VIP FIBERS would like to make it abundantly clear that collecting your pet's fiber is safe and humane and in no way harms your pet.
As a matter of fact, the process is healthy and soothing to your pet and builds a bonding between you and your pet as it promotes healthy hair growth.
COLLECTING PET FIBER: We spin both the brush-out undercoat of double coated breeds and the clippings from single coated breeds. Ideally, it is the soft, fluffy undercoat that will give you the "cashmere" like yarn, however some clippings can produce a very nice, lustrous yarn. It will all really depend upon your pet. General rule of thumb is the longer the fiber staple (2" or longer), the better the yarn.
Collecting the fur is done simply by using a pet brush, we recommend the soft wire brushes also called a "slicker", or a pet rake which is great for the double coated breeds. You may brush your pet either before it's bath or after and in-between, it doesn't matter. If you collect fur from brushing right after a bath, be sure to lay the fiber out on a counter to air dry before storing. Never put the fiber away wet!
These may be purchased at your local pet store.
sample of slicker
sample of undercoat rake
You may also "harvest" your precious bounty from clippings. Whether you groom your pet yourself or have a professional groomer, the procedure is simple. We recommend that you skip a couple of clippings (not groomings) to allow for the longest possible fiber length. Be selective as to what you save. You only want the longest and softest of your pet's fur to ensure the best possible keepsake yarn. Ask your groomer to save only what hits the table and not the sweepings from the floor!
STORING YOUR PET FIBER:
Pet hair, stored properly will have an indefinite shelf life. Two major factors contribute to the demise of your precious stash....
MOLD & MILDEW: which can easily be prevented by making sure your fiber is completely dry at the time of storage and that you keep your fiber in a "breathable" cloth bag. We recommend an old white pillow case.
and...
CLOTH MOTHS (Tineola bisselliella): who will find your dark, secluded stash a perfect little nursery in which to lay their eggs. Wool, fur (hair), and feathers consist primarily of kertin (a tough, insoluble protein substance) Cloth moths are one of the few insects who have adapted their diet to include Kertin as their main source of nutrition. Though the adult moths do not eat, the larva that develops from the eggs they lay in your fiber will feed on the raw fiber thus rendering your fiber useless.
If you see the adult moths, it is probably too late, as they have probably already laid their eggs. If you pull out your fiber and notice tubes of webbing, immediately discard your fiber. Any fiber sent to VIP Fibers containing Cloth Moths will be immediately disposed of. We can not risk a moth infestation in our facility.
Moths do not like light, open air or movement. For this reason we recommend that you store your fiber in an old white pillow case, preferably hung up in a well lit area (laundry room, garage, etc). Storing your fiber on the floor of a dark closet will only entice moths to enter.
Unfortunately, there is no exact formula to guess the mass of fiber per ounce. All natural fibers vary, depending upon their construction. Most canine under coat is hollow core, this is due to nature's insulating factor, therefore there is generally a lot of mass or fiber in one ounce.
The tables below should be used as a general guideline only.
If you are saving up for a particular project, we recommend either a home postal scale or a kitchen scale. Don't have a scale? Here is a rough estimate:
TABLE #1
CONTAINER Packed down tight
Approx. Oz.
Sandwich Zip Lock Baggie
2
Average Size plastic Grocery Bag
20
Standard Size Pillow Case
50
These are amounts of clean fiber required prior to spinning.
TABLE #2
Project
Amount of Fiber (Weight)
Socks, Hats, Mittens
4 ounces
Scarf
10 ounces
Vest (Large)
28 ounces
Cardigan or sweater (Large)
42 ounces
Depending upon your pet and the condition of their fiber, you can expect anywhere from 2% to 25% fiber loss. The cleaner and longer the fiber, the less loss entailed. As a general rule of thumb, calculate using 17% as the loss ratio.
TABLE #3
YARN THICKNESS
WPI
APPROXIMATE YARDS
SPORT WEIGHT
10-13
27 yards per oz. of raw fiber
FINGER WEIGHT
14-17
37 yards per oz. of raw fiber
LACE WEIGHT
18+
53 yards per oz. of raw fiber
ESTIMATING APPROXIMATE YARDS OF YOUR FIBER:
To estimate how many yards you will receive from the fiber you send: Take the number of ounces, multiply it by 17%. Subtract the percentage total from the total ounces (this is to estimate the average loss ratio). Using Table 3 above, take the remaining ounces and multiply it by the yards per oz.
EXAMPLE: You sent in 8.36 ounces of raw fiber and want Finger Weight Yarn: 8.36 x 17% =1.42 (loss ratio). Subtract 1.42 from 8.36 = 6.94 oz. 6.94 oz. raw fiber after loss ratio x 37 yards per oz = approximately 256 yards
ESTIMATING OUNCES YOU WILL NEED: Already have your pattern? Use the table below to determine how many ounces of raw fiber you need to collect in order to complete your project. From your pattern, determine the weight of the yarn called for and the total yardage required.
Using Table #3 above, determine the size of the yarn in your pattern. Divide the Approximate Yards into the total yards called for in your pattern. The sum will be the number of ounces you will need to save for your project. (note: always round up at least one ounce)
EXAMPLE: Your pattern calls for a total of 545 yards of Sport Weight Yarn (ply doesn't matter). 545 yards divided by 27 yards per oz. = 21 ounces of raw fiber
PACKAGING YOUR FIBER FOR SHIPMENT TO VIP FIBERS
Preparing your fiber for shipment is relatively simple. Remove your fiber from it's cloth bag and stuff it in a light-weight box. Smaller amounts can use a Tyvek envelope (available from your local post office). Packing down your fiber will not hurt it and no additional packing material is required. For more information on shipping to VIP Fibers, click here.
Collecting the fur is done simply by using a pet brush, we recommend the soft wire brushes also called a "slicker", or a pet rake which is great for the double coated breeds. You may brush your pet either before it's bath or after and in-between, it doesn't matter. If you collect fur from brushing right after a bath, be sure to lay the fiber out on a counter to air dry before storing. Never put the fiber away wet!
