The souvenir shop I visited today had lots of high-end knitted possum products. There were all kinds of things-- gloves, socks, sweaters, scarves, throws, and wristlets for the hipsters. One of the item's tags said, 'Support backyard businesses!', which I thought was a rather intriguing statement. So when I got home I jumped online, as you do, to find out more about the informal possum fur trade.
OK, yep, it seems there's a ready market for the person who finds himself in possession of possums and/or fur. But wait, how would the average person (presumably, with a backyard) do that?
Well, they'd start by going to Trademe, of course. I showed you the box-like Dept of Conservation traps in the bush recently, but it seems that these will also work...
And once you've acquired one of the critters you can make use of it in its natural state, I suppose....
What you really want, though, is just the fur, not the skin, for making into yarn. But because its fibres are so short and slippery (they're like fluffy minks), possum fur by itself won't hold together well enough to be spun. So it's blended with usually merino wool or alpaca or something nice like that, and the resulting fabric has this wonderfully soft, silky texture. I bet this fellow is pretty awesome to cuddle.
But, wait, let's back up a second. How do you get the fur off the possum? Do you... shave it, or something?
Nope, you pluck it. Like plucking a chicken. Or you can again turn to Trademe and the wonders of modern technology.
Just imagine reading the owner's manual. I think I am going to have nightmares.
OK, yep, it seems there's a ready market for the person who finds himself in possession of possums and/or fur. But wait, how would the average person (presumably, with a backyard) do that?
Well, they'd start by going to Trademe, of course. I showed you the box-like Dept of Conservation traps in the bush recently, but it seems that these will also work...
And once you've acquired one of the critters you can make use of it in its natural state, I suppose....
What you really want, though, is just the fur, not the skin, for making into yarn. But because its fibres are so short and slippery (they're like fluffy minks), possum fur by itself won't hold together well enough to be spun. So it's blended with usually merino wool or alpaca or something nice like that, and the resulting fabric has this wonderfully soft, silky texture. I bet this fellow is pretty awesome to cuddle.
But, wait, let's back up a second. How do you get the fur off the possum? Do you... shave it, or something?
Nope, you pluck it. Like plucking a chicken. Or you can again turn to Trademe and the wonders of modern technology.
Just imagine reading the owner's manual. I think I am going to have nightmares.
3 comments:
Kiwi's sure are resourceful for dealing with their possum plague.
I bet there's nothing like a warm cuddly possum-bear! and a pair of warm possum gloves would be a very prized possession for some who will soon have snow to shovel!
But I do wonder - because these possums are so cute - does anyone try to keep them as pets?
Wow! Over there, a whole other world opens up everywhere, who would've thot of this?
Keeping possums as pets: I was going to say no, no way, no Kiwi would keep a pest as a pet.
But then Amiri brought home a library book all about some kid's pet baby possum.
So what do I know.
And, it was SO cute. Now I kind of want one.
Post a Comment