This was my setup for a few weeks. I spin from my rocking chair and I love it. My only complaint about spinning dog fur into yarn, is there is DOG. FUR. EVERYWHERE. My vacuum got some exercise in while I was spinning these bags up.
Spinning the dog fur was a lot like spinning angora rabbit fur. This yarn will have a nice halo (which is like a furry outer layer of the yarn for my non spinning friends.) I ended up filling up my extra large bobbin for the singles and 2 large bobbins for the plyed yarn. I did a simple double ply so we could get as much yardage as possible.
Once everything was all plyed together I wound it into hanks for washing. This yarn took forever to dry out and that was the only time I smelled dog. Luckily I have an outdoor space where I could let it dry. Once it was fully dry, I wound it into 3 yarn cakes for about 400 yards of handspun dog fur yarn. It's a heavy worsted weight yarn and reminds me of a boucle style yarn.
Word on the street is that this yarn is going to turn into some sort of winter accessory. I'm psyched to see it knit up.
Duke was found wandering the side of Route 22 in Southeast, NY in September of 2020 and found himself inside Putnam Humane Society. I had been following his story since the Humane society first posted his photo on their social media. His post was shared over 2,000 times by followers of Putnam Humane and Lost Pets of the Hudson Valley, but still, nobody came for him. I couldn't stop thinking about this yellow wolfy boy, who the Humane society named "Teddy" since he was exceptionally sweet and mushy, like a giant teddy bear (we named him Duke after John Wayne, since we love western culture and have a country band). When I found out that he was heartworm positive, I wanted him even more, because I worried that no one would want to take care of him. My husband Tyler and I adopted Duke on October 8th, 2020 - the best day of our lives (right up there with our wedding) and the rest is history.
Duke was an instant good boy. He has loved every being he has encountered, from my 98 year old grandma to my 4 and 3 year old niece and nephew. He is happy and friendly with all dogs. He is especially loyal and loving to his Mom and Dad. If I move, he follows. It is his duty to comfort, guide, love, and protect me specifically.
Duke's favorite toys are his Giant Nylabone, his Outward Hound Duckie, and his plush squeaky pizza. He loves Milk Bones, and as for table food, he goes nuts whenever we have steak night or taco night. As you know, he sheds like crazy, but I really don't mind it. Everywhere I look and turn if I see his fur, I am reminded of his beautiful presence which I am so blessed and thankful for, every single day. Someday I won't have that anymore, which is why I wanted his fur to be made into yarn, so we can make lifelong keepsakes.
