Cheingora is yarn spun from dog hair.
It has a halo similar to angora yarn.
FAQs
What breed of dogs have good fur for spinning?
- Any breed with brushings that are soft and about
an inch long. Cut hair tends to be
prickly.
How do I collect the fur?
- Collect the fur by brushing or combing your dog.
You may want the soft undercoat of your dog's fur, rather than the stiffer
outer coat. This outer coat can be spun
but will affect the texture of the yarn.
- Washing your dog before you brush may encourage
the fur to shed and also makes for cleaner and less smelly fur.
- Throw away any really dirty or short bits of fur.
- Don't pack it too tightly in your storage
container (bag or box).
How much fur do I need?
- A sandwich bag of fur weighs approximately 1 oz.
- A gallon zip lock bag of fur weighs approximately
3 oz.
- A plastic grocery bag of fur weighs approximately 7 oz.
- The finished weight of the yarn is less than the
weight of the fur. This is due to some
fur that flys away during the spinning process and the dirt that is washed out.
How much yarn for mittens, hats or scarves?
- Your pattern will give you the requirements for
how much yarn is needed. The yarn I spin
from dog fur is usually a 2-ply sport weight yarn.
Does yarn spun from dog fur smell?
- No, even though the fur can be smelly. The yarn
is washed in herbal pet shampoo as part of the spinning process.
How do I care for my finished item made of dog
yarn?
- Hand wash in warm water using shampoo. Rinse in the same temperature. Do not agitate or change water
temperature. Gently squeeze the item to
remove the water. Do not ring it. This
causes felting. Roll the item up in a
towel to absorb the extra water and then dry flat. Hanging the item can cause it to stretch and
distort its shape.
