Kelly Rand
I’m not entirely convinced that this yarn is yearn worthy, but it certainly has earned a mention. Yes my friends, you can have your dog’s hair spun into usable/workable skeins of yarn. Not only is it a seemingly sustainable source of fiber, it is also taking “waste” and turning it into something usable.
This yarn starts with a simple grooming. Just brush your dog and save up the softer hair. The hairs best for spinning are those found along your dog’s flank, sides and shoulders. Depending on the project you might have in mind for your dog yarn, you’ll need to collect between 4 to 48 ounces of fiber.
There are several companies that will take the collected fur and then spin in into whichever weight you want; from lace to sport weight. The process is very similar to spinning wool into yarn. The fibers are washed and carded to prepare for spinning. The result is a thin and very soft yarn similar to alpaca. The fiber is spun into single strands then piled for strength, as this fiber is short and prone to breakage.
Since all the fiber is washed thoroughly, there is no “dog” smell. All breeds can be used to create this yarn, but some are easier than others.
You can send your fiber to VIP Fibers, Betty Burian Kirk, Fox Meadow Croft, or follow the directions from Ezine to spin your own.
[Image from Fox Meadow Croft website]
What a cool (and somehow it struck me as funny too) idea! My dog likes to roll in dead and/or poopy things so I’m not sure I like the idea of her fur as yarn necessarily. *grin* But, it’s still cool!
That’s interesting! I’ve made felt from shed rabbit fur and it turned out beautifully, but yarn would be more useful.
I will check back, but does anyone want a 30 gallon bag of silver Standard hair? It is clean, not tangled etc