Christen Frye, age 16, of Glendale, Ariz., for her question:

WHERE DO WE GET CASHMERE WOOL?

Fine, silky Cashmere wool comes from the long haired Cashmere goat. Cashmere goats live in Tibet and India. Some have been raised in France and Germany.

The average sized goat gives only three ounces of the downy fleece

that lies under the goats long hair. This is the material used for weaving. Because each goat gives so little of the fleece, Cashmere wool is an expensive product.

The Cashmere goat is a medium sized animal. It has drooping ears and spirally twisted horns. The goats from the high plateaus and mountains are colored deep yellow. Goats that do not live in such high places are lighter colored, and those that live in the valleys and plains below the mountains are pure white.

The goats that live in cold places have the heaviest fleece. The meat of the animal can also be eaten and the milk is rich.

Cashmere wool is fine and soft. As a fabric, Cashmere has a diagonal weave. Cashmere woven with a pattern is called tapestry twill.

Sweaters, dresses and scarves are often made of cashmere.