How should brushings be stored?
A cardboard box, paper bag or pillowcase. It's important to protect your fiber from moisture and pests.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET MY YARN?
Current lead times are on the home page
WILL THE YARN HAVE AN ODOR?
No. During processing, the yarn is washed 2-3 times and free of chemicals. Yarn is air dried outside when possible and UV rays neutralize residual odors.
does my pet need to be a specific breed to have yarn made?
No. Any animal with a double coat and hair at least 1.5 inches long is suitable.
how do I know how much I have? what does an ounce of pet hair look like?
A kitchen scale is useful and a good estimate is a lunch sized paper bag usually holds 2 ounces and a grocery sized paper bag holds about 8 ounces lightly packed. It's impossible for me to estimate how much hair you have by looking at a photo.
I only have a few handfuls of brushings and my pet has passed away. Can I still have something made?
Absolutely! I will spin any amount and some of the keepsake items need only a small amount of yarn. Should you have your heart set on a keepsake but do not have enough of your pet's hair, a supplemental fiber can be added.
do you dye the yarn?
I do not offer dying services. I feel that the natural beauty of the yarn is wonderful and prefer to keep all dyes and chemicals out of the process.
can you spin clippings?
No
how do I care for my keepsake or wash what I've made with my yarn?
Treat as you would any fine wool. Cool water hand washing or spot cleaning and laying flat to dry is ideal. Use a gentle soap for delicates.
can I send hair from more than one pet mixed together?
Yes! This is a wonderful idea and depending on the colors you may end up with a very unique color pattern.
what will the yarn look like?
Check out my gallery for examples. The color of the yarn will reflect the undercoat - and remember the undercoat does not always look like the outer coat. If your pet's undercoat has several colors, keep in mind that the brushings are prepared by carding which combines them and will meld the colors. If you have more than one color and would like them spun separately, please send them in separate bags. The yarn may have a soft halo (fuzz) and like any hand spun yarn will have the presence of hand (mine). Because the lengths of fiber vary with pet hair , there will be some thicker and thinner areas of yarn and some neps throughout. This lends itself to the hand spun style and nature of the fiber. The softest undercoats make the softest yarns. Guard hairs or undercoat that are brushed out with undercoat will change the texture of the yarn if there is a high ratio of top coat. This will also shed out.
will allergens be removed from the yarn?
The dander is removed through the finishing process- however, my studio is full of pet hair in all stages of processing so it is not possible to avoid cross contamination from air born dander or residual dander on equipment (including me!)
what will the yarn feel like?
The level of softness will depend on the brushings. If there are guard hairs from the outer coat mixed in with the undercoat they will create a "scratchy" quality to the yarn. This usually isn't very noticeable if the majority of the hair is undercoat.
where are you located?
Pittsburgh, Pa - United States
do you accept international orders?
Yes, I have worked with clients all from over the world. Any tariff fees or taxes imposed are the responsibility of the client.
How do you ship?
I ship priority mail flat rate and international first class. Shipping is added to your invoice. If you require a signature upon delivery you must request it
what are payment options?
Payment can me made in one or two installments. No payment is due until the work on your project begins and then the balance upon completion - or all at once when the project begins if you prefer. You will receive an invoice via square and you can pay through that link , send a personal check, a direct payment through Zelle or Cash App or Paypal, Venmo or an Ether or Bitcoin payment direct to my wallet.
How long does the hair need to be?
At lease 1.5 inches long
Do you offer discounts for large orders?
I do not. Base pricing per ounce reflects every possible efficiency built into my processing. This is a hand made artisan yarn. It is not comparable to a machine made commodity yarn. Pricing reflects my skill level and my time - and in return you have the ultimate one of a kind yarn!
How should i pack my brushings for shipping
Pack them in a paper bag if it's cat hair and paper or plastic if it's dog or rabbit hair. Compress hair to save space when shipping, Include the submission form if you did not submit electronically and if you did please still include your contact info inside of the box. Feel free to include a photo.