Cashmere: Fibre Guide for Knitters and Crocheters
Cashmere comes from the soft undercoat of the cashmere goat, combed out (not sheared) during a natural molt each year — a labor-intensive harvest that produces a comparatively small amount of usable fibre per animal, and is the core reason cashmere commands such a real, consistent price premium over sheep's wool.
Exceptionally soft and warm for its weight
Cashmere fibre is finer than even fine Merino wool, which is what gives it its signature next-to-skin softness, and it traps air efficiently enough to feel warmer than its light weight would suggest. A cashmere garment can feel noticeably warmer than a wool piece of similar weight and thickness, a real, physical property of the fibre rather than a marketing claim.
Why cashmere pills
Cashmere's very fineness — the same trait that makes it so soft — also makes individual fibres more prone to breaking and migrating to the fabric surface under friction, where they tangle into visible pills. This is a genuine, expected trade-off of the fibre rather than a sign of poor quality; even a well-made, expensive cashmere garment will pill with wear at friction points like underarms or where a bag strap sits.
Why it's usually blended
Because pure cashmere is both expensive and comparatively fragile relative to sturdier fibres, it's very commonly blended rather than used at full strength in every project — wool contributes structure and lowers the cost, while silk brings a lustrous sheen and extra drape to the finished fabric. Even a modest cashmere percentage in a blend measurably softens the finished fabric's hand.
Care
Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry — cashmere's fine fibre is genuinely more delicate than standard wool and benefits from gentler handling throughout, from washing through storage (moth protection matters more here than for most fibres, given the value at stake).
Where cashmere goats are raised
Most commercial cashmere comes from goats raised in Mongolia and parts of China, regions whose harsh winter climate is part of what drives the goats to grow such a fine, insulating undercoat in the first place — a real environmental link between climate and fibre quality, similar in kind to how Merino sheep and their grazing regions relate.
Recognizing genuine cashmere quality
Length and fineness of the individual fibre are the two real quality markers in cashmere, both harder to judge from a label alone than from handling the actual yarn — a genuinely fine, long-stapled cashmere feels noticeably softer and shows less pilling potential than a shorter, coarser cashmere sold at a similar price point. When possible, feel a yarn in person or read detailed reviews before committing to a cashmere purchase for a significant project.
Where it's used
Luxury accessories — scarves, cowls, and hats worn close to the face and neck, where cashmere's exceptional softness matters most — and blends adding a touch of cashmere's hand to a more affordable, structurally sturdier base yarn.
FAQ
Is more expensive cashmere always better quality? Generally, price does track fibre length and fineness in cashmere specifically, since shorter, coarser cashmere fibre pills and wears faster than long, fine fibre — though brand markup varies too, so price alone isn't a perfect quality signal.
Can cashmere be machine washed? Occasionally, if specifically labeled machine washable (some cashmere is treated similarly to superwash wool), but hand washing remains the safer default for untreated cashmere.
Does blending reduce cashmere's tendency to pill? Often yes — blending cashmere with a sturdier fibre like wool or nylon generally improves pill resistance compared with 100% cashmere, at some cost to the blend's overall softness.