Knitting with chin hair

Brittney · Sep 13, 2009

My grandma is really big into knitting. When she was over last, she asked if I groom my boys. I said yes and she asked to see the hair. I groomed Bryson and let her look at the fibers. She said if I started collecting the hair from grooming, that she would knit me a scarf with their fur. Sounds odd, but I would really like having them "with me" all day.

So far I have 2 baggies full, but I have much more to go. Does that sound odd to anyone? haha I thought it was odd at first until I started thinking about it.

They have an alpaca on their farm and she knits a bunch of stuff with his fibers, so I trust she can do it. She said she would make it will Rufus' (The alpaca) hair and mix the chin's in with it to make the fibers stronger in thread form.

I am very anti-fur, but I think this is different, right?

alli713 · Sep 13, 2009

It's not odd at all. I send my girl's fur to a spinner on Etsy so she can mix it in with her bunny fur. Like you said, it has to be mixed with another fur, it won't work with just chin fur.

I don't actually have anything with my girl's fur, I just give it to her so I don't have to throw it out.

AZChins · Sep 13, 2009

I would assume it is very different since the chin is not at all harmed getting the loose fur.

One thing that I have heard is that the fibers of the chin fur need to mixed with stronger fibers so that it will make decent yarn. I hope she can make enough for you. Hey...if you want, you are welcome to come here and groom chins for the fur.

LOL

chincrazy · Sep 13, 2009

thats awesome i never thought of that! i would love walking with my chinny all day!

aznmexaggie · Sep 13, 2009

I save all the fur from when I groom my chins. There is a woman named Donna Nelson who is very active in the fiber arts community (spins, travels to shows, sells her products, etc.) and attends most of the CA ECBC shows. She buys the fur and uses it in blends for the yarn that she spins. It has to be clean groomed fur though... and no belly or tail fur.