Dog hair (called
chiengora)can be spun into yarn, much like sheeps's
wool, alpaca, or any other animal fiber. The process is
the same. Dust and oils can be washed out of the spun
hair, so there is no "doggie odor." Amazingly, the spun
yarn is warmer than wool, easy to care for, and has an
angora-like fluffy texture. Until recent times, most dog
owners didn’t realize the beauty of the colors and
texture of their dog’s hair could be used in the manner
of sheep’s wool.
It's really as
easy as brushing your dog. There are some guidelines to
getting the best and softest yarn possible. When
brushing your dog, be sure to collect from the parts
where the hair is the longest and softest. This is
undercoat. Hair must be 2 inches or longer for best
results. Hair should be clean and dry, with no grass or
debris in it. Brush the hair from the longest, softest
parts of the dog, saving only this hair. It is the
undercoat you want, not the coarse top coat. Clippings
will not work well for spinning with dogs that have
double coats. There is too much guard hair, and the yarn
quality will not be as nice as the pure undercoat.
Remove dog hair
from the brush and save it in a paper bag. Save hair
that is completely dry, and as clean as possible. (Do
not attempt to clean it once it is brushed off the dog!)
Bathe your dog first, and brush when the hair is dry.
Paper allows the fiber to “breathe” and not be trapped
with oils in a plastic bag. The best way to store the
hair from brushings, is in a paper sack, or cloth bag,
such as a pillowcase. Despite what your mother or
grandmother used to do, NEVER USE MOTH BALLS! Moth balls
contain a toxic chemical that is dangerous to breathe,
and it is impossible to remove the mothball smell from
the hair. How much do you save? It depends on what will
be made with the finished yarn. Most small projects use
about 6 ounces of hair.
Transforming dog
hair into yarn takes much time and care. First, the yarn
is evaluated for spinning. Depending on length, and how
the yarn will be used, I determine if the hair needs
blending with a soft merino wool. Blending minimizes
shedding out, and produces a more durable yarn. Although
most people want 100% of their dog's hair to be used in
a product, this isn't always possible. The dog's color
can still be seen and the fluffy texture is still
present in the finished yarn.
From this point,
the process is the same as spinning sheep's woolI use a
drum carder for the blending process. This carder has
metal teeth on it, that comb the wool, so the fibers are
lined up and ready for spinning. The fiber is lifted off
the drum carder, loosely rolled up, and set aside by the
spinning wheel.
The yarn is spun
into single strands on a spinning wheel, and then plied
for strength. The yarn is then cleaned by hand, using a
mild conditioning detergent or dog shampoo, and air
dried. It is then wound into balls or skeins and is then
ready to be knitted or crocheted into a scarf, hat,
ornament, and many other things.
Because it is
handcrafted, and personal, a chiengora gift makes a
sentimental remembrance. It is better to begin
collecting hair while your pet is healthy and younger.
People have often told me that it is comforting to have
a soft, "pettable" scarf, hat, teddy bear, or other item
made from their dog's hair, and it brings back happy
memories.
