Chiengora

Chiengora is a yarn or wool spun from dog hair. The word is a portmanteau of chien (the French word for dog) and angora. It is up to 80% warmer than wool[1] and is not elastic.

Often chiengora is blended with wool during the carding process. This blend has some give to it, which is preferable when knitting. It is also often blended with wool in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation.

History

Spinning dog hair is not a new art form. Dog hair has been found in yarns dating back from pre-historic Scandinavia, and in textiles from the Navajo and Northwest Coast native Americans of North America. It was the main fiber spun on the Northern American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep.[2]

The best hairs for this application are from 'Northern' breeds, such as Newfoundlands, Chow Chows, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhounds, and the like.

In modern times it is rarely used. In general it is only used by hand spinners with pet dogs.

See also

References
  1. Choron, Sandra; Choron, Harry. Planet Dog: A Doglopedia. Houghton Mifflin. p. 326. ISBN 0-618-51752-9. Google Book Search. Retrieved on May 3, 2008.
  2. Greer, J. Suzanne. "Evaluation of Non-Traditional Animal Fibers for Use in Textile Products". Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University. (2003)
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