Angora Sweaters

About Angora Material

The first thing most people notice about angora sweaters is the fuzziness factor. Angora as a material is incredibly soft, which is appealing for a garment worn next to the skin. Angora fiber comes from rabbits and as anyone knows, bunnies are soft, so naturally sweaters made from their fur is just as fuzzy. However, this comes with a drawback – shedding. Anyone who’s ever owned an angora sweater has most likely wondered how they can keep their top from leaving fur everywhere they go.

Prevent Shedding

While you won’t be able to completely stop an angora sweater from shedding, you can treat it before your first wear to cut back on this annoying problem.

1. First, carefully fold your sweater and place it into a large Ziploc bag.
2. Put the bagged sweater into your freezer.
3. Let it sit in the freezer for about three to four hours.
4. Remove it and wear (after letting it warm up a bit).

Some people may wonder why anyone would go through the trouble when there are plenty of other garments that can be worn directly from the hanger. Once you’ve worn angora, you’ll understand better. Not only is it incredibly luxurious, it’s also even warmer than wool, which is a big plus during the cold months of the year.

To clean your angora top, hand wash in warm water and pure soap suds and then allow it to air dry. If you toss it in the washer, you may as well kiss this beautiful garment goodbye.

Popularity of Angora Sweaters

If you look at pictures of young women in the 1940s and 1950s, you’ll see that many of them wore angora sweaters in pinup girl fashion. The sweaters were incredibly popular during this time and were worn with pencil skirts and capri pants. Most of the sweaters were short-sleeved and featured rounded or boat necks, and they looked great with a set of classic pearls. The popularity of the sweaters took a downturn at the same time twin sets became less popular. When polyester as a fabric hit the style scene, many younger women turned to the latest easy-care clothing and angora took a backseat to wash-and-wear garments.

Angora Today

It won’t be easy to find angora clothing today. It simply isn’t a material that’s seen as trendy in most circles. While some designers will take a chance and feature it on the runway for fall and winter shows, you’re not likely to see a crop of angora sweaters lining department store shelves.

DIY Sweaters from Angora Yarn

For the crafty girl, however, an angora sweater is within reach if she knows how to knit because she can always make her own. Angora yarn is easier to find than the actual sweaters. Many knitters who also know how to spin their own fiber have learned to cultivate angora directly from their pet bunnies. This isn’t something for the uninitiated to tackle on their own, however. It’s imperative to know how to care for rabbits and the best way to collect their fur.

You can buy angora yarn in a large variety of colors. Most likely, the angora will be combined with another fiber to make the yarn stronger and easier to work with.

Custom Angora

If you’re not crafty, you can still buy a handcrafted angora sweater from select online retailers such as Angora Knit for You. Sweaters will be tailored specifically for you and you’ll be able to own a one-of-a-kind garment that’s soft, thick and very insulating.

If you prefer the angora sweaters of old, you can try searching on auction sites like eBay. You’ll need to be very careful when choosing clothing there. Angora is such a delicate material, only exquisite care will ensure you get a sweater that’s in tiptop condition.

Whether you find a vintage angora sweater or you buy one brand new, you’ll enjoy the luxurious feeling of softness and warmth every time you slip it on.