What Animals Are Used For Hair Weave

Equally I was trying to come upwards with a topic for today'southward blog, I heard in my head, "HORSE Hair".

Huh? Equus caballus Hair… Uh, OK. Hmmmm. What in the world am I going to say about horsehair?

And so the clouds parted every bit Mr. Google showed me the style, once once more. Yup, Mr. Google led me downward a certain path which led me to some other curve, then another curve and finally toward the pot of gold at the terminate of the trail. I had NO Thought so much could be washed with horsehair… But, at present I do. And, presently, so will you!

Horsehair fabric

THE USUAL HORSE HAIR PRODUCTS

(Permit information technology be known that all of the below uses are from live animals. Every article I read said to only utilize hair from live animals. All of the horse hair suppliers that I read nigh, use tail hair from alive animals – and not the whole tail, obviously, only trimmings. It is cultivated like sheep'south wool or llama hair. Since at that place is very footling need for horse hair products and many, many equus caballus hairs bachelor, suppliers contract with local equus caballus farms. Many equus caballus farms in England traditionally trim the horse tails for showing purposes. This is where they go most of the pilus. In the US, at that place are only small companies who prepare horse hair. These few ladies employ the aforementioned methods for preparing horse hair as they practise any yarn. They go information technology from local equus caballus farms or friends in merchandise. Horsehair products that I mentioned here do not benefit from slaughtered animals. This is a craft like yarn. It is expensive because one cannot acquire large quantities from whatsoever one animal, like yous can in sheep. And, it is also difficult to make ready for weaving so that process is more expensive. The exception being Curly Horses. Curly horses shed their wintertime curly hair coat every year and this abundant hair is used equally bedding and other "down" blazon applications as well as being spun into yarn.)

For me, when I recollect of equus caballus hair products, I recall of the necklaces and bracelets, keychain fobs, intricate headstalls and other such woven gems. I take a few horsehair bracelets. I wish I had a horse hair headstall… (so far, the hinting has not worked). But, anyway, you become my drift. I really only knew about the current and obvious uses for horsehair.

HISTORY OF HORSEHAIR Equally A WOVEN FABRIC

The more research I did, the more than I plant myself shaking my head. I had no idea! There is a complete industry effectually horse hair. Who knew?! Well, the horse hair people, I suppose… And, I wanted to introduce you to the premiere horse hair fabric weaving company that I had never known about until an hour or so agone.

John Boyd Material building – information technology has been around for a while…

John Boyd Textiles was established in 1837. They set themselves apart past using horse hair (from local alive animals) and cotton as woven cloth. Since equus caballus hair is of a different consistency than other animal pilus/fur, a whole new line of looms had to be designed. He did this. John Boyd figured it out. And, those aforementioned looms are still working in the factory today. John Boyd Textiles is now one of the last companies in the world still weaving hair fabric. Wow.

I found it wonderful that this family unit endemic business concern all the same runs and is still a family unit.

The staff at John Boyd Textiles

HORSE HAIR ISN'T Piece of cake

Horse pilus doesn't bend well and is very course, as y'all know. And so, in order to weave it, the John Boyd visitor had to come up with elaborate techniques and instructions (which they don't give out)… Anyway, 1 of the secrets they did allow slip was that the all-time way to weave horsehair is to have a "child hand you lot the strands". Well, obviously child labor laws in London in 1837 are not what they are today.

Modern weaving

WHY HORSE Pilus Equally A Fabric?

Horsehair fabrics are widely recognized for their unequaled luster, durability, piece of cake intendance and fortitude. Since it is rather expensive to manufacture — taken from live animals so the individual strands are valuable when you lot add enough together to make textile — horse pilus textiles and products are thought to be a luxury of the elite.

I can adjure to this. I've priced out many horsehair bracelets, headstalls and baskets from artists. Spendy.

WARP AND WOOF

I also learned that horse hair is always the weft or woof yarn. What is that?

In weaving, weft or woof is the yarn which is fatigued through the warp yarns to create textile. In North America, information technology is sometimes referred to as the "fill" or the "filling yarn". Because the weft does non accept to be stretched on a loom in the way that the warp is, information technology can more often than not be less strong.

Warp and Woof

HORSE HAIR FABRIC ON CHAIRS

I didn't know that:

"Horsehair fabric was originally used past famous furniture designs such as Chippendale, Hepplewhite, Lutyens and Rennie Mackintosh, and are ideally suited to most forms of upholstered piece of furniture, antique, classical and contemporary. To this day, horsehair fabrics are widely recognized for their unequaled lustre, durability, care properties and value. Horsehair fabrics take been used with many prestigious projects throughout the world."

Elegant equus caballus hair fabric

I've captured a few images of the horse pilus fabric that the John Boyd Textile company produces. Just, if yous'd like to see more than, become to this folio and click around. Information technology is really fairly awesome to see what tin can exist done with a horse tail!

Elegant horse pilus fabric on this chair

CRINOLINES AND OTHER THINGS

What is crinoline? Well, it translates as "horsehair and linen". How about that…

In Scandinavia, peasants and fishermen have mostly used it spun for ropes, for angling lines, for milk sieves, line-fishing mittens, outer socks, equus caballus reins and equus caballus rugs. Unspun information technology has been used for flour sieves and brushes. Upholstery fabrics with horsehair equally weft has primarily been used by the wealthier classes, and the same went for "stiffening fabrics" every bit in mens coats and crinolines.

Cord Musical instrument BOWS

Equus caballus hair is used for the bows on string instruments. For instance, a bow maker (an archetier – now that's a Jeopardy! word for you…) uses between 150 and 200 hairs from the tail of a horse for a violin bow. Just, bows for other string instruments by and large are more wide and require more hairs. Less expensive bows that apply synthetic hair practice non audio equally lovely…

Cello Bow made with horse hair

UNIQUE WEAVINGS

I found a few women who are weaving with horse pilus now. I idea this jacket with the high collar and horse hair 'falls' was pretty absurd. Yous tin can read her blog almost it here.

High collar with horsehair cascade

I also institute women who are creating tapestries from horse hair. Here is what they have to say about it:

"Horsehair tapestry is a very peculiar "commodity" of Buryat fine art. It is rooted in the ancient culture of nomadic Buryats and is intertwined with the traditions of other peoples and other cultures.

Horse hair has been used past Buryats, as well as other nomads, in their daily life for many years. This traditional Buryat material, combined with the technique of tapestry learned from the Russians and various traditions of tapestry existing in other parts of the world, plus the curiosity of a few Buryat craftspeople/artists and resulted in what tin now rightfully exist chosen "Buryat tapestry".

Horse pilus tapestries

I found this article on crinoline insect weavings. Crin is one of Republic of chile's most distinctive folk crafts. In markets around the country you will find delicate forms, often taking the shape of insects, woven out of dyed horsehair. Almost all Crin originates from a pocket-sized town called Rari. Evidently, this flagship prides itself on its unique crinoline weaving manufacture. Since it is a tourist town, they sell many, many of their crinoline insects right at that place too equally exporting their wares throughout the country.

Crinolin insects

NAVAJO POTTERY

Also, Navajo pottery has used equus caballus hair for decoration for many years. The Navajo equus caballus pilus pottery uses real horse hair during the firing procedure to decorate their rustic vase. The artist throws the pieces of horse hair onto the pottery at just the right fourth dimension to cause it to stick and melt into the slice. The fact that they utilise pilus makes each piece unique. Cool! Great idea.

Horse hair accented Navajo pottery

WOVEN VASES AND BASKETS

This horsehair handbasket idea is probably non new but I wanted to evidence them anyhow. I think they are beautiful and I cannot imagine sitting down and creating this delicate design. I'd go crazy. I'thou sure there would be pilus all over the place and most of it mine…

Astonishing detail in this horsehair woven basket

And another…

I had to put this one out there for you. These pieces were created by artist, Valerie Seaberg. I find these incredible! Who thinks of this kind of matter?! She uses woven horse hair in her design. You can become to her website here.

Horsehair accents

A close-upward view of the accents

ANGELINA JOLIE

Upon my travels with horse hair today, I found this article near Angelina Jolie who purchased a $5000 equus caballus hair purse from Akris. That put me onto another trail where I plant this horsehair handbag at Nordstroms for $4400. Wow. (The magazine reported that Jolie had her people call the designer of the pocketbook to make certain no horses were hurt when acquiring the horsehair before she purchased the bag.)

$4400 horsehair purse

AN ASSORTMENT OF UNIQUE ARTICLES

I institute several unique items crafted from horse pilus. I'll testify you hither. They kinda speak for themselves…

Horsehair hat

Horsehair basket

A flour sifter or sieve

Horsehair headstall

LASTLY, BEDDING

There is a very upscale Dutch bedding company chosen Lavital. Here is the link. They pride themselves in creating a hygienic and hypoallergenic bed. One of the ingredients is, wait for it… yup, HORSE Pilus! Once again a unique apply.

The Dutch company that uses horsehair in their mattresses – Lavital

In that location is as well a company in the NY surface area that has the same concept but not equally nice of a website design. Here is their link.

The Ny horsehair mattress company image

LIVE Brute TAILS

The one fact that I could not find any answers was WHY do they just use horse hair from alive animals? It is stated everywhere that this pilus is from "live" horses. I wonder why this matters in a logistical way since hair is expressionless anyway, whether on a live beast or not. Perhaps they are just stating that no horses were hurt in the making of this production, for which I am grateful. But, I don't know…

THANKS FOR ROMPING THROUGH HORSEHAIR WITH ME!

Addendum:

I've heard from several Curly Horse enthusiasts here in the US who say they use the wonderful curly hair for all kinds of products! Curly tail hairs are bountiful, I'm told… Hither are some of their wares and comments.

This just in from a Curly reader:

"You said you were waiting for pics of items made with Curly pilus. Fastened is a set of photos of a blimp equus caballus fabricated by Bunny Reveglia of New United mexican states. I sent her the spring sheddings from my carmine pinto curly pony, and she created the yarn and crocheted this beautiful pony. She sold her Curly Buddy horses as a fundraiser. They even have curly fetlocks like real curly horses."

And another Curly Horse owner sent in a photo of her horse hair yarn plus her website:

Here is my website I brand Curly equus caballus fibre items http://www.doublejanddacres.com/fibre_studio yous tin can look through my site to run across what we practice here.

More Curly equus caballus hair yarn and items!

MORE CURLY OWNER REMARKS:

Please explain that "ALL" curly horses shed their curly coats naturally each springtime /nosotros groom them/save the hair in big bags/wash& and spin the hair…into yarn. Information technology is all totally hypo-allergenic.