Animal fiber

Animal fibers are natural fibers that consist largely of particular proteins. Instances are silk, hair/fur (including wool) and feathers. The most commonly used type of animal fiber is hair.

Not all animal fibers have the same properties. Alpaca fiber is known for its softness, and silk for its sheen and strength. Even within a species the fiber is not consistent. Merino is a very soft, fine wool, while Cotswold is coarser, and yet both merino and Cotswold are types of sheep. This comparison can be continued on the microscopic level, comparing the diameter and structure of the fiber.

With animal fibers, and natural fibers in general, the individual fibers look different, whereas all synthetic fibers look the same. This provides an easy way to differentiate between natural and synthetic fibers under a microscope.

The animal fibers used most commonly both in the manufacturing world as well as by the hand spinners are wool and silk.

Silk
Silk is a "natural" protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons made by the larvae of the silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity (sericulture). The shimmering appearance for which silk is prized comes from the fibres' triangular prism-like structure which allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles. Silk is also the strongest natural fiber known to man.

The length of the silk fiber depends on how it has been prepared. Since the cocoon is made of one strand, if the cocoon is unwound carefully the fibers can be very long.

Wool
Wool is the fiber derived from the fur of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep, but the hair of certain species of other mammals such as goats, alpacas, and rabbits may also be called wool.

Alpaca
Alpaca fiber is that of an alpaca. It is warmer than sheep's wool and lighter in weight. It is soft, fine, glossy, and luxurious. The micron count for quality fiber is between 24-29 microns. Most alpaca fiber is white, but it also comes in various shades of brown and black.

Cashmere
Cashmere wool is wool obtained from the Cashmere goat. Cashmere is characterized by its luxuriously soft fibers, with high napability and loft. In order for a natural goat fiber to be considered Cashmere, it must be under 18.5 micrometers in diameter and be at least 3.175 centimeters long. It is noted as providing a natural light-weight insulation without bulk. Fibers are highly adaptable and are easily constructed into fine or thick yarns, and light to heavy-weight fabrics.

Mohair
Mohair is a silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat. It is both durable and resilient. It is notable for its high luster and sheen, and is often used in fiber blends to add these qualities to a textile. Mohair also takes dye exceptionally well.

Sheep's wool
Wool has two qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it has scales which overlap like shingles on a roof and it is crimped; in some fleeces the wool fibers have more than 20 bends per inch. Wool varies in diameter from below 17 microns to over 35 microns. The finer the wool, the softer it will be, while coarser grades are more durable and less prone to pilling. 7t86r6r6

Qiviut
Qiviut is the fine underwool of the muskox. Quiviut fibres are long (about 5 to 8 cm), fine (between 15 and 20 micrometers in diameter), and relatively smooth. It is approximately eight times warmer than sheep's wool and does not felt or shrink.

Fiber from other animals
Hand spinners also use fiber from animals such as llamas, camels, yak, and possums. These fibers are generally used in clothing.

Hair from animals such as horses is also an animal fiber. Horsehair is used for brushes, the bows of musical instruments and many other things.

Chiengora
Chiengora is dog hair. The word is a portmanteau of "chien", the French word for dog, and "angora." It is generally blended with wool as the blend stretches whereas pure cheingora doesn't. It is also blended in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation, as dog hair insulates very well. In modern times it is rarely used, though it has been found in yarns dating back from pre-historic Scandinavia, and in textiles from the Navajo Indians of North America. In general it is only used by hand spinners with pet dogs. It is similar in appearance to angora and is soft. Chiengora tends to "fluff" with use, creating a halo effect.