Customer Reviews

Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Be very careful with this book. Thinking myself clever, I shaved my dog, then knitted him a sweater using his own fur. I believe this paradox may have ripped a small hole in the space-time continuim. My son seems to be now aging in reverse, causing me to deduct one start from this review. Otherwise a very informative book.

This was an interesting read. Why spend all sorts of money on yarn when I already have two fuzz producing critters? But then again who wants to wear a hat that smells like dog?

Smell was my biggest worry when I ran across this book. I know only too well how stinky my wet dogs can be, but apparently they say the smell can be washed out quite permanently and easily and then they ask if one has ever smelled a sheep up close. Good point!

With smell issues out of the way, I read on with interest. Instead of throwing away all of that lovely golden fur floating around my home, I might actually be able to use it. Of course this involves quite a bit of work. Daily brushings, the labor intensive washing, washing and washing again of the fuzz (without clogging your drain in the process), then one must card (comb)the fuzz so it all lays the way it should, then you've got to oil it, spin it (an art in itself) and ply it into yarn. Yikes, it looks so easy when laid out in a few pages in a book but it sounds too much like work for someone like me.

After you've done all of the above, if you're one of those inexhaustible types, you can knit hats, scarves and just about anything that you'd knit with wool. The projects seem pretty straightforward but the instructions assume one has some familiarity with knitting. There are scarves, hats, mittens sweaters, even a doggie sweater (the pic shows a pug smugly wearing a sweater made from newfoundland fur, way too cute!). You must know the basic stitches, know all about knitting the round, know how to use your double pointed and circular needles and how to work fair isle/intarsia if you want to finish many of these items. I would've appreciated a little knitting 101 section here (especially for the color work, are you supposed to purl or knit the colors??), but that's just me and I suppose that stuff can easily be found on google but still . . .

The other downside of this book are the black and white photos. The items are described as beautiful tones of "golden retriever fur" or whatever and then they show a grainy b&w photo of a fuzzy looking scarf which was so disappointing. There also are not nearly enough photos showing how to make and use the drop spindle (though the carding section was well illustrated and appears simple enough). I seriously doubt I could learn the art of spinning dog fuzz using only this book and will look for a video if I ever get my fuzzies washed and ready (I think this part intimidates me the most!).

There is a section outlining breeds and their "spinability" for those on the lookout for fuzz machines. Lucky for me, my two goldens are top producers but my lab is a poor choice. Apparently, though, his "short chocolate sprinkles" can be added to all of the glamorously soft golden fur to spice up the color. Who knew?

This was an informative, very niche book, that takes its topic seriously and was a fun read. It's got me looking at the fuzz balls in a new way but I'm not sure if I'll ever work up the energy to collect, wash, card, and then spin this stuff into workable yarn because I'm just too lazy. Though it might make a nice little side business for someone with a lot of time to spare. Imagine a keepsake of your beloved pet like no other. The possibilities are endless . . .

Everyone in my house thought I was crazy until I brought home Kendall Crolius' book. She goes from start to finish, with suggestions for every step and every breed that you can use, to help you do it yourself. If you want your chore to be only the "colection", then she will point you in the right direction for sources for spinners & knitters. (This is the tack I took.)The book proved most helpful, making it possible for you to have a truly unique & cherished product either for yourself or for loved ones.

I bought this book 2 years ago and it is still good reading. It gives easy-to-follow instructions on how to clean, card, and spin other animal fur as well as doghar.....And it has made me more comfortable to know that there are others who do this and not that I am just spending too much time in the woods (As I have been accused of by neighbors)

How to collect, spin, and knit with dog hair. This book takes you from dust puppies to luxurious clothing made from your best friend's sheddings. It teaches you to spin using drop spindle or wheel, and then includes knitting and weaving patterns. Finally, if that isn't enough, there is a wonderful review of the qualities of hair for spinning and knitting for most of the recognized dog breeds. I highly recommend this book.

Golden retriever scarves, Grand Pyranees hats, Siamese socks,and Samoyed sweaters! Kendall Crolius and Anne Montgomery force you not only to examine the logic of what materials to use for knitting, but also offer a new yardstick of the knit value of household pets. I have to admit that if I ever seek another dog, I'm going to be looking at the silky haired retrievers instead of short haired varieties that offer little more than dander and love. No more bulldogs or boxers for me--I want a dog that I can brush, spin, and knit big soft golden retriever sweaters. Truly a breakthrough in pragmatic thought!

I felt bad at first shaving my dog completely bald, but after I got the sweater made using this book, he now looks stylish in his own fur!

As an on again off again fiber artist I found this book to be very informative as a review as well as adding to the knowledge I already had. If you enjoy knitting and love dogs spinning their hair into yarn is a fun thing to do. Don't have a dog? Contact a local groomer and request long, clean hair. It's free for the asking and the color, texture, and staple length is varied which makes for very unique yarns.

Mother Nature has been one scary momma lately. You can barely swing a dead meteorologist without hitting some sort of earthquake, twister, tsunami, flood or typhoon on the map. What's next, hailstones the size of Kardashian implants? Krakatoa ripping us all a new volcanic lava-hole? Plagues of locusts and killer bees and whatever species the Philly Phanatic belongs to?

I decided to prepare myself for the next natural disaster by making sure I'll always have access to the four basic necessities: Food. Shelter. Clothing. Twitter.

When all the sheep have been swept away or encased in rogue glaciers, what will be left to make our clothes from? Dogs, that's what. Man's best friend will stick close by our side through the emergency -- begging for Snausages, most likely -- and will happily provide raw material for our shirts, hats and scarves in the aftermath. Because they won't know any better.

I bought this book to learn all about fashioning attractive outerwear from the mutt fuzz I've long taken for granted, or picked off my popcorn that falls in the floor. I immediately set out to craft a new knit cap from the hair of my own dog. It's about time she earned her keep around here.

Unfortunately, it didn't go so well. I was a little over-eager and skipped a few chapters, so I missed a fairly important point: the hair you use for your project CANNOT STILL BE CONNECTED TO THE DOG when you start knitting. The fur is hard enough to keep on the needles, without all the squirming and howling going on. And if someone comes by to walk the dog or play fetch, then you might as well forget it. You'll never keep your stitching straight while the mutt's dragging you through the park after a tennis ball.

Trust me. My new 'cap' looks like a drawn and quartered doily. It's back to stitch one for me.

I love this book, if only for the whole idea of it. If I ever want to make my friends cringe, I merely whip out this book. It's also a good discipline tool ("You be quiet right now, or I'll make a sweater out of you!") Someday I'll have enough Kila-doggy hair to make a sweater, but she simply won't stay still long enough to get a brushing.