Spinning, Knitting Newf hair

[Carole Macomber]

I am an avid knitter. I love to knit. As I brush Cubby I keep thinking about how I could spin some of her hair into yarn and knit something... Has anyone done this? How much hair do you need to collect to make a... hat? Do you have to mix it with other fleece? Does anyone have pictures of garments/items they've knit?

 

[mulenag]

I have never done it, but I think most people mix it with wool.

Here's a few links...
http://www.riinsrants.info/knitting/gallery.htm
http://www.mdnpd.com/pd/default.htm
http://www.bbkirk.com/Dog%20Hair%20Yarn.htm

If you google "spinning dog hair" you will get several sites. Good luck and let us know if you end up making anything!

[ 10-11-2006, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: MuleNag ]

 

[Carole Macomber]

Thanks! I'm soo inspired - That 2nd link you listed is so informative and takes you step by step. And the tools needed are few and inexpensive. Doghair is known as Chiengora.

 

[Yogi & Cordelia's Erin]

I had often wondered how this would work. Let us know how it goes alright?

 

[Carole Macomber]

I just did a quick collection of hair off the kitchen floor and tried some finger spinning as described in the 2nd link MuleNag found. To my amazement it worked into a strong soft yarn. I was in the midst of taking a photo of it when i discovered the batteries in my camera are dead! I wonder how many kitchen floors it will take to spin and knit a hat! Lucky for me I have hair on all my floors! I'll keep you posted of my trial and errors!

 

[2Paws]

I collected Benson's hair for the first year of his life. I gave this to a friend of mine who spins and she is mixing it with merino wool from the sheep she raises. I'll let you know how it turns out. Can't wait to get it. I've been told it works up better when the fur is blended with something else.

On a side note, she made the comment she was allergic to dog dander and had no reaction from Benson's fur when she handled it. She was amazed.

 

[Carole Macomber]

What a wonderful keepsake! I can't wait to see it.
I was thinking it would be cute to knit a dog coat for a shorthaired breed out of doghair from a Newf. Cause we all know - Our Newfs would give us the coats off their backs - if they could!

 

[NewfMom]

Well, I've been collecting from Kimber and have a big shopping bag full. I was going to price having it spun but maybe I'll take a shot at finger spinning it.

Since she's an Irish Spot I think it will be a pretty variegated black and white. I'll let you know if it works.

 

[Carole Macomber]

Please let me know how it goes. Kimber has a beaytiful coat - if that's her in your avatar, I'm sure it will spin into a lovely black n white varigated yarn!

 

[breeze50uk]

A friend of mine spun and knitted this hat for me a few years ago. She used the fur from her landseer and her black dog, didn't mix it with anything but as you can see it turns out grey rather than black and white.

Sadly the friend who spun the hat, on a spinning wheel died, but I always have my hat to remember her by in the winter, and boy is it hot!!

 

[Clcsidi]

I have a big bag waiting to be sent to be spun. I have been searching for the right pattern. I think it will be wonderful to knit, it is so soft.

 

[CMDRTED]

There is a lady and her husband on Ebay from New Zeland who sell Newf and Lamb Spun Wool Hats. I bought one for my wife and they are WARM!!!

If you do it, and I see that Links for spinning are posted, I know you will like the result. And of course if you want to come and collect Newf hair from our house, you are more than welcome. I usually get three full tubes full from the vac every three days so feel free.

 

[NessaM]

I'm going to try finger spinning the stuff I've been collecting off Nanook - I plan to use it to create just a small heart on a baby blanket I'm knitting!

 

[Carole Macomber]

I want to make something I can always remember Cubby with. It doesn't even have to be the full garment - it can be trimmed in her Newf hair...maybe just the brim of the hat. Thanks for the ideas and offers of additional hair...who knows I may take you up on it! Meantime, I've got some brushin' n' sweepin' to do of my own.

 

[ina/puusty]

SO tremendously COOL folks! These are the kinds of endeavors..that keep the world from falling into the black hole..of 'big box' control..of our lives. (Think about..how any18 of 20 people you pass during any given day..only had the 'selection' (guffa-snort!)from their local bb. How very dull and unexciting..is that!) I am thrilled..and pictures from everyone..pretty please!!

ina n HB

 

[Howie's mom]

I've often wondered this too...but wouldn't it, ya know, smell?

All that Newfie hair is so oily!

 

[NewfMom]

I've only kept hair from a day or two after baths. Also, that second link had you soak it in a vinegar solution after you spun it. That's supposed to take out any smell. We'll see if I can get any of it to make a yarn.

 

[breeze50uk]

Strangely enough my hat doesnt smell, I guess because, the wool was washed and since I've had it, I've washed it a couple of times. Since it isn't attached to a growing newfie, no smell! lol!
Although, I do have to keep it well away from Breeze and Hamish, or they think they have a wonderful new chewie to play with!

 

[2Paws]

That's the beauty of using newfie fur. It doesn't have that "wet dog" smell. I stored Benson's hair for over a year in a porous material bag. You could use cheesecloth or the webbed onion bags or potatoe bags you find at the grocery store. The woman who is spinning Benson's fur couldn't believe there wasn't a smell with the fiber.

Only collect the under coat fur. That is what will spin up beautifully into yarn. Can't wait to see what everybody comes up with for their "special" projects.

 

[NinaA]

This is also a great keepsake for a Newf who is near crossing the bridge. We saved about six plastic grocery bags of Ursa's hair and had it spun into a hank of yarn. The spinner mixed in a little black lambswool to give it body, but she said it really wasn't necessary. I wanted the smell, because that's what I knew I would miss, and it held for about a year or so. NCA used to have a fund raiser where you mailed your dog's hair to some place in Canada and they spun it into sweaters and caps for fishermen. They said it was water proof. I think this ended about 5 years ago.

Nina
et al