Wednesday, June 1, 2011

More about Angola yarn

I came across a reference to "Angola yarn" today.
Tales of the Living Age. 1858
Eddies Round the Rectory. by Owen Varra (fiction)

"Don't you remember the day Miss Cooper advised home-knit Angola stockings as the best for winter wear, and you gave a laughing glance at me?"

Interesting the writer used this wool in home knitting, which means this type of wool/yarn is available for purchase for hand knitting. This yarn seems to only show up for use in stockings. I love when I discover new information and I'm not looking for it. I'm usually on a different quest. Go figure!

3 comments:

  1. HA HA HA, I am SO AMUSED by this banter. However there is no such thing as ANGOLA YARN, I too at one time was unversed in the finer points of animal hair. Mohair, cashmere, wool, all just the same thing to me at one time. BUT WOW how my eyes were opened up by reading, asking, in depth research, buying from many suppliers and makers and distributors and farms. My knowledge is extremely in-depth. Expert is not a term I use lightly with anyone or anything, but I am and do consider myself an expert when it comes to YARN(ANIMAL HAIR). And I say without any reservation or doubt whatsoever that there is no such thing as ANGOLA YARN. However, angola is instead a term used in the "union" or "mixing/blending" of fibers that are too short to be spun by them selves so that they are blended with other types of fibers for strength and continuity. Just thought everyone would like to know.

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  2. "However, angola is instead a term used in the "union" or "mixing/blending" of fibers that are too short to be spun by them selves so that they are blended with other types of fibers for strength and continuity. Just thought everyone would like to know."

    Thank you, I know some people who would be interested in this information, and would be interested in the documentation about blended yarns used in knitting, especially during the mid-19th century.

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  3. A history of the machine-wrought hosiery and lace manufactures, By William Felkin 1867

    Pg. 300
    "Mr. Robert Hall, the father of Mr. Samuel Hall, lived at Basford, near Nottingham. In the early part of his like, passed during the latter portion of thelast century, one of his businesses was that of spinning cotton yarn for hosiery purposes. Afterwards he supn a mixture of cotton and animal wool, into what is called angola yarn, a useful article extensively consumed for stockings, possessing a medium warmth between cotton and worsted hose."

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