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#87218 - 01/22/08 09:17 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: robi]
NiytOwl Offline
member

Registered: 11/06/04
Posts: 501
Loc: California
Just one more reason not to buy fur...from 2006...

Group Says Retailers Selling Dog Pelt Coats

Another story tells of a real-world Cruella DeVille fashion statement - a coat made from 42 German Shepherd Puppy pelts.

So it's apparent that dog fur can be rendered less "doggy". People have been buying these China-made coats for years without realizing it was dog. Makes ya wonder though - my kids have some expensive faux-fur trimmed boots. Have to check 'em out.

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#87219 - 01/30/08 01:45 PM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Hey guys

Regarding "dog fur thread used for knitting socks for her family - read the post by "inpolar" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> under my thread "native gear" in the "almmost over the hill" group.

Wow <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />- look at her photos and read the story The lady lives in very northern Russi in the Komi "province". Type "Inta, Russia" into Google Earth to go there. Its pretty flat and COVERED with small round lakes which indicates very old lava flow like the Canadian Shield.

They drive a "tank" <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />and raise reindeer and wear reindeer boots.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#87220 - 02/02/08 07:46 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
chaz Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 1149
Loc: Tennessee
My wife said I could have all the kinky fur from our poodle. I'll stick with synthetics.
It has less smell.
_________________________
Enjoy your next trip...

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#87221 - 02/02/08 09:50 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
preprunner Offline
member

Registered: 03/06/07
Posts: 28
I'm slowly but surely "harvesting" my dogs undercoat via an undercoat rake. It'll take me forever but I intend to collect enough to try and make somethin useful. It'll be hard to guage how much I need for whatever temperature I'm shooting for.

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#87222 - 02/02/08 09:06 PM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
preprunner
how will you spin it? Do you have a "drop thimble?" or something?
Jim
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

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#87223 - 02/03/08 10:13 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: Jimshaw]
preprunner Offline
member

Registered: 03/06/07
Posts: 28
I'm not gonna spin it into clothing, I'm going to use it as stuffing for a quilt or vest or something.

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#87224 - 02/03/08 10:29 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
BobEFord Offline
member

Registered: 01/28/08
Posts: 72
Loc: SE AZ
My friends took the brushings from their Samoyed, and had it washed and spun into yarn. Then they knitted caps. Great color and texture like wool.

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#87225 - 02/07/08 09:12 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: Jimshaw]
tahomus Offline
member

Registered: 04/01/06
Posts: 23
Loc: Tahoma, CA
thanks jimshaw for directing me to your thread. what great skills to have! i've started playing with fire- using flint/steel and bow drill.

i checked out inpolar's post. a very unique living situation, to say the least.

one of my friends told me that arctic dog's fir does not get wet. my border collie gets soaked- and his dog-friend, a husky, is dry after chasing the skiers all day. so socks made from "dog wool" would not get a wet. you'd want to use only the undercoat, keeping the stiff guard hairs out.

so inpolar inspired me to spin up the day's brushing. i got about an oz. of yarn. it is somewhat soft, tho there are some guard hairs i didn't get. one could use it for an outer garment (jacket, vest). i, personally would not use my border collies fur for a hat or scarf, or anything that rests against the skin. i'm a bit spoiled with all the merino, cashmere and silk i spin!

preprunner,
as far as stuffing a garment with dog fur, make sure to test it's ability to spring back after "normal" compression, wear, washing, etc. you want the fur to maintain it's loft- and therefore it's insulating properties. how i would do it: tease it up into a ball, then quilt it in the fabric you plan to use. i'd do at least a 12"x12" square, as thick as you desire. measure and write down it's thickness, see how well it fills the corners, etc. take photos. be as precise as you can. then test: stuff it. sit on it and wiggle your behind. pull on it- like you're trying to get it out of a stuff sack and your entire trip's food it still on top of it. etc. after you give it a good testing, measure it, photograph, see how it's changed. finally, weigh the test piece. wash it. weigh it once you've finished washing it and have removed the water as one normally would. let it dry- use your dry weight as a guide to see how long it takes to really dry. then measure + critique again. then decide if you want to use it for garment insulation! please post photos + results when you do!

tahomus.

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#87226 - 02/11/08 08:58 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
coyotemaster Offline
member

Registered: 03/07/06
Posts: 294
Loc: Arizona
I met someone several years ago that was brushing her three dogs everyday, then after she bag fulls of it, washing, batting and spinning a dog fur yarn (with a little miniature spinning wheel), then knitting that yarn into shawls & such

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#87227 - 02/14/08 07:38 PM Re: Dog Fur [Re: Jimshaw]
oregoncarver Offline
member

Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 129
I thought the only "frost free" fur was wolverine???

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#87228 - 02/14/08 07:45 PM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
oregoncarver Offline
member

Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 129
The problem with dog fur (besides the smell) is that it mats. So I don't think it would be very insulating--it would lose it's "loft" pretty quickly. I have used it to tie flies and it worked pretty well for nymphs.

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#87229 - 02/15/08 05:47 AM Re: Dog Fur [Re: preprunner]
Pika Offline
member

Registered: 12/08/05
Posts: 1814
Loc: Rural Southeast Arizona
The Northwest Coast Indians used to weave blankets out of cedar bark, and a combination of mountain goat and dog fur. IIRC, they were called Chilkat blankets.
_________________________
May I walk in beauty.

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#87230 - 02/15/08 01:20 PM Re: Dog Fur [Re: oregoncarver]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
Quote:
I thought the only "frost free" fur was wolverine???


No, polar bear is frost free too. It shakes 'dry', I was priviy to a few nights with some with a Native friend of mine WAYYYYY up on the Artic Circle one season long ago.

Why use dog fur when so many easier alternatives exist <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Besides those esoteric reasons <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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