds like mad. It doesn't make me itch but I am ultra aware of it both on my skin and when the fibres continually fly into my face as I wear it, especially into my eyes. I have a Drops Kid Silk that I am going to try next. Thank you for this interesting video!
Thank you so much for this Jennifer! Yes, I was really impressed by the Berroco Ariel when I tried it for this project (it's one of the bright yellow swatches in the thumbnail); it has such a pretty sheen. That's interesting that the indie-dyed yarn was so sheddy. I wonder if their dying process damaged the fibre a bit? Haha yes I get what you mean there. I had to pause my recording so many times because of all the fluff flying around!
Thank you for watching :) x
There is one good thing bulky mohair is good for - it makes superb pom-poms!
Oh my word, that is genius!!! I will try it out. Thanks for the tip!
Interesting video 😀 another lovely option would be whistlebare yeavering 4ply, I have some in my stash that I'm precious about breaking into but they are lovely family run business in Northumberland 😊
Thank you! Ooh yes that's a good idea! I will check them out :) xxx
Highly interesting! Thanks for going through and swatching all those products! It was nice to know that KfO is not the only ethical silk mohair, have to try the other ones too. My experience of Filcolana Tilia is that even if it’s as fluffy as Isager’s, Tilia’s fluff detaches (I don’t know if “detach” the word to use here, but Tilia’s fluff ends up in your nose and on your lap 😅). I’ve used and enjoyed Ito Sensai, which is very thin and not so fluffy.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it! Yes, I think that brands offering more ethical yarns is going to be a growing trend (or at least I hope so!). Yes, I've heard that from other people too but I haven't experienced/noticed it personally. I wonder if it's a bit of a batch issue?
Ito Sensai is lovely! If you like it, you might also like Lang Lace, Onion Silk + Mohair, and Krea Deluxe. They've got a similarly high proportion of silk in their blends!
Very interesting video!...thanks!.. there is another yarn, which is an alternative to mohair. The name ist Setasuri from Lana Grossa. It has suri alpaca and silk and is a dream! veeeery soft and the price is also very good in my opinion. Thank you again 🙂
Incredibly informative thankyou. I can’t wear mohair but love the middnosol. I do think as a community we should be trying to use sustainable non cruel yarns, so are then any of the substitutes which wait the bill?
Thank you so much Maggie! Yes, I'm right with you there. So, it's a tricky one this because we as customers are reliant on brands providing information about the production of their fibres and many are vague, at best. Tess of @evergreen_knits has a blogpost coming out/available now that gives good summaries of what different standards actually mean. But the problem is that many of them don't have a clear, fixed meaning. I'd definitely recommend reading Tess' blog when it's live because she also has excellent templates we can use to contact yarn manufacturers to ask about their animal welfare standards.
This is a bit of a wishy-washy answer but I hope it's still helpful! And, FWIW, CaMaRose is a good, responsible manufacturer as far as I can tell :)
A great and informative video! My thoughts on the different mohairs are similar to yours (have not tried all of them) Next I am hoping to work with Sensai from ITO
Yes Sensai is a lovely yarn too! I totally forgot to include it here but it's a great option with beautiful colours. Thank you for watching! x
Hello
Have you the given guage of 24 stitches and 27 rows on 4mm knitting needles. I have a pattern from years ago.
what a video! I used the alpakka navia already and I really liked it as a mohair alternative. I held it double with arwetta and it worked really well together. It doesnt feel hard or scratchy either as it does as a skein. I'm definitely curious about how you find it :)
Thank you haha!! Oh that's really good to know. I imagine it's one of those fibres that really softens with use. The colour is *so* good!
Thank you so much, such an informative and interesting video!👏👏👏 I will be definitely checking out The Onion, CaMaRose and Krea Delixe! 😊👍🏻 My current favourite mohair is so far Premia by Lamana which I find to be very silky and not-itchy (definitely prefer silkier over fluffier yarns, personal preference I guess 🤷♀️), but I'm very much looking forward to trying your options! 😍
Thank you so much! Oooh I haven't actually tried that one but I will try and seek it out. That's really good to know!
You mentioned Hip Knit Mohair but never reviewed it... where would you categorize that?
Great & very helpful video! I haven't been a fan of the mohair I've used thus far though I have some others in stash. I also have suri alpaca in stash to try as a potential sub, but not sure we'll I will actually try it. I do want to try the Biches & Bûches Le Gros Silk & Mohair that you reviewed - perhaps for a 2nd Cumulus Blouse. I love v-necks, but the one I knit is a bit big and the Rowan Kid Silk Haze is a bit scratchy for me (even though I like rustic yarns). If you ever try Shibui Silk Cloud (I haven't yet), would love to hear what you think. Or La Bien Aimee's silk mohair. Thanks again for the video!
Thank you so much for watching and sorry for the slow reply! Yes I can see what you mean with the Rowan Kid Silk Haze... It definitely isn't the softest option out there, even compared to other 30:70 blends. I will keep my eyes peeled for those yarns next time I'm shopping and will definitely report back! Thank you again x
thank you, very helpful.
I'm glad to hear it! Thank you for watching x
Hi Sophie, I wanted to try the CaMaRose midnatssol but their choice of colour is not the best. I see you have the white, which is the one I would go for. Can you tell mr if it's really bright or if it's more like an off white? Thanks
Hi Simona! Sorry for the slow reply. I'd say it is quite a bright white, in all honesty. I haven't seen their full colour range in person so couldn't really speak to alternatives within the range, but it is a lovely yarn all the same. Sorry to not be more helpful! x
@@the_knit_purl_girl Thank you Sophie, I've decided to go for it to make the soufflé from Penrose knits as I tried a mohair swatch and found it a bit itchie. I've ordered white, regardless of the shade I feel that will be an appropriate colour as the soufflé looks like a cloud. Thanks again for replying though, I hope I made a good choice with this yarn, it costs enough!
I want to say thank you for talking about both plastic and how it’s horrible for the environment, but also low price yarns. I want to go duetter in my ”thinking out loud”; The low price is there for a reason. As consumers we need to start making active choises. I’d rather just skip the mohair than buy crap from crap big brands. And no, I can’t afford a lot of nice yarns. But I try to make active choises and pick different yarns and projects, until I can afford other stuff.
Yes I am totally with you here and am trying to model that exact same behaviour myself. I never want to be a 'gatekeeper' or a 'yarn snob' and would never look down on someone for their yarn choice but I would always prefer to buy less and buy better myself (though I acknowledge I'm fortunate to be able to make that choice). Solidarity, friend! x
Ito, and Habu missing :( Please, give those Japanese brands a try. They are lovely!
i really agree with your value of money vs being a yarn 'snob'. at this point, i'd rather save up for a few months to be able to afford the nicer quality yarn than paying a cheaper price. in the long run, it'll last and wash longer and everytime I have waited, it was so so worth it
Yes that's it! I think that if you're investing hours of your life into a project, you might as make it as worthwhile as possible (without overstretching your budget, that is!). Thank you so much for watching :) x
This was an incredibly helpful video. You’re an angel. Thank you!!! 😇
I feel like nobody talks about how Mohair is shedding when working with it or even wearing it. I hate the shedding it gets everywhere when I‘m knitting with it but I love the look of Mohair. Anyone else feel the same way? Can someone recommend me tips on how to get rid of that shedding or any mohair brands that won‘t shed as much?
Hey! Sorry for the slow reply! So, I'd say that if shedding really puts you off then you might prefer yarns that have a higher silk content as there's less fluff to shed. You might also find a mohair/wool comb useful for maintaining the fibre. Personally, it doesn't bother me too much because I'm used to having cat hair on my all the time (the joys of cat ownership..!) but I totally get where you're coming from. Hope this helps a bit! x
I’m using Kremke Silky Kid at the moment and there’s very little shedding if any. I’m wearing black jeans at the moment while knitting and there’s nothing on them so I definitely recommend Silky Kid!
Sostrene Grene UK sell their own brand of mohair yarn by the way! Have you checked it out?
Funnily enough, I tried to order some the other week but they wouldn't ship to where I live! I will try again and report back if I manage to get some :) Thanks for the tip! x
@@the_knit_purl_girl Sostrene Grene has a few physical stores in the uk btw. It might be more convenient to pay a visit instead of shop online :)
@@user-fc3sx2cw5x There aren't any in my area, sadly. I think my nearest one is Nottingham which is still quite far away! Fingers crossed they expand into the south-east more :)
@@the_knit_purl_girl what a shame! Let’s hope someone actually lives near enough a store as well as lives within your country and is able to buy this yarn and then send it off for you to review it!
I watched with interest, I truly did not know about the horn removal, there’s a lot of yarn consumption in the video of stuff you claim you’d stay away from ethically….. apart from for this video. But that comment was buried very deep in the video so I have to wonder is that really your view - Or just a disclaimer?
Hey! Yes it really is my view. If you look through my Instagram (which is my main platform; I don’t have the time for RUclips at the moment) at the types of yarns I use on a regular basis, you’ll see a lot of yarns made by brands with strong ethical stances on animal welfare (KfO, Sandnes Garn, Along Avec Anna). I think because it is a stance I take seriously, I don’t feel the need to proclaim it because I just take it for granted, if that makes sense? I also don’t want to shame others who take a different stance because it’s not my place to do so. Thanks for the comment!
I’m having difficulty understanding you. Maybe if you slow your your speaking.
You can slow the video down on RUclips 😊
had to do a thumbs down as I don't like to use or wear mohair of any kind. so not a vid of interest to me. keep taking care xx
With all due respect, you don't have to watch it if it isn't of interest rather than disliking it out of hand! Take care too x
Thank you for this yarn review hey check out Alchemy Yarns of Transformation their silk mohair 40% silk 60% mohair- 325yards-Haiku❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🧶❤️