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How Is Cashmere Produced?

Compliments of Johnstons of Elgin

There are five primary steps to cashmere production:

• Collection
• Sorting, scouring
• Dehairing
• Spinning
• Weaving or knitting

COLLECTION - Cashmere fibers are collected by either combing or shearing the animal during the molting season. Goats molt during a several week period in the spring.

SORTING, SCOURING - Hand sorting for coarse hair takes place. After sorting, the fiber is washed to remove dirt, grease and any vegetable matter gathered in the collection process.

DEHAIRING - The scoured material is then dehaired. This step removes vegetable matter, dandruff and the coarse outer guard hair. At the end of this process, the cashmere is ready to be spun into yarns for weaving or knitting--the 4th and 5th steps.

For information about raising specialty animal fiber, please contact Cashmirror Magazine at www.teleport.com/~goatknol, and see our list of animal fiber resources.