What is the difference between wool, alpaca and mohair?
Three common fibres – how they differ in warmth, feel and durability.
Wool
Elastic, warm even when damp and easy to work with. Gives clear stitch definition and garments that keep their shape.
Alpaca
Softer and warmer than wool but less elastic. Alpaca garments can stretch and grow longer over time.
Mohair
Comes from the Angora goat. Has a light halo and is often used as a fine strand held together with another yarn for softness and lustre.
More guides
How do you choose yarn for a pattern?
Start with the yarn specified in the pattern – and know what to look for if you want to substitute it.
How much yarn do I need?
How to read the yarn requirements in a pattern and recalculate when you change size or yarn.
How do you substitute yarn in a knitting pattern?
Step by step: find a substitute yarn that gives the same size and feel.
How do you substitute yarn in a crochet pattern?
Crochet is more sensitive to yarn thickness – here is how to find a yarn that works.