Dog Hair Items (Chiengora)
There is a wide variety of items that I can make from dog hair, either your dog's hair or mine. Scarves are the most popular and usually have the fastest turnaround time.
Yarn: I will custom spin your dog's hair into yarn. If the hair is at least 2 inches long in staple length I should be able to spin and two-ply it as 100% from your dog's hair. If it is shorter, I will need to use a core yarn of wool, cotton, or alpaca (your choice) and spin your dog's hair around that. You would only see your dog's hair in the finished product. The price is $20 per finished ounce of yarn. Collect your dog's hair by brushing when he or she naturally is shedding. Store and send in gallon size zip lock bags. It's fine to compact as much fiber as possible into a zip lock bag. It's easier to ship the smaller it is. Email if you will be sending dog hair to be spun (fmariann69@hotmail.com), and I can give you an estimated turnaround time for you to receive the yarn back. Do not purchase until the fiber is completed into yarn.
Scarf: I can make you a handspun and handwoven scarf from your dog's hair or from mine with two different sizes to choose from. Scarves are either made either a regular size of 7 inches wide ($200) or an extra-wide size of 10 inches wide ($300). Both sizes will have the same length of approximately 71-74 inches with fringes. For added strength, I spin the hair around a thin core yarn of cotton for added strength. Then on the outside, all you see is the dog hair when finished. Each scarf is also wet felted in hot/soapy water to remove the oil (and scent) from the yarn. 8 ounces or if you don't have a way to measure, then a gallon-sized zip-lock bag stuffed tight and full will be enough for either a wide or regular-sized scarf. I can send back any extra with the finished scarf. I have a pack of Akbash/Great Pyrenees dogs, so if you'd like a scarf from one of my dogs or a combination of their hair, just let me know and I can do that if I have the hair saved at that time. You can click here to purchase a scarf from my dogs' hair. If the inventory is in stock, that means I have enough hair to make a scarf. Each scarf is one of a kind and made to order, so send me a message here or via my email: fmariann69@hotmail.com and we can discuss the project.
Small Purse: I make these purses to hold small items such as a cell phone, credit card, and money. I personally don't like to carry a big purse, so I made the first one for myself and made this video. Then the orders started coming in for purses. The approximate measurements are 7 1/2 by 4 1/2 to 5 inches and 24 inches with the strap. I spin the dog hair around a core cotten yarn for added strength when weaving, though you only see the dog hair when finished. If you are sending hair, 2 ounces is needed to make a purse. The price is $60.
Crochet Heart: I can make the heart from my Guardian Dogs’ hair or from yours. If sending hair for a heart from your own dog, a sandwich-size bag stuffed full or a very large handful of hair (at least 1 1/2 inches in hair length) can be sent to me: Mariann Eckendorf, 8 Bareback Drive, Parkman, Wyoming 82838. Each heart is $20. If from your dog, you must enclose your mailing address and contact information and let me know how many hearts you’d like. Please enclose a check or pay here after your heart is made. If paying by check also add in 4 dollars for shipping the heart back.
Hat: You would need to brush out at least 8 ounces of fiber (stored and shipped in a gallon size zip lock bag or similar plastic bag) when your dog naturally sheds. For dogs that don't shed, cut hair works well too. I need at least a 2-inch staple length to spin the hair. Anything shorter, and I may be able to make you a hat still but will need to spin it around a core of wool, alpaca, or cotton yarn (your choice). If core spun, you will only see your dog's hair in the finished product. I can't spin 1 inch or shorter fibers. Dog hair such as labs I can't spin. It needs to be longer. The price is $100 for one hat. I can also do a headband instead of a hat for the same price. One size fits most. If your head is extra small or extra-large, just let me know. There will be a stretch to the hat or headband. You do not need to pay until the hat is completed. Please email me at fmariann69@hotmail.com if you will be sending fiber for a hat. Turn around time depends on how many orders are in front of you. I will give you an estimate of how long it takes. If I'm not busy I can often get a hat back to you within a week of you ordering it. But not always.
Note: Please send only naturally brushed-out hair from the undercoat. I've found that when I accept clipped hair, the final product will not turn out as nice because of too short of staple length mixed in.
Where to Send Hair: To me, Mariann Eckendorf, 8 Bareback Drive, Parkman, Wyoming 82838
Please include a note about what item you'd like and scarf size if you'd like a scarf, as well as your return address and contact information. Also, a check for the amount. If sending a check, please add $8 for the return shipping of the finished item(s). I deposit checks not until I'm working on the project or finished. Or I also can create for you a special listing to check out online once I begin or finish the project if that works best for you. My phone for text is 307-655-9176 and email: fmariann69@hotmail.com