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Post by wolfwoman on Nov 19, 2005 22:17:26 GMT -5
Anyone out there sew hides? I started about 5 years ago and love it, not to mention I can make a decent amount of money from it too. Here's my website to see what I make: www.alaskaspiritcrafts.comWolfie |
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Post by Washkeeton on Nov 20, 2005 4:42:23 GMT -5
Love the web site. where do you get your firs from?? i have a quarter moose and some beaver to make some mukluks for my little one. I want to so bad learn to sew them properly. I like to make wall art with rabbit hides. Do you trap? or tan your own?? Wash
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Post by wolfwoman on Nov 20, 2005 16:29:27 GMT -5
Thanks  I get most of my pelts from a guy in Washington state. He deals in buying and selling and tanning and I can get furs VERY resonably from him, and am able to pass on the savings to my customers. I can sell a mountainman hat for 1/2 of what it goes for in Anchorage. I haven't tried mukluks yet, tho want to someday when I have the extra time to 'practice'. Haven't done any trapping yet, tho I have been reading and learning a lot and have been buying traps here and there for when we can start. I have tanned a few pelts, didn't come out too bad and then I decided it was WAY too much work, but I did enjoy learning how to do it...lol It's actually cheaper for me to send them out to be tanned. By the time I put all MY time and effort into it, I can have made 2-3 hats or pairs of mittens. If you want to learn to sew hides, best thing I can say is to get some cheap crafts pelts and have at it. It's not a lot different than sewing fabric, except the fur gets in the way and you have to learn to deal with that. Wolfie |
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 14, 2006 22:09:15 GMT -5
Here's a pic of a hat I finally made for hubby. I sew so much stuff but hardly ever get the time to do things for us! He'll shoot me when he sees his pic on here, but oh well...lol It's a Free Trapper Style hat with a leather brim to keep the fur outta the face, plus a fleece lining that not only makes it warm, but comfy and stretchy.  |
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Post by naturerules1 on Feb 16, 2006 9:52:49 GMT -5
Wolfwoman, I'm Impressed!! That is a goodlooking hunk of man...oops I mean hat! No Really It is awesome! Good going! Cynthia
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 16, 2006 16:40:07 GMT -5
Heheh, I told him the fur matched his beard. You can't see it in the pic, but his hair is long too, down the middle of his back.  |
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Post by Jenny on Feb 16, 2006 18:10:58 GMT -5
Great site, Wolfie, and beautiful work! I've done some fur sewing with animals from our trapline off and on as we need things, and have made some nice hats as gifts. I really need to practice more because since I don't do it often, I'm very slow and always dread starting a project. Like anything else, speed and quality will come with practice.
Tanning is hard work when it's all manual. I much prefer the sewing to the tanning. We have some pretty hides now just waiting to get tanned. Keep putting it off.
I've only made mukluks for our boys, but suppose adult ones would be about the same. We have a couple of old ones here I'll use for patterns. What do you suggest for the soles? Just leather, or Sole Saver. I've never tried it.
Thanks,
Jenny
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 16, 2006 18:59:19 GMT -5
Jenny, Thank you I cannot find soles to save my life and I've searched he internet, just can't seem to hit the right search words I guess. I have not made a pair of mukluks yet, tho I have just bought a pattern and am going to try it as soon as I get some soles....lol I'm thinking I'll prefer a factory made sole for wear purposes, even tho it's not traditional. We're not even gonna go back into the work of tanning again..lol, it's backbreaking work at best, and when you put that much work into a pelt you want it to be yours or you want to sell it for LOTS of money! If you'd like I can make you a copy of the largest size mukluk pattern I have and send it to you, you'll have to email me your address if you don't mind. At $12 a pattern someone besides me should get some use from it! Wolfie |
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Post by Washkeeton on Feb 16, 2006 23:32:03 GMT -5
tanned moose is the only hide that wont slip on ice. If you dont plan to walk on a lot of concrete and asphault then a double layer of moose with some kind of fur would function fine. when you wear holes in the first layer then you have the second layer to protect the inner fur lining until you can put another sole on the shoe.
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 17, 2006 12:01:44 GMT -5
Cool, may have to try and get this moose hide tanned that I have. I actually wanted to get it tanned with the fur on, just haven't had the time or effort to box it and send it. Course then there's the issue of getting out the hammer and awl to put the sewing holes in...lol That's one part of sewing thick hides that I don't like.
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Post by Washkeeton on Feb 17, 2006 22:40:40 GMT -5
get a leather hole punch from black elk
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 18, 2006 0:12:31 GMT -5
I have one of those, that's worse on my poor hands than the hammer and awl! I just don't have the strength in my hands to operate one. I actually use an awl and a rock that fits in my hand much more nicely than a hammer, not to mention more control.
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Post by Jenny on Feb 19, 2006 2:45:11 GMT -5
I cannot find soles to save my life and I've searched he internet, just can't seem to hit the right search words I guess. I have not made a pair of mukluks yet, tho I have just bought a pattern and am going to try it as soon as I get some soles....lol I'm thinking I'll prefer a factory made sole for wear purposes, even tho it's not traditional. Wolfie I looked, too, and this is about the best I could find for manufactured soles. I searched under "replacement soles". www.4seasonsfly.com/product.asp?Product_Id=47765&d_Id=411&l1=&l2=The soles on the mukluks we have are made with a double layer of moose hide. Guess that's the standard. Jenny |
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 20, 2006 12:19:39 GMT -5
I found a couple more after some searching, they're resoles for motorcyce boots, similar to what you found but without that strapping. I may order a pair and see what they amount to. Also on my last venture into LosAnchorage (this past Friday) I noticed that some of the Mukluks sold in the Alaska Fur Exchange were made with Flip Flop soles! Isn't that just a hoot! Seems as tho you'd e slip-slidin away with that kinda sole, but then again, most everyone that buys something like that from the Fur Exchange is a tourist and they will probably never wear them anyways!
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Post by wolfwoman on Feb 25, 2006 20:45:00 GMT -5
Folks, I think our luck may be turning. Not only did we find the snowmachine I mentioned in an earlier post, but now I've come across a fur machine that I can buy from a guy that lives HERE in Chickaloon!! For a reasonable price also. This machine will 1/2 or 1/3 my time (once I get used to it) for making mitts and hats and I can sell more, which means I can make more, which means I can pay off my bills faster, which means I can move sooner, which means I can quit the REAL job sooner....OK OK OK I know, shut up!!! Happy! Happy! Happy! Happy!  Wolfie |
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