Cheingora, Green Fiber for Handspun Yarn
How to Recycle Your Dog’s Fur Into Yarn Crocheting and Knitting
Jun 26, 2009
How Cheingora is Good for the Environment
Some folks are concerned about the carbon footprint that the wool industry leaves, but they will always have their faithful companions, so using their dog's own renewable resource to make hand knitting and crochet yarn is a natural choice for them.
The Origin of the Name
"Cheingora" is the name favored by enthusiasts because it encompasses the essence of the product. "Chein" is French for dog, and this portion of the word lends a sense of luxury to it, while "gora" speaks of how soft it is. Dogs offering the best fur are generally long haired and come from cooler regions. For example, the Alaskan Malamute and Chow each have long, soft undercoats that are wonderful to spin and super soft to wear. The shorter hair from most breeds can be used but it must be blended with sheep wool before it can be spun.
How to Collect the Fiber
Most dogs "blow" their coat twice a year. This is the best time to gather the fur because it can be plucked out in locks. If you can gather the fur this way, then it will be unnecessary to card the fiber before spinning. If your dog's fur is longer than two inches, you can use a steel comb. This is a tool used by groomers to brush out the hair that is not loose enough to pluck. A slicker brush is all you need for the shorter hair breeds.
The Drop Spindle
If you have never spun yarn, most experts recommend that you begin on a drop spindle. The spindle is lightweight and it can be made at home out of a few inexpensive pieces that are probably lying around anyway, which means more recycling for you! Here are some easy to follow instructions for making the spindle. If you use a spindle, spinning wool can be done almost anywhere, including on a long car ride. Here you will find a good tutorial for using the drop spindle.
You can expect to get 150 to 200 yards of finger weight yarn from one ounce of your cheingora, depending on the tension you use. Be sure to keep a lot of twist in the yarn at all times because dog fur does not cling to itself like sheep wool, and it will fall apart if spun too loosely.
What to Do with the Yarn
Cheingora will knit or crochet into a very warm finished product, so it is not appropriate for every pattern. Scarves, hat and mitten sets are a good choice and so is a shawl or vest, but it is probably best to avoid making baby clothes from this yarn, since babies cannot let you know when their clothes are overheating them.Spinning wool from your own pet makes hand knitting and crocheting an especially rewarding pasttime.
