It’s wonderfully soft and fluffy . . . like a good-quality mohair

JANE CREWE started knitting using dog fur two years ago after getting her pets, Samoyed sisters Phaedra and Artemis, both seven.

She researched the Siberian breed and discovered that she could make yarn from their fur.

Mrs Crewe, 56, who works front of house at Edinburgh Zoo, said: ‘You brush it off and can get three standard supermarket bagfuls a time.

‘You can use it single-ply, whereas with sheep’s wool you might use twoor four-ply.

‘It’s a terrific fibre to work with — very soft and fluffy like a good-quality mohair or angora.

‘And because these breeds don’t produce the oils that weather-proof other dogs’ coats, you don’t get that doggy smell.’

Laughing, Mrs Crewe, who also lives in the Scottish capital, adds that her husband Martin, 61, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, thinks she’s ‘mad as a box of frogs’.

She makes hats, gloves and scarves for herself — but Martin hasn’t asked for a dog jumper yet.

Having a ball: Jane (above with the fur) cards it (top left) and spins it (left). Below, the finished chiengora wool