The dog-hair yarn business

Back in the 1980s, Betty Burlan Burian Kirk got the idea of starting a business spinning dog-hair yarn. Her clients were people who "want to wear something from their dog." She said it was "becoming more and more popular."


The Tuscaloosa News - Oct 20, 1987

Has the trend of "wearing your pet" continued to grow in popularity since the 80s? Well, here at WU we've posted before about people who wear dog-fur sweaters. So maybe it is a popular thing.

And though Betty Burlan Burian Kirk no longer seems to be in business, a quick google search pulls up plenty of places (such as here) that'll spin your dog's fur into yarn for you, if that's what floats your boat.

Update: So her middle name is "Burian", not "Burlan". And she's still in business. Her website, bbkirk.com, offers plenty of info on dog hair — how to collect it, wash it, pricing, etc. Plus, she has a Gallery of Dog Hair Items.
     Posted By: Alex - Sun Nov 02, 2014
     Category: Fashion | Dogs | 1980s





Comments
When I lived in the Pacific Northwest (southern suburbs of Seattle), I heard that the Native Americans there had a special breed of wooly dog from which that make blankets and other items. I asked one of them what happened to that dog breed, and she sadly said that they were extinct.
Posted by Joshua Zev Levin, Ph.D. on 11/02/14 at 07:50 AM
@Josh: I heard that the Inuit word for 'dog' and 'lunch' sounded about the sam and the confusion was a primary factor in the breed's extension.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 11/02/14 at 09:22 AM
This is still done. Some places spin it for you, its expensive because of the labor, and takes a huge amount of fur. Some people do it themselves.

For some people, its a nice reminder of their dog. For spinners, its a good source of high quality fiber that would just be all over the couch otherwise.

I haven't done this myself. I don't spin, and I'm a cat person. Cat fur works, but it has to be very long fur.
Posted by Rocket Scion on 11/02/14 at 05:00 PM
Like I said before, Just don't get caught in the rain wearing your dog hair sweater. It probably won't smell too good when wet! :lol: :coolsmile:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 11/02/14 at 07:11 PM
There was a long-running ad that for $2 you could get info on how your pet's hair could be made into a coat for you. My wife (now-ex) fell for it. It was one poorly photocopied page. Basically, it was good info on collecting and cleaning, but you had to have several garbage bags full to even consider having it done, and the prices for spinning, weaving, and sewing were outrageous (more expensive than a mink coat).
Posted by Phideaux on 11/02/14 at 08:21 PM
Betty is apparently still out there but the middle name is "Burian" not "Burlan". Her website:
http://www.bbkirk.com/
Posted by Atropos on 11/02/14 at 09:12 PM
My mother knit professionally and knitted at least one sweater for a customer using dog hair yarn. The lady had gathered and spun it herself. Plus my mother had to lay a towel across her lap when she knit as it did shed terribly. And it drove her cats crazy as well. They wouldn't come near her while she was working with it.
Posted by a.e.Casey on 11/03/14 at 07:03 AM
@Atropos: Thanks for finding that! Will make the correction and add a link to her site above.
Posted by Alex on 11/03/14 at 08:48 AM
Schmutz? What kind of a meshuggner names a dog Schmutz? Thankful you should be the dog can't talk.
Posted by Eoin on 11/07/14 at 12:23 PM
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