Knit Your Dog! began when I, as a caretaker of a very furry dog, wondered if there were something better to do with all that shed. One day, like an answer to a prayer, a woman came on TV and talked about how dog hair could indeed be made into wool. I began saving right away.

It took me a long time to find someone who could spin dog hair, but as soon as I received my first sample, it was almost magical. This was, quite simply, the softest wool I had ever touched. It knits beautifully and is incredibly warm. The turtleneck pullover I knitted from that first dog is so warm that I can only wear it during extreme cold. And on those days, it saves my life.

The reactions I received from so many people led me to launch Knit Your Dog! Though some find the idea of wool from dog hair weird, I disagree. Dog hair cannot be cut from the animal like sheep or alpaca (which is pretty traumatic); it has to be brushed. Only healthy, well nourished dogs produce good wool. And just as conventional wool doesn't smell like the animal it came from, chiengora (the official name for dog wool) doesn't smell like dog, either. It's humane, exquisite, and sustainable.

We create custom wool and items from our customers' dogs' hair. The items listed here for sale on Etsy are made from the fiber of my dogs and those of others' well-loved pups. They are just a sampling of what we can do for clients, and their prices reflect what might be expected for a comparable custom order. We also provide production services (skirting, cleaning, carding, and spinning) for those who would like to knit or crochet their own wool. Our website offers lots of information, many ideas, and easy ways to contact us.

Before we accept any order, we insist on sampling the dog's hair. We charge for sampling, and for clients in the United States, the cost of the sample will be credited to the client's first order resulting from that sample. We regret that we cannot credit orders outside of the US but shipping charges are prohibitive. Please contact us if you are interested in having your dog's hair sampled and we will provide you with full instructions and details.