a bit random - weaving dog hair?

merlin1

does anyone here weave? this could sound a bit wrong and random, but i'm asking due to being a member of some dog forums there people out there that weave dog hair, for jumpers that will help convalescing oldies, right through to teddies (weave and stuffing) that a person can keep as a reminder of their pet.

now i know there will be many that find it odd but i thought i'd ask cos i donate, and can donate further my lovely collies fur, he moults something chronic!!

eslick

bit wrong and random...................no surely not

merlin1

surely sooooo! honestly! :rotfl:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Afraid I'm going to be just as much (ie, none whatsoever) help - I just have mental images of smelling like a soggy lab if you go out in the rain - or if you walk past a pile of fox doodoo...erghhhhhhhhhhhhh!

merlin1

niooooo! jumpers for oldies/recovering dogs! :rotfl: at rescue centres etc!

Frugalista

Having 9 big, hairy dogs, I figured I was wearing dog hair permanantly anyway (house is fur-lined too! :whistle:) so I bought a spinning wheel and went to a couple of evening classes and learned to spin. I have not heard of anyone just weaving it "straight", however.

The problem is that dog hair is just that - hair - so it is too smooth to "cling" to itself and will slip apart. Apparently wool has little barbs on it (when looked at under a microscope) which causes it to mesh together. Don't know how true this is - but it was how it was explained to me at the agricultural college. And I know that when I prepared the dog hair for spinning, I used to mix it 50/50 with wool to make it hold together and become more durable.

I just need to learn to knit now!! :rotfl:

I would be very surprised if people would spend time collecting, preparing, spinning, weaving and knitting the dog hair to use in rescue centres as it is extremely time consuming (and, therefore, expensive). Surely they would just use commercially prepared wools and synthetics?

merlin1

thanks for the input! rescues dont do it all themselves by all means - what i meant was there are those that 'donate' their completed knits to rescues :beer:

the teddies thing is the dogs hair woven into as you say but also used as stuffing - i very moving tribut tribute to a lost dog i feel which is it how its sold i shall have to try and find a link

9 dogs? can i ask what they are? i luffs big hairy dogs! we have had bernese in the past!

jonty12

why don't you ask on the ravelry site? If people are doing this, then that's where you'll find them!

Frugalista

merlin1 wrote: »

thanks for the input! rescues dont do it all themselves by all means - what i meant was there are those that 'donate' their completed knits to rescues :beer:

the teddies thing is the dogs hair woven into as you say but also used as stuffing - i very moving tribut tribute to a lost dog i feel which is it how its sold i shall have to try and find a link

9 dogs? can i ask what they are? i luffs big hairy dogs! we have had bernese in the past!

Sorry! I misunderstood - I see what you mean by the donated knits . I like the idea of the "tribute to a lost dog" - must try something similar to that.

My "gang" aren't as big as bernese - they're a medium sized, long coated, pastoral breed - and all as mad as a box of frogs :rolleyes::D.

Gofdoc

Hi Merlin,
I too am looking for someone to weave pet hair into wool for knitting. The closest I came was a Lady I met at the Windsor Rose Show, a charitable event in Windsor UK, who did just that and was selling jumpers and all sorts made from dog hair. I have so much hair from my GSD's (inc one called Merlin!) that i'd love to have something made foer me from their fur. But, I lost her details and cannot find reference to her anywhere.....
Anyone out there know more??
Be Happy Y'awl

nanokitten

firstly Eeeeew! There was an article a while back about the couple who had doggy jumpers, gross. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7304452.stm
Secondly I think you are looking for spinners (to make the yarn) or alternatively felters (who could blend the doggy wool with the regular kind and add it to work).
The place to post such a request is the ravelry forum ( a fanatical knitting forum) I think you have to register first but it is a very reputable and well known site.
https://www.ravelry.com/account/login
Personally I'd leave it out for the little birsds to line their nests (you could use a little net sack like oranges are packed in and hang it outside) they may only be interested in the spring but most birds go mad for dog hair (and don't say Eeeeeew at all!).