Dog Hair Sweaters As Pet Memorial
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 03.19.08
We’ve already heard about hyperbolic crochet today, but here’s another yarn (sorry!) that may interest our readers. According to the BBC, a couple in Newcastle in the UK have had the fur from their beloved dogs woven into sweaters as a way of remembering them once they are gone. Looking at the pictures, we’re not sure they fit into our “hip not hippy” aesthetic, but they are still an innovative form of reuse:
"Kara was a pedigree Samoyed. She was so posh, if she could have talked she'd not have spoken to the likes of us. We found out from the breeders we got the pups from that it was possible to use their coat for clothes. It is the most amazing stuff. It's like mohair but more lightweight and more soft, and the more you wash it, the more soft and fluffy it gets."
If Mr and Mrs Willis are reading and are planning on getting new dogs, we’d refer them to our guide on How to Green Your Pet for further reading on good green things to do with your pets while they are alive too.
::BBC::via site visit::
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This is kind of creepy. she is wearing the hair from her dead pet. I know she is being resourceful but how about just keeping a photo of your pet.
Did they eat the meat and use the bones for jewelry as well?
Makes total sense. In fact, I'm making a pair of gloves from my dead gramma's skin to remember her by!
All I can say is "Ewe!" At least cat owners aren't making little catskin rugs (think tiger skin rugs) to put in front of their fireplaces when they pass away.
I might also be a little creeped out - except my mom once did something similar.
Some (not all) dogs have fur that is perfect for spinning. Over several years she kept a bag from the daily bushings and washed is properly to get rid of the "dog smell". Last year she spun the fur and knit a beautiful scarf. If you didn't know the back story, you would think it was cashmere.
You can send in your own dog's fur to this company and they will knit it up for you or send you the dog yarn. I think my dog sheds enough to clothe half of Vermont.
http://craziestgadgets.com/2008/03/15/ipod-and-cellphone-cases-woven-from-your-dogs-fur/
hmm, I suppose gathering the sheddings is not as creepy as skinning a dead dog. I once knew a girl who kept her own hair after brushing it and knit a scarf or something. That was a little weird, but I suppose it's sustainable.
I know there's a company somewhere that will accept hair clippings more than a foot in legth to make wigs for kemo patients. Another friend of mine did that.
@Josh
Locks of Love
It sounds kinda gross, but if you look at the reason why they did it is sort of nostalgic. A good way to recycle pet hair but I think the hygienic part of this needs to be evaluated further.
They just love their dogs!!!! What's wrong with that??? Are you really a profesional writer??
I DON'T WANNA HEAR YOUR SERCASTIC THOUGHTS!!!