What is "chiengora"

n. dog hair used as a textile

Chiengora is a yarn or wool spun from dog hair. The word is a portmanteau of chien (the French word for dog) and angora. It is up to 80% warmer than wool and is not elastic.

Often chiengora is blended with wool during the carding process. This blend has some give to it, which is preferable when knitting. It is also often blended with wool in order to create a yarn with less heat insulation.