I’ve seen some lovely people mention that they’ve been defeated by the trials and tribulations of spinning mohair.
so I wanted to help change that somehow!! because you deserve to spin some cute curly yarn too!
for starters, mohair is a very slippery fiber, and most people dont realize it until they try spinning it. it causes a lot of frustration, especially if you’re newer to spinning more novelty-esque textures.
so heres a simplified breakdown of my process that I find works for me! (note that this is not including the initial prep process if you purchase your mohair raw; that’s a whole separate adventure that involves deep cleaning the fiber fresh off the farm.)
• first, dont brush the fiber out! that will ruin the curl pattern, and won’t allow for any cute curly strands. instead, gently pluck apart the larger clumps that are stuck together into singular strands of curls, and put them into a bag or a basket for spinning!
(you can also lightly pull apart the base from where they’ve been shorn, to make them a bit more airy and open- this allows the fibers to catch better.)
• once all your curls are prepped and ready, start slow with a handful of fiber, spinning onto a long pre-wound bobbin leader. (i like to use thin cotton yarn.) if you ramp up speed too fast like I sometimes do, you’ll start to make mistakes!! so take your time. pull on the fiber as it catches onto the leader, and let it do it’s thing so you have a good foundation.
• I personally think it’s easier to spin mohair thicker than it is thinner. but, if you want a thin yarn, just pull apart your singular clumps of curls into halves or thirds. (the thicker the clump, the thicker the yarn, and vice-versa.)
• while spinning, I like to add more fiber coming from a right degree angle- at a slightly higher point on top of what i’ve already spun. this also allows a better grip for the fiber, and lets you control weak spots that have been spun too thin higher up.
• as you find your groove, let the yarn form it’s own shape. dont stress too hard about it being perfectly smooth or even- the personality that this fiber builds is what completes the iconic curly look!
overall mohair is a very different spinning experience compared to using roving- where the fibers are brushed neatly in one direction. that’s usually what (unknowingly) discourages a lot of people from trying, because treating it like roving won’t work!
its very clumpy. the fibers will form a mind of their own. sometimes, your yarn will fall apart mid spin, and get sucked onto the bobbin at warp speed- it’s all trial and error.
but you can seriously do just about anything with mohair as long as you’re determined. i’ve dyed it, chain plied it, brushed it out (omg), and learned a lot along the way.
I hope this somehow helps or inspires you! I’m by no means a professional, so please dont take my words as law. if you find something different that works better for you, please continue to master it! <3
I think I might just have to spin some more mohair now. I miss it lol
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