Serendipity (N.)
Definition: finding something unexpected and useful while searching for something else entirely.
Usage: Last night on the Twitter, my friend Nick the Geek offered a pile of dog hair to anyone who wanted it.
Well, what serendipity! I had just decided on my topic for today’s post. DOG HAIR.
Now you might think that an offer of dog hair could not be considered “useful” in any context. But you would be wrong.
An abundance of extra dog hair would be tremendously serendipitous within a certain community of crafters. Yes, I’m talking about people who make things with dog hair.
No, not this:
Although I imagine there’s a market for it with skinny little rat dogs.
***
And not this:
But I have my suspicions…
***
No, what I’m really referring to is THIS:
Read this tag line with me, shall we?
“Better a sweater from a dog you know and love than from a sheep you’ll never meet”
Really?
Really.
Now I know what you’re asking… Are some people actually insane enough to knit an garment from dog hair?
Yes. Yes they are.
From within the book:
“What could be more delightful than wearing mittens from your Malamute, or a sweater from your Samoyed?”
and
“You’re harvesting what would normally end up clogging your vacuum cleaner anyway.”
Well okay then. With the vacuum cleaner logic, I guess I should start making pottery out of dog poo?
(Just supplement Fido’s diet with a healthy serving of CLAY….)
***
Some of you still don’t believe that people do this, do you? For you, I have evidence.
Behold:
The Dog Hair Scarf
(Found by googling: knit with dog hair)
***
But the scarf has NOTHING on this:
Wait for it…
…
The Sweater
Along with (presumably) the fiber sources
Personally, I think the little flower appliques are a nice touch.
So Nick? You needed to do something with some extra dog hair?
I got your serendipity right here.
PS AND I now know what to do with my own fiber source:
PPS While I find myself hilarious, I have to encourage you to click over to Amazon and read the reviews of the book.
Pay special attention to NedMuffin. He might be my new muse.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Wendy // Jan 24, 2010 at 9:47 pm
And what a shock – people are selling stuff on etsy knit from dog hair! Maybe I should change my medium…
2 Kristi Fornshell // Jan 24, 2010 at 10:03 pm
I am laughing hysterically and Z is looking at me as if I am nuts. Think of the names for your poo “POTTY RE” Denotes both source and recycling angle. Dachshund Dishes Peekapoo Plates, Collie Cups….The poosibilities are endless.
With the clothing line, ETSY here you come.
3 Kristi Fornshell // Jan 24, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Nothing could make my Nick look bad!!!
4 nAncY // Jan 24, 2010 at 10:09 pm
even pot holders!
and woof muffs!
tea cozy?
i wonder how much fluff it woud take for a dog bed cover.
5 Kathleen // Jan 24, 2010 at 11:21 pm
45 years ago, they were doing this. Guess how I know? We had to harvest the down from our samoyeds. Huge white clouds bagged for an eccentric old lady. Watch out for the cashmere label…it could be dog.
I laughed at the memory.
6 V.V. Denman // Jan 24, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Oh great. This is going to be one of those things I think about later and laugh out loud and nobody knows what’s so funny. Thanks a lot!
7 Helen // Jan 24, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Now I am feeling itchy!!
I am allergic to dog hair!!!
8 katdish // Jan 24, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Sweet Fancy Moses. There are no words…
9 katdish // Jan 25, 2010 at 12:00 am
Okay…Sure Nedmuffin’s comment was helpful, but not nearly as informative as THIS one:
“While living in the Himalayas, my underpants started to deteriorate. Since no stores exist, I had to find a natural fiber. I used Alpaca hair, Sheep Hair and Dog Hair to weave some new ones. They were sloppy to fit but actually worked; when I got back to Europe I got this book, Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You’ll Never Meet.
It was a fun, dead read.
One thing I recommend is treating the Dog Hair in a natural liquid to kill fleas, before you weave it, as I was bitten extensively when I did not.
Also, it is not humane to remove all of a dog’s hair since he can suffer skin lesions or frost or ridicule from bald Asian cats. “
10 Larry // Jan 25, 2010 at 7:22 am
Speaking of cats…is there a market for cat hair couture?
Larry
11 Lianne // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:26 am
Oh my chihuahua! That is so wrong! What happens when they wear these items in the rain? Mercy! The SMELL!!!
12 joyce // Jan 25, 2010 at 8:52 am
ew. Just ew.
13 Marni // Jan 25, 2010 at 9:47 am
This kicked in my gag reflex far more than meat puppets ever did. GAAAAAAAA!!! I have to go vacuum now….
14 Priscilla // Jan 25, 2010 at 11:40 am
We always threaten my cat that we are going to knit another cat out of her shed hair; one that is quieter, less needy, and doesn’t need a litter box.
15 Screwed Up Texan // Jan 25, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Ha ha, you’re going to laugh at me but Malamute/Alpaca mix yarn is not only beautiful, but also warmer and softer than cashmere. At least in my experience. I almost bought a sweater made from that it!
16 jasonS // Jan 25, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Wow-e-wow. I’m not the least bit allergic to dogs and this made me want to sneeze!
17 Suzicate // Jan 25, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Back in my hairdressing days, I had a client who used to knot hats (from dog hair) while I cut her hair. At the time I thought it was really weird even though they were beuatiful.
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