Cashmere Goats
Interestingly enough Cashmere isn’t attributed to any one breed of goat but can be the downy undercoat of most any goat breed that produces undercoat fibers of 19 microns or less with an allowable variation of 24%. The only goat that does not produces cashmere is the Angora goat (which produces mohair). Goats that can produce cashmere include Spanish goats, Pygmy goats, and even the Tennessee Fainting Goat. De-hairing the fiber (separating the down undercoat from the guard hairs) is a necessity if you are aiming for the famously soft and luxurious qualities cashmere is known for, guard hair’s can be anywhere between 50-100 microns.
Best spun fine then plyed to achieve the desired weight, the fiber comes in short (1 1/2 – 2 1/2 inches) wavy locks. Knitters like cashmere for its softness, lightness & warmth. Textiles made from cashmere, while should be enjoyed, also need to be gently worn.
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