Introduction
There are several reasons why people may want to spin dog hair into yarn. For dog owners, spinning their pet’s fur into yarn allows them to do something purposeful and commemorative with their dog’s hair when the dog sheds its coat or passes away. It can serve as a meaningful remembrance and a way to continue feeling connected to a beloved pet (1).
Spinning dog hair, also called “chiengora”, has also become more popular given rising sustainability concerns (2). Using dog hair, a waste product that would otherwise be discarded, gives it new life as a valuable material to create textiles and fabrics. Dog hair yarn is durable, long-lasting, and better for the environment compared to yarn from conventionally farmed sheep wool or alpaca, avoiding the methane emissions from sheep farming (1).
In addition to sustainability and sentimentality, dog hair yarn has creative benefits. Spinning the hair into yarn allows owners to incorporate their dogs into handmade knit or crocheted items like sweaters, blankets, scarves, and stuffed toys. The fun craft also carries on older folk practices and demonstrates an artisanal skill (3).
Overall, creating dog hair yarn extends the use of dog hair beyond its life as pet fur, turing it into a handcrafted keepsake, lower impact form of yarn, and way for creative dog owners to celebrate their beloved pets.
Gather Materials
The key materials you’ll need to gather to spin dog hair into yarn are as follows:
- Dog hair – Make sure to collect only hair your dog sheds naturally. As noted on the Custom Spinning of Your Dog’s Hair Into Yarn page, you can collect shed hair by brushing your dog when they are shedding.
- Hand carders – Carders will help separate and align the dog hair fibers to prepare them for spinning.
- A spinning wheel or drop spindle – These tools will twist and draw out the prepared dog hair into yarn.
- Lazy kate – This is optional but helps hold your spun yarn while plying multiple strands together.
You may also want to have scissors, a yarn winder, and other fiber prep supplies on hand. The specific supplies will vary based on your unique spinning setup.
Prepare the Dog Hair
Before the dog hair can be carded or drafted, it should be thoroughly cleaned and prepared. According to Craftmehappy.com, “Dog hair for spinning should always come from brushings rather than clippings”. Cite the url using standard formatting for richtext/HTML
To cleanse the hair, shake out loose dirt and debris. Then soak it in hot, soapy water to remove oils and additional dirt from the dog’s coat. Rinse several times until the water runs clear. Then allow the dog hair to air dry completely. Detangling the clumps of hair ahead of time with a dog comb can help the fiber flow better later when drafting and spinning.
For the best results, focus on saving the soft undercoat of hair rather than the longer or coarser top layer coat. The undercoat will produce the best yarns for working into finished pieces. Clipping dog hair should be avoided if intending to spin – only hair that is gathered from brushings is suitable.
Card the Dog Hair
Once the dog hair is prepared, the next step is to use hand carders or drum carders to align the individual fibers so they are parallel to each other. Carding opens up the locks of fur and arranges the different lengths of hair into a consistent web or batt. The carders have fine, closely spaced teeth or wire brushes that help separate and organize the fibers.
When carding by hand, place small tufts of the prepared dog hair onto one carder, gently brushing in one direction. Then transfer the fiber to the other carder, brushing in the opposite direction. Go back and forth between the two carders until the fibers are smooth, consistent, and aligned (Source). This process will produce the roving that is then drafted and spun into yarn.
Draft and Attenuate the Roving
Once your dog hair has been carded into roving, the next step is to draft and attenuate it before spinning. Drafting is the process of gently stretching out the fibers to align them parallel to each other and make them easier to spin into yarn. Attenuating refers to gradually thinning out the roving so you end up with a thin “draft” of fibers ready for spinning.
To draft the carded batts, hold one end and very slowly pull so the fibers align and thin out. Don’t let them break apart. Keep gently pulling and thinning until you have a drafted piece of roving that is thin, consistent and around the width you want your finished yarn to be. The basic principle is to align the fibers so they hold together and spin into an even yarn.
Be patient during the drafting and attenuating process. Rushing could cause the fibers to break and make them harder to spin smoothly. Refer to this source for tips on getting the drafting process right.
Spin the Drafted Roving
One of the key steps for turning dog hair into yarn is spinning the drafted roving into a thin, consistent strand of yarn. This requires some skill with a drop spindle or spinning wheel. Start by securing the end of the roving to the leader yarn on your spindle or wheel so it holds in place.
For a balanced, even yarn:
- Draft out small sections of roving as you spin to keep the thickness consistent
- Allow some twist into the forming yarn before drafting out more roving
- Maintain a steady rhythm and speed as you draft and spin
- Add more twist for thinner yarns, less twist for thicker yarns
It takes practice to master the motion of smoothly drafting out the roving while allowing in just enough twist. But with some diligence, you can spin dog hair into a thin, balanced yarn suitable for knitting, weaving, and more. For guidance, see this wikiHow article explaining hand-spinning techniques.
Ply the Yarn
Once you have spun all your singles, the next step is to ply the yarn to create a balanced 2-ply yarn. Plying refers to taking two or more single yarns and twisting them together in the opposite direction than they were originally spun.
Plying serves several purposes:
- It combines multiple single yarns into one thicker, balanced yarn
- It helps lock the twists in the singles so they stay uniform
- It evens out any inconsistencies in the thickness of the singles
To ply the yarn, simply take 2 singles of the same size and attach them to your spindle or wheel in the opposite direction they were originally spun. Twist them together until you reach your desired tightness and consistency. A good rule of thumb is to ply with about half the twist used to spin your singles.
Plying gives your finished yarn a fuller feel and appearance, with greater consistency and durability. Finish plying all your singles and then wash, set, and wind your 2-ply yarn to complete your chiengora project.
Set the Twist
Setting the twist locks that twist into the yarn so that it holds its shape and does not untwist during use. There are a few methods for setting the twist in handspun yarn made from dog hair:
Heat setting involves immersing the spun yarn in hot water then allowing it to fully dry while held straight. Heating the fiber allows it to relax and set into its twisted shape. Some spinners recommend using warm to hot tap water (110-130°F) to set dog hair yarn. Another method is to use a pan or large kettle of simmering water to briefly immerse the skeins.
Washing the skeins in warm to hot water followed by air drying can also set the twist. Mild soap or hair conditioner can be added to the wash water. The key is to allow the yarn to dry fully under light tension, like draped over a drying rack, to prevent the fibers from untwisting as they dry. Some handspinners will reskein the yarn after drying for storage and to check if the twist still needs setting.
Proper twist setting will yield balanced, durable dog hair yarn ready for knitting, crocheting, or weaving. For patterns and best practices in using handspun dog fur, see this DIY tutorial.
Wind the Yarn
After plying and setting the twist, the next step is to wind the yarn into skeins or balls. This is an important step that prepares your handspun yarn for use in crochet, knitting, or weaving projects. To wind the skeins by hand, gather some equipment:
- A chair with sturdy back, the arms of a friend, or your own knees to wrap the yarn around to keep the hank under gentle tension
- A swift or yarn winder if you have them, but they are not necessary
Suspend the yarn in a loose hank shape over your knees, the chair back, or your helper’s arms. Keep the hank under gentle tension. Then wind the yarn into a round skein in your hands, passing the yarn from the inside to the outside of the circle. Alternatively, if you have a swift or yarn winder, use the device to assist in winding the yarn into a neat, rounded cake.
Winding your handspun yarn into skeins or balls is an important finishing step. It helps set the twist, makes the yarn easier to handle for your project, and imbues it with your energy and intention.
For more tips, refer to:
How to Hand-Wind a Skein of Yarn
Next Steps
Now that you have your handspun dog hair yarn, there are endless creative possibilities for using it. Some ideas include:
– Knitting mittens, hats, scarves, sweaters, and other clothing and accessories with the yarn. With its unique texture, dog yarn items make wonderful gifts.
– Weaving the yarn into placemats, wall hangings, handbags, and other decorative household items on a loom or even an embroidery hoop. Get crafty with dog hair!
– Needle felting the yarn into sculptures, ornaments, pillows, and more using a felting needle to bind and sculpt the fibers.
– Crocheting dog hair yarn into blankets, rugs, baskets, and other accessories and home goods. Get creative with stitches and patterns!
The possibilities are endless for repurposing your beloved dog’s hair into handcrafted keepsakes and items to treasure. Enjoy being creative with this special yarn!