Soft facts

Fun facts about Angora rabbits, Angora wool fiber, and handspun Angora yarn. 

• Angora rabbits are a unique breed of rabbit that produces wool, with fiber hair that grows continuously throughout their entire life.
• It is the smallest fiber-producing animal in existence, and the wool can be used to make yarn and textiles.
• There are five breeds of Angora rabbits: English Angora, French Angora, Satin Angora, Giant Angora, and German Angora. The Angora rabbits at Rytne are of the German Angora breed. 
• The rabbits must be shorn approximately every three months; if they are not shorn, the wool will mat, the rabbits will stop eating, and they will eventually die. They are also at higher risk of getting "wool block," as they will try to groom themselves and ingest large amounts of hair, which can lead to constipation, which in turn has a high mortality rate.
• After shearing, they need warmth, about 10°C for at least 14 days, to avoid "shearing shock." 
• An Angora rabbit can have a lifespan of about 7-10 years, provided it does not contract any diseases or suffer injuries. 
• The most common diseases an Angora rabbit can contract are digestive diseases.
• The wool fibers of the Angora rabbit are among the softest fibers in the world.
• The softness of wool and fiber is related to the fineness of the hairs and is measured in microns. The lower the count, the softer it is. Angora fibers have a cross-section of about 10-11 microns; for comparison, the Merino sheep has a cross-section of about 17-24 microns.
• Angora wool is referred to as a luxury fiber and is among the world's most expensive wools.
• Angora wool has greater insulating ability than any other wool or fiber, both due to the fineness of the hairs and because they consist of an air chamber/cavity in the center. 
• Angora does not produce lanolin (grease), like sheep do, which makes the fibers clean and smooth, allowing the wool to be spun directly after shearing. 
• Angora wool is straight and does not crimp like other wool; it is smooth and has little to no elasticity. Angora yarn is therefore best suited for projects that do not require much structure. 
• Angora rabbits originated as a result of mutations, which are sudden changes in the genetic makeup. 
• The first written source regarding Angora rabbits dates from before the year 1400, when they were referred to as long-haired rabbits. 
• The first rabbits were all believed to be wild gray in color; they were later crossed with albino rabbits, resulting in white Angora rabbits, which in Germany were referred to as "Silk Hares." 
• Handspun Angora yarn will always be different from machine-spun yarn. At first glance, it might not seem as fuzzy, but when the yarn is knitted with and subsequently used, the hairs will "rise" and the project will become fuzzier. 
• Handspun yarn does not shed as much as machine-spun Angora yarn. This is due to the way it is produced. There may be some loose hair in the beginning, but these hairs will soon "settle," and the Angora product will simply become nice and fluffy without shedding significantly.