I came across a most delightful book, Knitting With Dog Hair by Kendall Crolius and Anne Montgomery.  It gives techniques and terms and patterns and resources and there are some really cute pictures.  Well, I don't have a dog but cat hair is also included in the book so I have given an eye and a thought to the neighbourhood cat, Samosa.  However, what caught my attention completely (heck, as I tripped over it) was a dust ball.  What if…….  Would it…..  Has anyone tried this before……   The supply is continuous and seemingly endless.  Are dust balls really composed of mainly flaked-away human skin?  My dust balls seem to have fibre in them: Samosa does visit, as well as other feline wanderers. Hmmm…..

What I would really like is for dust balls to form from this fleece, seen drying after being washed on the deck,  now lounging on the day bed in my office. 

It was  in a large bag at a thrift store and, knowing very little about fleece, I am unsure if it is from one sheep or many and whether or not a conventional spinner would reject it as unsuitable.  It does look as if it would be a challenge to comb – card? 

I love the look of it, the feel of it, the origin of it, the fact of it sharing space in my home.

Washing it was an experience!  I was not trying – or wanting – to get rid of the lanolin (grease) or even the small sticks: it was more  problematic 'dirt' that concerned me and hot water and soap seemed to take care of that.

I've used it in a few small projects,  as is,  and would like to do more:  shape some of it into a doll…..  sew some flat onto a card……pull and twist lengths and knit with that….

For the moment  it can just laze away and – perhaps….

…..make some dust balls……