Chiengora, also called "dog wool," is yarn or wool spun from dog hair. The word is a portmanteau of chien (the French word for dog) and angora and was coined by an American spinner, Annette Klick.[1] Dog hair is up to 80% warmer than wool[2] and is not elastic.
Historyedit
Spinning dog hair is not a new art form.[3] Dog hair has been found in yarns dating back from pre-historic Scandinavia, and in textiles from the Navajo and Northwest Coast Native Americans of North America. It was the main fiber spun on the Northern American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep.[4] Sometimes dog hair is blended with wool during the carding process to make yarn. This blend has some give to it, which is preferable when knitting. It may also be blended with sheep wool in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation.
While not as common as the use of wool and other animal fibers, chiengora has a long history of use by hand spinners as well as small businesses who produce it for sale. It has been called by many descriptive names over the decades. In a 1983 article, Annette Klick noted that when selling her doghair products, some people would be disgusted if told an item was made of dog hair, but would admire finished mittens that looked like they were made of angora (rabbit). Consequently, Klick and her daughter created the word Chiengora and from then on Klick noted "we got a much heartier response."[1] While it is difficult to trace the earlier history of small businesses spinning chiengora and selling chiengora products, there continue to be many businesses advertising their chiengora online. Some spinners primarily work on custom projects, such as spinning dog hair provided by customers from their own dogs, while others collect chiengora from many dogs, spin, and then sell the yarns for others to use.
Chiengora has been the subject of several studies including a 2003 thesis for a Master of Science degree in the Department of Textile Apparel Technology & Management at the North Carolina State University. In this study, J. Suzanne Greer states that the objectives of their research are "1) to determine the properties of dog hair, and 2) to pinpoint which dog hair, or chiengora, fibers should be considered possible candidates for commercially producing yarns and/or fabrics."[4] She clarifies that "Chiengora is the name being used for yarn spun from dog hair. Chien is French for dog and gora is from angora, the fiber that dog hair most closely resembles. [...] Chiengora is now considered a luxury fiber along with mohair, cashmere (goat hair), and angora (rabbit hair)."[4] It was later the subject of a paper from the Department of Fashion Technology at the PSG College of Technology in India titled "Analysis of physical and thermal properties of chiengora fibers".[5] It has also been the topic for a series of articles published in the Journal of Natural Fibers from 2018 to 2021.[5][6][7][8]
Although chiengora had been spun for decades, an increase in interest in hand-spinning and the use of alternative fibers for textiles led to increased attention to this fiber source in the 2010s.[9][10] Even the American Kennel Club adopted discussion of chiengora and asserted, in 2018, that "The official term for dog-fur yarn is 'chiengora'. "[11]
Starting in 2017 a German company, Yarnsustain GmbH (founded in 2020) in conjunction with Modus Intarsia attempted to register a trademark on Chiengora in various countries. Their applications have been refused or denied in the EU, UK, Australia, and US so far. It was approved in Germany.
^Choron, Sandra; Choron, Harry (2005). Planet Dog: A Doglopedia. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN0-618-51752-9. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
^ abcGreer, J. Suzanne. "Evaluation of Non-Traditional Animal Fibers for Use in Textile Products". Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University. (2003)
^ abRamamoorthy, Surjit; et al. (May 31, 2018). "Analysis of physical and thermal properties of chiengora fibers". Journal of Natural Fibers. 17 (2): 246–257. doi:10.1080/15440478.2018.1479996. S2CID 139767587.
^Ramamoorthy, Surjit; Ramadoss, Murugan; Thangavelu, Karthik; Kalapatti Jagannathan, Vishnu Vardhini (2021-05-23). "Analysis on the Yarn and Fabric Characteristics of Chiengora Fibers from Hairs of Lhasa Apso Breed and its Blends in Comparison with Wool and its Blends. Part I – Yarn Characteristics". Journal of Natural Fibers. 19 (13): 6389–6403. doi:10.1080/15440478.2021.1921655. ISSN 1544-0478. S2CID 236360162.
^Ramamoorthy, Surjit; Ramadoss, Murugan; Thangavelu, Karthik; Kalapatti Jagannathan, Vishnu Vardhini (2021-06-06). "Analysis on the Yarn and Fabric Characteristics of Chiengora Fibers from Hairs of Lhasa Apso Breed and Its Blends in Comparison with Wool and Its Blends. Part II – Fabric Characteristics". Journal of Natural Fibers. 19 (13): 6701–6714. doi:10.1080/15440478.2021.1932668. ISSN 1544-0478.
^Ramamoorthy, Surjit; Ramadoss, Murugan; Kandhavadivu, Palanisamy; Kalapatti Jagannathan, Vishnu Vardhini (2021-10-06). "Evaluation of yarn and fabric properties of environmentally friendly and sustainable chiengora fibers from Pomeranian dog breed for textile applications". Journal of Natural Fibers. 19 (14): 8946–8959. doi:10.1080/15440478.2021.1975601. ISSN 1544-0478. S2CID 243197963.
^Simon, Stephanie (May 23, 2011). "In This Yarn With a Tail, Our Heroes Thirst for Hair of the Dog Fans of 'Chiengora' Hope to Spread Love of Garments Made From Canine Sheddings". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
^O'Brien, Anna (June 11, 2014). "Hair of the Dog: Wear your best friend". Modern Farmer. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
^Gibeault, Stephanie (July 20, 2018). "Get Crafty With Yarn Made From Your Dog's Fur". American Kennel Club. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
March 17, 2024
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Chiengora also called dog wool is yarn or wool spun from dog hair The word is a portmanteau of chien the French word for dog and angora and was coined by an American spinner Annette Klick 1 Dog hair is up to 80 warmer than wool 2 and is not elastic History editSpinning dog hair is not a new art form 3 Dog hair has been found in yarns dating back from pre historic Scandinavia and in textiles from the Navajo and Northwest Coast Native Americans of North America It was the main fiber spun on the Northern American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep 4 Sometimes dog hair is blended with wool during the carding process to make yarn This blend has some give to it which is preferable when knitting It may also be blended with sheep wool in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation The best hairs for this application are from Northern breeds with a soft undercoat such as Newfoundlands Chow Chows Samoyed Norwegian Elkhounds and the like While not as common as the use of wool and other animal fibers chiengora has a long history of use by hand spinners as well as small businesses who produce it for sale It has been called by many descriptive names over the decades In a 1983 article Annette Klick noted that when selling her doghair products some people would be disgusted if told an item was made of dog hair but would admire finished mittens that looked like they were made of angora rabbit Consequently Klick and her daughter created the word Chiengora and from then on Klick noted we got a much heartier response 1 While it is difficult to trace the earlier history of small businesses spinning chiengora and selling chiengora products there continue to be many businesses advertising their chiengora online Some spinners primarily work on custom projects such as spinning dog hair provided by customers from their own dogs while others collect chiengora from many dogs spin and then sell the yarns for others to use Chiengora has been the subject of several studies including a 2003 thesis for a Master of Science degree in the Department of Textile Apparel Technology amp Management at the North Carolina State University In this study J Suzanne Greer states that the objectives of their research are 1 to determine the properties of dog hair and 2 to pinpoint which dog hair or chiengora fibers should be considered possible candidates for commercially producing yarns and or fabrics 4 She clarifies that Chiengora is the name being used for yarn spun from dog hair Chien is French for dog and gora is from angora the fiber that dog hair most closely resembles Chiengora is now considered a luxury fiber along with mohair cashmere goat hair and angora rabbit hair 4 It was later the subject of a paper from the Department of Fashion Technology at the PSG College of Technology in India titled Analysis of physical and thermal properties of chiengora fibers 5 It has also been the topic for a series of articles published in the Journal of Natural Fibers from 2018 to 2021 5 6 7 8 Although chiengora had been spun for decades an increase in interest in hand spinning and the use of alternative fibers for textiles led to increased attention to this fiber source in the 2010s 9 10 Even the American Kennel Club adopted discussion of chiengora and asserted in 2018 that The official term for dog fur yarn is chiengora 11 Starting in 2017 a German company Yarnsustain GmbH founded in 2020 in conjunction with Modus Intarsia attempted to register a trademark on Chiengora in various countries Their applications have been refused or denied in the EU UK Australia and US so far It was approved in Germany See also editSalish Wool DogReferences edit a b Keese Susan September 29 1983 Chiengora Spinning Mittens from Fido s Hair Rutland Herald Choron amp Choron 2005 p 326 Choron Sandra Choron Harry 2005 Planet Dog A Doglopedia Houghton Mifflin ISBN 0 618 51752 9 Retrieved May 3 2008 a b c Greer J Suzanne Evaluation of Non Traditional Animal Fibers for Use in Textile Products Thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University 2003 a b Ramamoorthy Surjit et al May 31 2018 Analysis of physical and thermal properties of chiengora fibers Journal of Natural Fibers 17 2 246 257 doi 10 1080 15440478 2018 1479996 S2CID 139767587 Ramamoorthy Surjit Ramadoss Murugan Thangavelu Karthik Kalapatti Jagannathan Vishnu Vardhini 2021 05 23 Analysis on the Yarn and Fabric Characteristics of Chiengora Fibers from Hairs of Lhasa Apso Breed and its Blends in Comparison with Wool and its Blends Part I Yarn Characteristics Journal of Natural Fibers 19 13 6389 6403 doi 10 1080 15440478 2021 1921655 ISSN 1544 0478 S2CID 236360162 Ramamoorthy Surjit Ramadoss Murugan Thangavelu Karthik Kalapatti Jagannathan Vishnu Vardhini 2021 06 06 Analysis on the Yarn and Fabric Characteristics of Chiengora Fibers from Hairs of Lhasa Apso Breed and Its Blends in Comparison with Wool and Its Blends Part II Fabric Characteristics Journal of Natural Fibers 19 13 6701 6714 doi 10 1080 15440478 2021 1932668 ISSN 1544 0478 Ramamoorthy Surjit Ramadoss Murugan Kandhavadivu Palanisamy Kalapatti Jagannathan Vishnu Vardhini 2021 10 06 Evaluation of yarn and fabric properties of environmentally friendly and sustainable chiengora fibers from Pomeranian dog breed for textile applications Journal of Natural Fibers 19 14 8946 8959 doi 10 1080 15440478 2021 1975601 ISSN 1544 0478 S2CID 243197963 Simon Stephanie May 23 2011 In This Yarn With a Tail Our Heroes Thirst for Hair of the Dog Fans of Chiengora Hope to Spread Love of Garments Made From Canine Sheddings Wall Street Journal Retrieved March 24 2022 O Brien Anna June 11 2014 Hair of the Dog Wear your best friend Modern Farmer Retrieved March 24 2022 Gibeault Stephanie July 20 2018 Get Crafty With Yarn Made From Your Dog s Fur American Kennel Club Retrieved March 24 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chiengora amp oldid 1161158947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
