Spinning With Dog Hair

Many breeds of dog have hair that can be spun.

Have you used dog hair for spinning fiber? Do you plan to? What breeds have you tried, and what problems have you encountered? Share your experiences here.

Tags: dog, hair, spinning

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Permalink Reply by Frances Tornese on January 28, 2011 at 11:17am

I hane not used dog hair. I just had to say that this is the cutest photo of a dog I have EVER seen.

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 28, 2011 at 11:24am

I'll pass your compliment along to Sunny! She's a handful at home, but a great therapy dog! Very affectionate, cuddly and cute!

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 28, 2011 at 11:19am

Some of you will remember my pacapoo, which was poodle combined with merino and alpaca. I only had short cuts from their grooming appointment, so I couldn't spin it alone. Here's the hat I made DH out of it:

It was 42% each white merino I dyed with Koolaid and black alpaca, and 16% poodle. I blended the fibers together using a drum carder. You can see how I did it in my blog post for November 9th ( http://community.knitpicks.com/profiles/blogs/high-fiberplaying-wit... ).

Here he is wearing it.

It's very warm, as you can imagine.

Permalink Reply by Kate Moynahan on January 28, 2011 at 11:39am

Not on purpose, but as my German shepherd dog feels it's his duty to inpect all things wool that enter the house a little bit of his fur gets in there anyway. I don't think Duke's fur has enough kink to hold together as yarn. So I will settle for hints of "His Grace" in all my projects. The hat is great and I bet it's great in the rain as well.

Permalink Reply by Phyllis D. Wright on January 28, 2011 at 11:55am

Now, I know I'm loosing it. Sitting here trying to think which breed would be best to buy as a pet so that I can trim the coat every year to get more yarn for projects. Please do not report me for such a thought I'll bet ages ago it was common among women to push for the dogs the had the best coats for making yarn so that they could keep busy during the winter months.

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 28, 2011 at 12:01pm

It beats taking a sheep for a walk!

Permalink Reply by KnitWhich? on January 28, 2011 at 11:52am

I haven't actually spun dog hair, but my dogs shed enough to be able to make several hats! Actually, my DH and I have been discussing spinning dog hair for longer than I've been spinning. He has a friend who used to spin her dogs' hair (I think it was malamute). I'd actually like to try it. I have a Lab, a Golden, and a Hound. The Lab and the Hound are shedding machines, but their hair is short - 1" or so. The Golden has longer hair, but doesn't shed as much. Since none of them (except maybe the Golden) like being brushed, it is hard to 'harvest' clean hair. I can get LOTS from the floor, though! (LOL)

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 28, 2011 at 12:00pm

I have heard of people spinning the hair of Goldens. My DSIL had a pillow woven from the hair of their first dog, Nicky, who was a Samoyed. a Friend spun it and wove it for her.

Permalink Reply by KnitWhich? on January 28, 2011 at 12:08pm

My DH's friend's dog may have been Samoyed. I know he did have a friend with a talking Samoyed, but whether that was the same dog, I don't know. Once, when my DH was at a cook out, he had the last hamburger and went around to everyone asking if they "want one?". When he got to the dog, she said, clear as a bell, "wanwon"! She got it.

Permalink Reply by Peggy Stuart on January 28, 2011 at 12:13pm

Our Indonesian cat knew one word: "mau," which is Indonesian for "want." She only used it when she wanted something.

Permalink Reply by Beverly Roberts on January 29, 2011 at 8:13am