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Naturally Colored Angora for Mill Spun Yarns By Leslie Samson In the July '04 article about the IAGARB Yarn Co-op, I indicated that pending clear results with its white wool yarn runs, IAGARB could not consider naturally colored angora wool. Now we can because: 1. We have established a system that works. 2. Since we have opened our registry to colored angora, it is necessary to respond to the needs of those breeders who specialize in colored wool. 3. It is a unique product. Colored wool presents new challenges to our cooperative venture. 1. Does the membership have sufficient colored fiber production capability to order a 50-pound run from a large mill or should we contact a "mini" mill? There are many good ones available. They do charge about 5.00 or more per pound than the larger mills but it is still much less expensive than the labor of hand-spinning. 2. Which color? Natural colors of angora wool, off the rabbit, can be divided roughly into gray and beige. Would participating members be content to combine agouti, fawn and tortes to make a beige run or would they want to separate the colors? The same would be true for black, blue, steel and chin. What about chocolate, sable and lilac? If the members would like to separate the colors, a more consistent product could be made. This option may have some appeal but it will result in reducing the available quantity of fiber. If shades are combined, quantities are instantly increased. 3. Another matter to consider is the color of the sheep wool used to blend with the angora. If it is white, then all of the natural colored will be subject to some degree of blanching. Should the blending wool be dyed to match or perhaps enhance the natural colors? If so, who is going to take on that task? 4. With white German wool, grading for texture is a snap because the hand of the wool is consistent. Colored wool is a different matter. There simply is a wider range of texture with colored wool. Some colored angoras have glorious German texture already. Some don't. I suspect that it will take years to stabilize a predictable German texture with colored angora. How does the membership feel about this? Should we ignore textural variance for now with colored angora and aim for future improvements? Colored angora presents more complications than does white wool. More information will help us identify a consensus. Kindly send your thoughts to the Secretary, Alexis Woodbury. Colored Angora Wool Survey 1. Are you interested in pooling your colored wool into a yarn run? 2. In order of preference, which three colors do you feel are most important for this application? 3. Would you prefer to mix shades or separate to specific colors? 4. Do you want to match blending sheep wool with colored angora or is white acceptable? 5. Should we aim for 100% colored wool, forget the merino and take higher losses? 6. How do you feel about textural variance? What guidelines for texture would you like to see? 7. How much of any specific colored wool is your rabbitry able to produce in one year? 8. How much of any specific colored wool do you have on hand right now? 9. Other thoughts?