Satin vs. English

Busy day Sunday:

9 AM – 11 AM: Bake apple pies.

11 - Noon o’clock: Get ready to leave.

Noon-thirty – 1:30 PM: Look at rabbits!

Today, Crystal is letting Jason and I look at her rabbits. Fortunately, she lives a hop, skip and a jump away from Jason in the Renton Highlands. It took us three, maybe five minutes at the most, to drive to her place.

We decided to match by wearing flannel shirts – mine was grass green and celadon, and Jason wore his twilight blue Pendleton, and we both topped it with knitted hats I made. We were like mismatched socks that still fit perfectly.

Crystal’s house sat on top of a decently sized lot encased by a wire fence. Three Rottweilers and a tiny Dachshund greeted us at the gate, barking at our feet. She was a younger breeder, maybe eighteen or nineteen years old. Her mother, also a breeder, showed us her three week old rabbits. She let me hold them so I picked up a chocolate bunny and cradled it close to my chest. I stroked its back gently since it was no bigger than my itty bitty hand. I looked at Jason, unable to stop gushing and cooing every five seconds. But it wasn’t long before it wanted to commit bunny suicide by jumping from my hand to the floor. I was able to catch it before the four-foot fall would’ve marked the end of its life and decided it would be best to put it back in its cage.

Once we broke away from the baby bunnies, Crystal took us to the backyard to see the rest of her rabbits. There were about ten, each in individual cages, stacked on top another, and a handful on the ground that she was holding for fellow breeders. My eyes were distracted by the cute and rather smelly bunnies. Their metal cages with the pull-out poop compartments reminded me of my own rabbits when I was a child, Spanky and Flopsy, gifted to me by an auntie obsessed with bunnies.

Then I saw him, Vanilla Bean. I recognized him from the picture Crystal sent me of her REW English angora. At this point, I was on the fence between the English and the Satin, but upon seeing this furry creature, felt like the English breed was what I needed: something with a lot of wool, a compact size and sweet temperament. And I heard the fluff is amazing.

Crystal pulled the little guy out of the cage by the extra skin on his neck. She held the white rabbit in her arms as tufts of hair scattered all over her grey shirt. “That happens a lot,” she said as she scanned her chest. “We pull it off or use a lint roller, but we always save them.” I smiled and reached out to touch the rabbit. There was no exaggeration to it. The wool was soft, airless. I felt the rabbit’s bones as I petted underneath its coat and wondered about its body to wool ratio – 1:3, at least. With how much it fluffs, I marveled at how much fiber I could get from it. Enough to make a hat with after a few months, maybe? Who knows? Who cares? I think my mind is set on what I want.

Presenting, Crystal's English angora, Vanilla Bean: 

However, Crystal expressed she was unsure she wanted to sell her only REW English angora. With the tender way she petting him, I couldn’t tear her away from a loved pet. That’s inhumane. I told her to show me her Satin angoras instead, though I had no interest in them. I knew what breed I wanted. So she pointed to a neighboring cage with two rabbits, one smoke and the other a cinnamon. They were jerky and I was afraid they’d bite me. The colors were beautiful and the wool matted nicely on its back, but after seeing Vanilla Bean I was not willing to be swayed.

Something more local

Woot-woot! Anne Ott referred me to a breeder in Seattle named Crystal. Crystal, with her lovely website, breeds two angora rabbits, Satin and English. Though I don’t know too much about their differences, this is what Google and looking through tons of breeder websites has taught me:

English: Incredibly soft fibers that have a halo, or ethereal, look to them. There is a lot of fluff so a lot to make yarn with. They are also the smallest out of the four breeds, weighing between 5 to 7.5 pounds when they are matured. Additionally, their most distinguishing feature is the furry tendrils that cover their eyes and cascade past their loppy ears – which none of the other breeds have. Meaning, they are all fluff, like a cotton ball.

Satin: Their colors are more varied (I’m not sure why) than the German. The wool is soft with more guard hairs, meaning they don’t shed as much as the English angoras and their coat is easir to maintain. The wool is a lot finer and has a satin sheen to them. Because their wool is less dense, it yields less than the other breeds. It is second smallest to the English angora. 

So the question is this: what do I want in a rabbit?

Regardless, I am floating. Floating in a sea of furry bunnies as they jump in mid-air around me as I skip in a field of wild flowers, a rabbit on each arm.

Go-ats

I sound like a broken record. Every time Jason and I talk, it’s always about rabbits. So I researched breeds of dairy “goh-ats” and chickens, any Craigslist listings of the animals in Bellingham or Seattle and put all the information in an e-mail for Jason to read after he got home from work. He lets me talk about rabbits every time we chat on the phone, I figure I would show him some interest in goats since he's shown interest, or at least a tolerance, to this rabbit business.

Bleeaat!

On the Hunt

I received my first response on my rabbit quest. A woman who breeds Satin angoras. Found her website after putting in the Google search engine “Angora rabbits in WA.” Anne Ott of Irish Rose Rabbitry highly recommended Satin angoras, praising them for easy grooming and rich colors. They mat, so she brushes her rabbits regularly – a couple times a week. Here are pictures she sent of her new kit - a litter of baby bunnies.

The major downside? She is 20 miles north of Spokane. From Bellingham, she is 5 hours and 59 minutes. From Renton, she is closer – 4 hours and 39 minutes. If I had a car, it would be okay. I would make the trip to get a rabbit, if it was the one I wanted. However, Jason wouldn't. Even if his car wasn’t on the verge of choking out, he still wouldn’t do it.

“But her rabbits start at $20 a pop,” my voice twinged into a whine. “We could get a Mr. BunBuns for cheaper.”

“Not with the cost of gas getting there and back. It’ll end up being at least $60, since she said they started at $20. We wouldn’t be saving money.”

I let a loud “humph” be heard over the phone. Five days out of the week, Jason and I are apart. I’m in Bellingham while he stays in Renton. I knew he would not want to spend half of the limited time we have each week in the car. Neither would I.

“And baby,” he continued, “the lot isn’t cleared out yet. Remember, we can’t get any animals until we’ve fixed it up.”

“But Mr. BunBuns…”

“You’ve named it already?”

“No. It’s my placeholder name for my future bunny. Like John Doe or Jane Doe.”

Jason let out a little laugh, “you’re so cute.” He smacked kisses over the receiver and I smacked back.

UPDATE:

A second breeder from Skagit County raises Satin angoras. Donna Schnoover of Schnoover Farms pretty much said the same thing as Anne – the Satins have richer colors with a great sheen with sweeter temperaments.

            Maybe Satin is the way to go?

It is complete!

            Just finished hat number nine. (Or is it 10?) It’s for Alex, my cousin’s boyfriend - black with red speckles in the brim. Following is pattern for a regular beanie and/or slouch.

Simple  Beanie:

1.      Do a swatch. Calculate number of stitches per inch.

2.      Take a tape measure and measure circumference of your head. Subtract 1.5 inches. (Two inches is okay. It will keep the hat snug on your head.)

3.      Take the number from step 1 and multiply it by the subtracted number from step 2. This will be the number you cast on with.

a.       For example: 4 stitches in one inch x 18 inches in circumference = 72 stitches

4.      Add an extra stitch when knitting on two circular needles. When you knit in the round, number of stitches will go back to 72.

5.      Make a 1x1 rib. Knit 1, Purl 1. Repeat to the end of the round. Knit ribbing for 1 inch.

6.      Knit for 5 inches, measuring from the cuff.

7.      Decrease to make the crown:

a.       72 stitches – knit 10, knit 2 together*, repeat.

b.      Knit round.

c.       K9, k2tog*, repeat. – 60 stitches

d.      Knit round.

e.       K8, k2tog*, repeat. – 48 stitches

f.       Knit round.

g.      K7, k2tog*, repeat. – 36 stitches

h.      Knit round.

i.        K6, k2tog*, repeat. – 24 stitches

j.        Knit round.

k.      While stitches are on needle, cut a 8 inch long string. With a tapestry needle thread through remaining stitches and pull tight.

l.        Weave in ends.


Ta-dah!

Personal Ad

Just talked with Karen and the girls at NW Handspun Yarns in downtown. They told me to e-mail the local spinners and knitters in Bellingham called the SpinDrifters. So mystical. So creative. So awesome. I told them I was on the hunt for an angora rabbit and a lady suggested I make a saucy personal ad to put on the SpinDrifters Newsletter.

Presenting, my rabbit personal ad:

Lonely college student seeks attractive Angora rabbit. Willing to brush for long hours anytime, anywhere. Buck (or doe) must be lovable, sweet-tempered, gentle, and unafraid of cuddling in bed. Mostly importantly, always generous with their wool.

Oh, how I will miss Bellingham when I graduate.

11 PM to late late at night...

Not every rabbit breed was created equal. Only a few breeds that make angora wool, much like the goat breeds.

There are four fluffy rabbits that I can choose from – German, French, Satin and English.

I can tell you one that I already don’t want:

The German Angora, a.k.a. GIANT!

Like its name, it is HUGE. Just look at it! It can weigh up 13 pounds. That is more than I weighed when I was born. Nearly twice. It’s more of a mutant rabbit than anything else. But, it doesn’t molt, shed or leave any of its lovely fibers lying about. German angoras need to be sheared so they end up like (almost) hairless Siamese cats with a white lion’s mane - a funny upside, if you like to embarrass your pet. 
 

But just like school buses that come only in Twinkie orange, German angoras are white with ruby eyes, a la Bunnicula.

So a fat, over-sized, rabid-eyed German angora is not what I want.

Now, only three to choose from.

Angora comes from...

Rabbits. I’ve got rabbits on my noggin. Random rabbits running around in my apartment. Hopping, scouring my 500-square-foot apartment with their furry paws. Little rabbits. Lovely rabbits. Mine. All mine.

My own. My…precious…BunBuns!

Jason and I have just finished watching the second Lord of the Rings. Something at Helm’s Deep.

I Want Wool

Between classes…

Texted Jason about getting a puppy. Denied. Then I offered sexual favors for it.

Still denied. 

I just want an animal. 

My parents' dog, Cow, when she was 8 weeks old. If you squint and look at the black and white blob behind her, that is Oreo, Cow's sister. Also my parents'. But guessed who named Cow? (Me.)

After classes…

Then I remembered Karen. Knitter, spinner, accountant from NW Handspun Yarns in downtown. A couple weeks ago, she showed me a picture of Harvey, a long-haired, furry, REW (ruby-eyed white) rabbit she bought from a woman in some yarn show. Fifteen bucks. Harvey is an angora rabbit, English was its specific breed. I had no idea what she meant. English, Scottish, Latin. Ethnic background was no significance to me. 
She typed English angora into the Google search engine and I stared at the image she showed me. The rabbit was drowning in fur, and as large as a fat cat or a fluffed out yappy dog. Its eyes were shielded by its fringe of wool that cascaded to his little nose. Furry tendrils fell from his loppy ears. In all his fluffy estate, the rabbit was not cute to look at.

“How much wool is on him?”

“Too much. I have to brush him 2-3 times a week.” Her gestures were exasperated, pantomiming how she’d brush her rabbit, Harvey, at night. “I have to turn him over on his back,” her hands moved counter-clockwise forming a circle, “and brush his belly,” an invisible brush stroked along a horizon, “and cut mats that have poo and dirt," her index and middle fingers sliced the air like a pair of scissors. "But he gives me a lot of wool.”

“So you don’t have to kill it to get its wool?” I imagined his clean coat streaked with red guts.

Karen laughed. “No, brushing or shearing gets the wool out.”

Listening to her gave me an idea, a way to feed my knitting addiction that I developed only since last July when I spent hours after work learning how to knit hats and scarves in front of the TV that I was not paying attention to.  

I grabbed my phone and told Jason about Karen and Harvey.

“Angora rabbits. That’s where angora comes from. Angora is really expensive. And soft. Remember, it was the halo-looking stuff  I put in my brown hat? That fluffy stuff that made it look ethereal?”

Jason said a little “uh-huh” whenever I took a breath from talking.

“So, can I have one?”

“Would we be able to eat it when we’re done?” His loud chuckle reverberated over the cellphone waves.

“No! We won’t eat him, we’ll just use him. For wool.”

“I still want to eat him.”

“Look, if you’re getting an animal, then I would like one too. A rabbit. It’ll be smaller than a bleating goat and less noisier than a clucking chicken.”
“Fine, but only after we clear the lot.”

Dairy Goats Revisited

Dammit. Jason was right.

There are dairy goats then there are wool goats. There’s a goat page at Purdue University that talks about the different dairy goat breeds registered with the American Dairy Goat Association. The ADGA. None of them are used for wool. The goats (or as Jason calls them, “goh-ats”) used for wool are the angora and the cashmere. Wikipedia states the Angora has “long, curling, lustrous locks of mohair.” Mohair yarn. (I have an itchy azure ball of yarn somewhere in my room. Now I know from whence it came.) Then cashmere, one of the most expensive natural fibers, that Wikipedia says is very “fine and soft.” However, the angora and cashmere goats aren't used for dairy.

To be honest, I don't really want a fiber goat. They're a little big and I'd rather have something smaller, lovable, like a puppy. Plus, I don't drink their milk.

Dairy Goats

After class, Jason called and asked me how I felt about goats. I told him I didn’t, except in my belly after I eat them. I smacked my lips and rubbed my belly, though he couldn’t see through the phone. He continued, ignoring my very funny humor, and told me the family he lives with has a bit of land outside their fence full of sticker bushes and nasty roots. He just cleared a part of it in the last few hours and wants to turn it a little project.

“It’s a pretty nice sized lot right, too. And when I get it cleared up, we could have a goat or a chicken. Or both, if you want to.”

“And why do you want a goat?”

“For cheese and milk. Duh!”

Last month Jason and I made baked brie with goat cheese. Presenting, said cheese:

It was under baked and not very good. The taste was sharp with a strong “goaty” bite, and I was tickled with the sensation to bleat.

Unless we killed it for its meat, I was not excited to have dairy goat anything. But before I knocked his enthusiasm for a hairy addition to our family, I realized goats had another use that didn’t involve being eaten or milked. Their fibers, like sheep and alpacas, are used for spinning all the time. As a six-month-old knitter, this was great news for me. I’ve always been interested in knowing how to spin and dye wool. Maybe one day I could stop relying on yarn stores to feed my yarn addiction because I would be producing yarn myself, for myself. With a hairy addition I could learn how to spin. This equals lots of wool. Wool equals yarn. Goat’s cheese or milk, I wanted some yarn.

“If we have the goat for milk,” I asked, “could we use it for wool, too?”

“I don’t think there is a breed of goat for both wool and dairy. If we get a dairy goat, it’d be lousy for wool. And the other way around.”

That wasn’t the answer I was looking for. I didn’t trust his word, maybe because I really wanted something to feed my yarn addiction. The large pink basket full of brightly colored balls of wool in my closet would say the same thing. I became optimistic and wondered if someone has bred a wool-dairy goat hybrid.

“If I research and look at the breeds of goat and do find one good for dairy and fiber, then could I use it for wool?” I smiled, big, forgetting again my girlish charms didn’t really work over the phone.

“We’ll see what you find out.”

“Deal.”