What Is Cashmere Yarn?

Cashmere yarn is spun from the soft undercoat of the Kashmir goat. It is an extremely soft fiber, well-suited to many knitting applications. Cashmere can be spun alone or as a blend with other fibers, including wool and silk, and the yarn can range from very fine laceweight to a bulky fiber.

History

Cashmere was once reserved only for royalty due to its cost and rarity. Napoleon is said to have gifted his wife 17 cashmere shawls, creating a trend.

Identification

Identifying cashmere can be a challenge. One hundred percent cashmere yarns are rather uncommon, with blends being much more typical.

Fun Fact

It takes a single Kashmir goat four years and four shedding seasons to produce enough cashmere to make yarn for a single sweater. This fact is responsible for the high cost of cashmere yarn and garments.

Geography

Cashmere yarn is most commonly produced in high desert climates. Kashmir goats grow their soft undercoats to provide warmth during the cold season.

Care

While woven cashmere garments must be dry cleaned, items made of cashmere yarn can be gently hand washed and laid flat to dry. Avoid agitation or extreme heat when washing garments made of cashmere yarn.

Resources

• What Is Cashmere?
• Cashmere Yarns at PurlSoho