Chiengora

Chiengora is a yarn or wool spun from dog hair. The word is a portmanteau of "chien", the French word for dog, and "angora." It is up to 80% warmer than wool ^[1] and is not elastic.

Often chiengora is blended with wool during the carding process. This blend has some give to it, which is preferable when knitting. It is also often blended with wool in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation.

History [edit]

Spinning dog hair is not a new art form. Dog hair has been found in yarns dating back from pre-historic Scandinavia, and in textiles from the Navajo Indians of North America. It was the main fiber spun on the Northern American continent before the Spaniards introduced sheep. ^[2]

The best hairs for this application are from 'Northern' breeds, such as Newfoundlands, Chow Chows, Samoyed, Norwegian Elkhounds, and the like.

In modern times it is rarely used. In general it is only used by hand spinners with pet dogs.

References [edit]

v t e Fibers Natural Animal Alpaca Angora Byssus Camel hair Cashmere Catgut Chiengora Guanaco Human hair Llama Mohair Pashmina Qiviut Rabbit Silk Sinew Spider silk Wool Vicuña Yak Vegetable Abacá Bagasse Bamboo Coir Cotton Flax Linen Hemp Jute Kapok Kenaf Piña Raffia Ramie Sisal Wood Mineral Asbestos Synthetic Cellulose Acetate Triacetate Art silk Bamboo Lyocell Rayon Modal Rayon Rayon Mineral Glass Carbon Tenax Basalt Metallic Polymer Acrylic Aramid Twaron Kevlar Technora Nomex Microfiber Modacrylic Nylon Olefin Polyester Polyethylene Dyneema Spectra Spandex Vinylon Vinyon Zylon

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