How to Make Yarn From a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Many pet owners dread the task of brushing and discarding dog fur. Turn the task into something positive by spinning this fur into yarn to be sold or knitted. True to their name, soft coated Wheaten terriers have silky fur that can used to make a great sweater or scarf. Wheaten terrier fur comes in all colors, often with a mix of red, white, black and blue-gray.
Instructions
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Wash your soft coated Wheaten terrier and brush the dog, using a grooming brush.
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Collect the fur from your soft coated Wheaten terrier after you brush it. The fur from brushing contains mostly the undercoat, which is best for making yarn.
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Dry the dog fur for 12 hours until it is completely dry. Store the fur in a cardboard box until you have collected about 8 ounces. You need approximately 8 ounces of fur to make enough yarn for mittens or a scarf.
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Place 1 ounce of fur into the metal bristles of a grooming brush. Using another grooming brush, brush the fur in a downwards motion. Continue until all the fur is aligned in one direction. Pull the carded fur from the grooming brush. The carded fur is called a rolag. Continue until all the fur is carded.
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Find an experienced yarn spinning friend or professional to spin the collected dog fur for you. For beginners, hand spinning is an option, but it is not an easy process to master. VIP Fibers, Spinning Straw Into Gold and Betty Burian Kirk are a few of the many professional sites that you can contact to spin your fur into yarn.
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Package and ship the rolag to a yarn spinning professional. Some yarn spinning professionals only need the natural fur and will card the fur themselves.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use spun yarn if you are allergic to dog fur.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Lifesize/Getty Images
