by Ann Winter
If you have ever wondered what to do with all that fur you
remove after grooming, then this may be of interest to you. Chiengora (
she-an-gora ) refers to the yarn spun from dog hair. Chien being the French
word for dog and gora is derived from ‘angora’ the soft fur from rabbits.
Spinning dog hair is an ancient art going back to pre
historic times in Scandinavia and was the main fibre spun on the North American
continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep. Chiengora is usually made from
the soft undercoat of breeds such as Samoyeds, Siberian Huskies , Alaskan
Malamutes, Chow Chows, Retrievers & Newfoundlands.
Fact - chiengora is up to 80% warmer than sheep's wool and sheds
water well. It does not smell like your wet dog !! The fibre is not as elastic as wool and is
similar in its luxurious feel and appearance to angora. It is typically used to
make scarves & gloves rather than jumpers (to avoid overheating!), but It
can also be blended with other fibres during the carding process to
reduce the heat insulation.
Do not worry about doggy odour as once collected the fur is
washed , it is then carded, rolled into rolags, spun ( and this also removes
natural oils ) and then the yarn is made into a skein which is washed again .
The yarn can then be used to create beautiful items and keepsakes.
So now whenever you brush your dog, you could consider collecting the
shed fur – keep in a cloth bag (an old pillowcase) and do not compress. You
will need at least 1-2 ounces for a small keepsake.
If you are interested in having a memento made from your
dog’s fur there is of course information online, alternatively please contact
Ann (ann.winter3@btinternet.com) whose ‘petit chien ‘ was created in France .
