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.
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="" />
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These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!
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