Lara Downs: suppliers of mohair, mohair yarn, mohair top, kid mohair, mohair knitting yarn, mohair and silk yarn, mohair dolls wigs, natural luxury fibres, merino top, wool top, yarn, embroidery thread, mohair embroidery yarn, hand dyed yarn, luxury yarn, natural fibres, mohair fibre, mohair scarf, mohair goats, mohair blankets, angora goats, mohair wrap, lara downs, lace weight yarn, elite fibre, wool, dolls hair, dolls wig, mohair shawl, mohair silk scarf, mohair top, fibre art, art yarn, pearls, felting, felting wool mohair, silk paper, mohair paper, angora goat studs, viewbank angoras, silk top, Australia, merino wool, alpaca, laradowns, silk tussah, variegated yarn, yarn harmonies, silk paper, mohair paper, textile art, fibre art

felting & felting supplies (using mohair, merino wool & silk)
fibre art kits
embellishing threads for felting & machine embroidery etc
embroidery using fine kid mohair thread & silk ribbon
knitting kits, patterns & hand knits for sale (see also the Imports page)
mohair curls
mohair clouds
mohair "fur" without guilt
pre-felt hankies - (new)
ring shawls in fine mohair for hand dyeing
silk scarves, wraps & strips for nuno felting
silk & mohair paper
spinning mohair & merino wool
silk hankies
order form and price list

>>>Knitting Kits

>>> Harmony Trio Wrap Kit ©Lara Downs.

This superb wrap has been knitted from our Harmony Trio pack consisting of three closely harmonising shades in our 2 ply super fine Kid mohair.

Harmony Trio Wrap

Knitted using Intarsia techniques, the three colours are split so that intensity of shade waxes and wanes across the wrap. The feel is luxurious and the look is total elegance

Super light and lacey, it weighs only 120 grams.

Knitting Kit plus pattern (this shade 'Pink Fusion').

only $38

Select shades from our Harmony Trio range.

>>>Elegant Jacket Knitting Kit ©Lara Downs.

Elegant Jacket in 4 ply 'Angoraglow'

Fine Kid mohair, modelled here by Rebecca in the high Winter fashion shade of 'Charcoal', favoured in Fitzroy at that time of the year.

This pattern designed by Wendy Knight, represents simple elegance in a solid shade or is a little more racey in random mixed shades with matching silk double knit band.

The jacket in knitted in one piece and features raglan shaping to create the sleeves. Two options are available - short style (shown in Blueberry) and longer style in Charcoal.

( Suitable for Intermediate level knitters.)

Knitting Kit is available in any of Lara Downs yarn shades - $115.00

>>> Kit's from Adele's of South Africa - Adele's mohair yarns featured on our Yarns page are also available in various knitting kits and ready made hand knits. Julia looks great in this lovely Turquoise Triangular wrap from Adele's, created by blending a variety of yarns in attractive textures. The Diagonal Stripe Scarf; the Beaded scarf and the Slubby Mohair Wrap, all use Adele's super fine mohair boucle as the base of the garment, with different feature yarns as contrast.

Knitted wrap $55

This drapey superfine scarf (above & below) combines Adele's superfine mohair boucle and Adele's Knobbly hand spun mohair yarn as contrast. Being knitted on the diagonal, gives this scarf an unusual and lovely look. Knit Kit $25 in a variety of shades. Select from Super fine boucle shades on our yarn page.

Beaded scarf (above left and below) Knit Kit $25.00. Select from Beaded mohair yarn shades (Adele's knitting yarns).

Slubby Mohair wrap (top right). Knit Kit $39. Available in Natural, Aubergine or Black. Made up in Rust $75.00

>>>Enchanted Cobweb Shawl ©Lara Downs. (Available as kit only) Inspired by the master spinner the spider.

Cobweb at Lara Downs June 2008	A Lara Downs original for special occasions. True luxury kid mohair and silk. The combination of mohair and silk provides wonderful drape and lustre to the finished article. This wrap has been created using two hand dyed yarns from our collection. "Chunky Twist" mulberry silk yarn in 'Salmon' has been teamed with Lara Downs' "Enchant" - a double stranded yarn blending silk and fine mohair. Seen here in 'Tangerine' Kit $72

>>>Bobbly Woolley Scarf Kit ©Lara Downs	.
	This fun scarf combines Lara Downs' fine boucle merino wool yarn with pre-felted woolley strips as highlights. Kit $18. Available in Blue, Red/Orange, Olive Green or Aqua as the main theme colour. (Blue version shown here).


>>>The Jewel Scarf Kit ©Lara Downs this kit contains an aladdin's cave of colourful jewel like fibres including a base yarn in super fine mohair boucle teamed with embellishments including silk strips, silk boucle yarn, kid mohair curls and rainbow threads.		The finished garment shown at left in Aqua and below in the base shade of 'copper'. Also available in deep blue, amethyst & lime green. Kit $35.
	Each kit is available in a clear circular pack making it a fabulous gift for fibre-holics. At right , contents laid out and below, the gift pack opened top view

>>> Dazzle Neck Wrap ©Lara Downs (Available as Kit only)

'Angoraglow' Kid Mohair & Rayon boucle are knitted alternately to create this lovely lacy scarf, shown here in natural tones

The kid mohair provides the soft handle whilst the rayon adds sparkle. Would suit day or evening wear.

Available in Kit form including pattern. Exclusive to Lara Downs.

>>>Cashmere Silk Drape ©Lara Downs (Available as Kit only)

Rear view of Cashmere Silk Drape.

This original design from Lara Downs features our new Cashmere 4 ply yarn teamed with our exciting Chunky Boucle Silk yarn. Seen here in Blueberry - random (Shade No 1) , the softness of the cashmere is used to drape the shoulders while the silk adds decorative effect to the sides and base of the garment.

Yarn and pattern available in kit form in any of Lara Downs Shades.

>>> Striped Wraps using Yarn Harmony Quartet Kits ©Lara Downs

Kid Mohair & Silk combination wraps

Liz (left) looks fabulous in this lovely, light triangular wrap knitted using our Yarn Harmonies Quartet pack in 'Lilactime'.

At right she models a rectangular wrap in Sophisti-cat, also from the Lara Downs Quartet range. (named after our lovely puss called Sophie who inspired the lovely brown/black combo.)

More info about Yarn Harmony knitting kits on our Yarns page.

>>>Neck Huggers ©Lara Downs


'Show off' in Jade, Lavender & Claret	'Glamorous' in Wild berries, Deep Peach & Deep Purple.	Rear view of 'Glamorous' showing Mother of Pearl button feature.	'Short & Frilly' in Amberglow, Wild Berries & Panther.

Neck Huggers offer an exciting alternative to the scarf and are quick & easy to knit. There are three pattern variations, each of which combines three unique colours to create an individual look. Select any three colours from our 2 ply Angoraglow colour range or order a special Hugger Kit which includes 20 gms of each selected color plus pattern. (Buttons are an optional extra). See our Yarn page for some other Hugger Kit colour combinations.

>>>Fine brushed Kid mohair & merino Mini-Wrap

This Mini-Wrap has been knitted using our 2 ply brushed kid mohair & merino yarn in "Forest" with striped feature using "Chocolate " and "Sand". The wrap is a simple rectangle knitted to size to suit the wearer. Knitted in rib, the article stretches and drapes beautifully. Kit includes main shade plus two contrasting shades. Choose from Forest Chocolate or Sand for the main shades. Kit consists of 1 x 25 gm ball + small quantities of other shades for contrast.= $9.


>>>>	Lace Wrap.....(pictured right & below)

A stunningly beautiful hand knitted lace wrap created using our own "Angoraglow" 2 ply yarn. Luxurious to handle and wear, this unique garment uses 100% fine kid mohair .

Available in natural lustrous "Pearl" or select from our other yarn shades. Catherine admires herself wearing our lace wrap in "Blood Red ". Available as a completed garment. $150.00 or in Kit form $50.

>>> MOHAIR FUR - "Capralana" Coat Collar

FUR WITHOUT GUILT

This sensational design by Megan Cleland provides us girls yearning for luxury and sumptuous fur like qualities, with a guilt free option.

Featuring mohair curls which have been shorn from Angora goats in the usual pain free manner, leaving them with their skin in tact, free to roam and grow another coat.

The curls are then knitted into a fabric using a pure wool yarn.

Wonderfully warm

all natural AND guilt free !

Special thanks to our lovely model Liz.

FUR WITHOUT GUILT

Available in natural pearly white or hand dyed to order.

Consider either natural shades or

a shade to match your favoured outfit.

For more details about any of our handcraft products, including prices, email us at mohairproducts@lara-downs.com.au or refer to our contacts page.

>>>> Embroidery

Lara Downs Fine Kid mohair embroidery threads have been used in the samplers below to demonstrate the variety of stitch possible and the fine gradation of shades available in this lovely range of 80 colours. Many thanks to Cindy Thompson of Cindersplace for these beautiful and intricate samplers (shown much larger than actual size). The full range of embroidery thread shades can be viewed on our yarns page.

Beautiful rose design

in bullion stitch.

A series of canvas work stitches using Lara Downs Fine Kid Mohair.

Silk Ribbon is becoming increasingly popular in embroidery. Our shades are hand dyed on 8 mm ribbon. $1.75/mt.

>>>>Felting & felting supplies. The basis of any successful piece of felting is wool because it binds together so well. More slippery fibres like silk and mohair can be used very successfully in felting either by using thin layers of fine wool over the top of the silk or mohair layers, to hold them in place or by using products such as Lara Downs' combined merino/mohair top (50/50 blend) which is a new product in our range. Lara Downs offers all four top products ie merino wool, tussah silk, mohair and merino/mohair top. In addition we also offer super long mohair curls as something different in the felting range. All of these products are available (to order) in any of Lara Downs' shades (see yarns page). While most of our wool top is naturally white and is sourced from Merino sheep, we also buy in small lots of naturally coloured wool and wool blends for their special darkers tones not available in the hand dye range.

Also new to our range are silk tissue lengths in either wrap or scarf widths dyed in any shade selected from our yarn range, as well as thin silk strips in mixed blended shades. We also offer silk hankies in wild mixed shades which our customers at Fitzroy seem to have appreciated. Not in standard shades, these will be photographed in batches and offered as one off products through the web.

>>>>>> Fine Merino Wool top - hand dyed shade samples:


Nature No.30	Kangeroo Paw No 66	Parakeet No 38	Seagreen No 53B	Bird of Paradise No 8	Rain forest No 61	Jade No.2.

Sophisticat - No 3	Blood Orange No.72	Gala No 64.	Masquerade No 6.	Purple Fusion No 68.	Cheer No. 69	Splendor No 7.

Ladylike No 73	Tabrizi No 70	Turkish Delight No 47	Blueberry No 1.	Damask Rose No 39.	Wild Thing No 35	Pink Fusion No 65

Rio No 4.	Rich Earth No.44	Natural brown Merino No 33	Honeyblonde No 43-1	Marakesh No 40	Spun Gold No 29	Natural Brown Corriedale No 33A

>>>>>> Silk Top - Tussah silk is available hand dyed in any of our Yarn range set out on our yarns page. Some are shown below.

Silk top is sold by weight @ 25 cents per gram.


Rich Earth No 44	Masquerade No 6.	Rio No 4.	Bird of Paradise No 8.	Sophisticat No 3.	Nature No 30.

>>>>>>Mohair Top - is available hand dyed in any of our yarn range set out on our yarns page. Sold by weight. Mohair has a lovely sheen, more subtle than silk but behaves in a similar manner in felting, being a smooth & slippery fibre. Please note that the numbered shades shown below are selected from our current shade options.


Exotic No.9	Peacock No 48	Spicey No 56	Pat's Pink No 50 S	Stormy Seas No 58

Splendor No 7	Nature No 30.	Sensation No 60	Rich Earth No 44	Sophisticat No 3.

		Rainforest No 61	Maypole No 116

>>>>>>Double Felter's Delight (Super fine Merino & Mohair blended top 50/50 ratio)- NEW to Lara Downs - our own home grown fibres.

Now available hand dyed in any of our yarn range shades set out on our yarns page or see some of those shades in wool, silk & mohair top above. The actual top is shown below .


Wild Thing No 35	Parakeet No 38	Fabio 162	Aussie Sunset No 23	Splendor No 7

Blue Satin No 55	Pink Marble No 5	Yum No 114	Ethereal No 53	Regal No 71

Outback 21	Gumleaf 120	Autumn No 37	Lush No 75	Drama No106

	May pole 116	Itali 160	Firebird No 62

>>>>>>Triple Felter's Delight (Merino, Mohair & Silk).

Three separate fibres sold as a combined pack consisting of 100 gms of wool top, 30 gms mohair top & 20 gms silk top, all dyed in a single colourway.

"Nature" is displayed in three fibres at right.

Nuno felted wrap by Catherine Byatt modelled on the cat walk at the Bendigo Sheep Show.

Felted hat by Catherine Byatt featuring Merino and Mohair Top

Feedback from Felters "Earlier this year I bought some lovely mohair top from you at the Beechworth Convergence. I have used what I had as a top layer on superfine merino shawls to give that lovely lustre to the felt. I dyed a little bit of it but mostly have used it white for a series..some nuno style and some light felt. The mohair is great for a fine piece because it is so warm and strong and shiny, without the bulk, so I end up with a very drapable flexible shawl" – Kay Jack, Queensland.

(One of Kay's felted shawls is modelled above by Wendy ).

Needle Felting sampler

>>>>>>Fine Merino Wool and Silk Lap - Great for Felting and Spinning (New)

Merino Wool and Silk 50/50 blend Lap .

Lap is supplied in a long roll approx 2.5 mts long and available in full width or half width. Perfect for quick & easy cobweb felt, but also for general felting purposes and spinning. Super soft and with wonderful lustre. The fibres hold together during dyeing, and are easily drawn, separated or spread either wet or dry, depending on use.

STOP PRESS

We are thrilled to have our lovely lap featured in the latest edition of Felt magazine (June 2010). See the article about making a cobweb felt scarf/wrap.

For those able to access our outlet at Precious Purl, the actual scarf is now on display in the shop.

Many thanks to the lovely ladies at 'Felt' for taking an interest in this new product.

Supplied in either natural or in any Lara Downs colourway. (Photo of lap at right in "Wild Thing ". Completed wrap above using "Africa' colourway.) See note below**

An exciting new product for felting experimentation.

125 gram full roll $34.00 (Suits full wrap)

Half roll (lengthwise) $17.50 (enough to make one Cobweb felt scarf).

Now also available in smaller lots. Priced by weight 35 cents per gram - 10, 20 and 30 gram packs now in store. Our new name for the lap - "Felt & Spin Dream" and it is very dreamy !

** Important note when ordering Lap. As with hand dyed yarn, the Lara Downs Lap can be ordered as a random dyed mix with a specific colourway name eg Africa & Wild Thing as above OR you may request these same colourways, but presented in their separate (contributing) colours as semi-solid shades dyed along the length of the lap. This will enable fibre artists to use the colours as they wish in their art work rather than being bound by the random colour effect as above. This is referred to as the semi solid method of dyeing eg a semi-solid version of the" Africa" lap will be a continuous and repeating sequence of brown, black and copper with some merging of colours at the margins where the colours meet. See below for more images to display this effect.

Fiesta Two No 143 (random)	Strata No 136 (random)	Brocade No 164 (random)	Yum No 114 (random)	Drama No 106 (random)

Kangaroo Paw No 66 (semi-solid)	Kangaroo Paw No 66 (random)	Africa No 96 (semi-solid)	Africa No 96 (random)	A yummy mix of lap shades

	Sophisticat No 3 (semi-solid)	Rich Earth No 44 (random))	Melbourne No xx (semi-solid)

Helen French from the Canberra Region Feltmakers group has kindly supplied the following images from her recent exhibition.

These images all employ Lara Downs Merino/Silk hand dyed lap.

>>>>>Mohair Pearls: We describe our curly kid mohair as pearls because of their similar luxury image to that of the real pearl as well as for their pearl-like colour and lustre. Our mohair pearls are offered for sale in their raw natural state and also in many hand dyed hues. Please order pearls by shade name using our order form or indicate if you would like a random mix of colours. Very small quantities of pearls can be ordered especially for doll's hair. Our Doll's page includes more colours especially selected for wig use.

Hand dyed kid mohair pearls - Solid shades (S), Random Mixes ie dyed as a single batch with multiple shades (RM) . Please note that from 2010, colours will need to be selected from our main colour chart. There are over 150 shades to choose from !


Masquerade No 6 RM	Moss No 16 S	Limeglow (S)	Blue satin No 55 RM

Red Rock No 22 S	Jade No (S)	Gold No 29 S	Elegance (RM)

>>>>Mohair Clouds (or Sliver)- hand dyed & carded kid mohair in named blends. Please note that from 2010, colours will need to be selected from our main colour chart only. Most shades below have been discontinued. New photos to follow.


Wild Skies	Stormy Seas	Regency Red	Seagold	Mother Earth

Exotic	Cherry Ripe	Earth Tones	Sultry	Precious opals

>>>Pure silk wrap lengths, scarf lengths and strips for felting

Superb floating silk,

now even longer. Hand dyed

in any of Lara Downs' shades. Also available in natural or black.

Silk tissue left in "Parakeet and right "Siena"

Use the colours already there to inspire your felting. Try using a blend of fine mohair and merino top to lightly felt the edges or larger areas. This will give a superbly soft and luxurious feel to the whole garment.

Wrap length 2.25 mts x 90cm = $26.50

Scarf length 2.25 mts x 45 cm = $14.

Silk strips also 2.25mts long x 5 cm wide also available. $10.95 per pack.

More silk tissue shades

Left "Africa" and right "Indigo"

More shades shown below under Felter's Wrap Kit section .

>>> Felter's Wrap Packs consist of 1 silk tissue wrap length & 100 gms of merino/mohair (or pure merino) top in colour shades of choice presented in boxed gift pack.

Examples below:


Silk in Pat's Pink 50S + Top in Pink Fusion 65	Silk in Parakeet 38 + Top in Zen 77	Silk & Top in Purple Fusion 68

Silk in Olive16 S, + Top in Choc Brown 33	Silk in Orange Zest 64 S + Top in Rio 4	Silk in- Purple Fusion 68 + Top in Purple Haze 51

Silk & Top in Ethereal 53	Silk in Brown Coal 74S + Top in Sophisticat.3	Silk & Top in Autumn 37

>>> Silk Hankies for spinning , felting & embellishment.

Glorious colour in wisps of fibre - stretch out, cut, spin, lay over other fibres and stitch etc. You can do anything with these hankies - except use them for a cold !!

Order by Lara Downs colourway or random selection. Available in 4 gm and 10 gm packs.

>>> Fabulous Fibre Packs for Felting and/or Embellishing. (New)

Pack 1: M & M's Merino wool and Mohair curls dyed in matching shades. The natural texture of the fibre is still present and makes great textural additions to felting projects. Small M & M packs $4 for 20 gms . Hand dyed merino wool packs 50 gms $6.00. Large 50 gm M&Ms $7.50 For larger quantities please enquire.		Pack 2: Fibre Fantasy Mixed media packs including wool or mohair and/or alpaca top, silk or mohair yarns, silk hankies, mohair curls and other assorted bits & pieces, all colour co-ordinated. Order by general colour scheme. $19.95 large, or $9.95 (medium ) or mini $5.
More Fibre Fantasy packs (med) are shown below. Order by generic colouring eg blues, reds, purple/reds etc. Large packs based on 50 gms of top plus embellishments. Medium packs based on 25 gms of top plus embellishments. Mini packs based on 12 gms of top.


Opposite and below is a fabulous example of what can be created using Lara Downs Embellishing products. Danise Challis has created this amazing scarf using both felting and embellishing techniques including machine embroidery to secure all fibres. The scarf was created using merino wool top, mohair curls, rainbow threads, silk strips and hankies and other bits & pieces . More embellishing products can be viewed on our Knitting yarn page

>>>Ring shawls for hand dyeing

These beautiful 100% kid mohair shawls, knitted in exquisite pattern using super fine 1 ply yarn, are available in natural undyed form for hand dyeing. Use any dye suitable for protein fibres.

Mohair will last more than a life time if well cared for, so create your own family heirloom with this beautiful product.

>>>Making Mohair 'Paper'. NB: Sheets of mohair paper now available for purchase

I first became aware of silk 'paper' when I purchased the lovely book entitled Take Silk by Judith Pinnell, Milner Craft Series 2001. It explores the means by which Silk Top can be transformed into thin cohesive layers like the real paper, which can then be used in all manner of creative forms.

As a lover of mohair, I wondered if this same technique could be applied to mohair. The simple answer is YES. It works superbly and gives magnificent results with very little effort. Try combining both silk and mohair for dazzling effects.

Pictured here are two sheets of mohair paper.

>>>A note for Hand Spinners

Hand spinners may wish to spin directly from greasy mohair fleeces.We can supply a wide range of mohair classes from the super fine to coarser Adult fibre, in greasy form Alternatively spinners may prefer cleaned and carded Mohair Top. Spinning from our hand dyed and colour blended 'Clouds' is also a lot of fun and makes for very interesting and unique yarn. (see our Yarns & fibres page). We also supply 19 micron white merino fibre by the kilo or whole fleece, with only our best fleeces being selected for this market. Please note that we do not rug our sheep and as a consequence, there will be a significant amount of dust or dirt as well as natural grease etc in the fibre. However we take care to remove all stain and as much of the vegetable fault as possible. Fleeces can be inspected at Fitzroy prior to sale. By all means take a small sample to try before buying. We want you to be happy with your purchase.

New for Spinners & Felters: Super Fine Merino and Silk blend lap(or roving). Can be spun just like top. See Felting section above. Order hand dyed or natural.

Whatever your needs, please contact us and we will try to provide whatever you need in the way of mohair or merino fibre.

Feedback from client Lisa P in relation to the Geelong Show 2007. " I entered a skein of your Mohair in the Woolcraft section : Hand spun Mohair. I won the class and then went on to win Best Exhibit with it for the overall Skein section. I was very happy because normally "creative" skeins win the Best Exhibit, but your mohair spun up very well and very soft and because I naturally spin fine, the judges thought it was deserving of the overall Best Exhibit prize". Congratulation to Lisa on her wonderful win.

Send any enquiry via our contacts page.

Return to Home Page to locate our order form and price list.

>>> A note for Hand Weavers & Machine Knitters

Hand weavers & machine knitters will find that a number of yarns featured on our knitting yarn page, will also be suitable for weaving and/or machine knitting and can be supplied on cone. Samples of yarns can be supplied with full specifications for $10 including postage. This payment will be treated as a credit against any follow up order for yarn. Contact us about your weaving yarn needs.

Now available: Silk one ply and Angoraglow Kid Mohair 2 ply yarns on cone for weavers & machine knitters. Please enquire about pricing.