Which is the best for spinning?( open thread here just tell of your experiences)You, know which is nice and soft and not scratchy.

-- Chandler (Providencefarms2001@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002

Answers

Hi. I have spun all three and each have their merits, depending upon what kind of yarn you want to create. Corriedale is a fine, crimpy, light wool that I often blend with my angora bunnies' wool because the angora has very little crimp. The crimp in Corriedale is tight, small crimps compared to Columbia or Angora goat wools. Columbia is a beautiful, more loosely crimped wool, but not as loosely crimped as the Angora goat's (mohair) that I've spun. Angora from goats is very loosely crimped, which gives the resulting yarn very little spring to it and often the yarn makes a very heavy fabric if spun as thick yarn. Keep in mind that there can be a lot of variation from one animal to another and the same animal from one year to the next. Of the three, I would have to say Corriedale is the softest, but Angora goat's mohair dyes brilliantly. I hope this helps.

-- Kris in Wisc (kkwoestman@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Chandler, I have spun for 5 years. My opinion is Angora Goat. It crochet's well and has shearn is easily colored. I have made 3 sweaters with Angora and they keep you warm down to zero with only a sweatshirt and then angora sweater. Some January's I stayed in the barn for a couple of hours without getting cold. I also made hats to match. Of course you need some type of leg covering. Just my two cents worth. I have also raised sheep and goats and goats are by far more enjoyable to raise. However the Angora goat is much more passive than other breeds of goats. Mine would sometimes get caught with a stick and instead of coming in they lay down and cry for you to come and help them. They were not caught only had a stick caught in the fur or wool.

Linda

-- Linda (jlsam@ccrtc.com), February 08, 2002.

I've spun for 10 years or so. I love Angora but if scratchy is a criteria you want to avoid, I would go with the Corriedale. Angora is really soft the first year, kid fleece is prime. But it gets courser every year. Unlike wool, it does not have the spring and stretch, more of a drapy yarn. You could get one of each and blend the fibers! That way you woulnd't have to make the decision. Columbia I am not too familiar with but from what I do know it is a fairly short fleece. If it were me I'd go Corriedale.

Susan

-- Susan in Minnesota (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), February 09, 2002.