This isn't like astrakhan as I remember the real thing - but that was a cruel product, and this Astra fabric is wonderful! It's supremely soft to the touch, with a fluffy texture that invites you to wrap yourself in it. The pile's dense because the fibres are curled back on themselves. Very comforting for a chilly day!

I bought this to back a winter wheelchair quilt, as I wanted something really soft and warm, and with a colour that was good for visibility. It's utterly delightful. I should note that I bought an ivory astra scarf in a later sale which is a slightly different fabric, so I'm not sure which one is still being sold, but they're similar and both lovely. It's a nice cream, light but with that rich colour, and the curly coat effect is luxurious. It has good drape, and the ridges on the back of the knitted fabric make it easy to see where to make your cuts. I'm sewing by hand and it all went absolutely fine, even the basting, where a slippery fabric can be tricky. The quilt spends most of its time being an extra layer in bed, furry side up at night so it won't slip off, and the cat loves to come and have a cuddle on it in the morning. When I use it as a wheelchair quilt, it's wonderful for keeping my legs warm even on a bitterly cold day. The leftover pieces got turned into little infinity scarves for me and for my best friend, and they're delightful, very stylish and cosy. The pile is long enough to be warm, but not long enough that you have the fur getting in the way. I'm petite and it's a good scale on me, where a longer fur would swamp me. The scarf was given to my besf friend for her birthday last December, as she was on her way home to the Western Isles, and she said it was perfect for keeping her warm on the ferry crossing.