I want to make fur hats.

[MattC]

Hi folks, I ran a little trap line when I was a kid back in the 1980s. In December I ran a little line behind our house with my 9 year old. We set six traps and had them out for a week or 10 days. He learned a few sets, how to skin flesh and strech. We got 7 nice coons and a possum. We sent them off to the tannery. Once they are back I'd like to make us some hats. I would sure appreciate and insights if you have done it before. Thanks.





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[Awnry Abe]

No insights. Awesome pics, though. I love the bare feet on the cold garage floor and the hand in the pocket. I wish I could have heard the conversation between father and son. Those years are as precious as gold!

[kentuckyhippie]

ahh that brings back memories. when I was a little girl my dad ran a trap line every winter and I helped skin and stretch the hides. we didn't have those nice stretchers like yours tho. we used thin boards cut in that shape Drove my mom crazy cause I would come in smelling like mink musk Maybe that was why I didn't have a lot of close friends in grade school LOL

[IowaLez]

To easily sew the leather seams you will need an industrial sewing machine like I have. I have a Pfaff that is old enuf the lable says it was made in "West Germany". It is built like a tank, and runs great, and I chose it over a brand new Juki that was flimsier and the same price.

A regular sewing machine can't go through very thick material, let alone leather, but my industrial one can even sew through up to an inch thickness of latigo (if I walk it by hand along the seam). A machine like this is dangerous cuz the needle can go through you fingers or hands like they are jello. I would suggest you find someone/some company near where you live that has one. To hand sew the seams you will need to pre-punch seam holes for the needle and thread pretty close together, and things get a lot more tricky when fur is involved.

[7thswan]

There is someone on HT that makes Fur hats and gloves. Lives in Alaska IIRC, maybe someone will remember, also look on the barter board,past posts.

[MattC]

We will be Hand sewing. Hopefully this activity will be good memories for him. Seems like that is my motivation more and more.

[jd4020]

I'd say you will have many wonderful memories.
Like your pictures!
God bless,
jd

[calliemoonbeam]

Originally Posted by 7thswan

There is someone on HT that makes Fur hats and gloves. Lives in Alaska IIRC, maybe someone will remember, also look on the barter board,past posts.

That is GrammasCabin. She makes beautiful items. You can hopefully find some pictures of her work if you do a search.

I too have dreams of making things from my own rabbit furs, but that's down the line sometime, lol. Good luck!

[Tacoma]

I also would like to make a fur hat. I don't know how and want to use an old beige mink stole I have. Any ideas?

[Elffriend]

It has been a very long time, but I've hand sewed sheepskin slippers and mittens. You'll need a needle with a triangular point. They are very sharp.

[Jim56]

Kentuckyhippie, believe it or not they want fur stretched on wood now. Thats what the fur market wants now. MattC that young man is smiling in every picture, but I bet you are to. Started taking my son when was 4. Now 33 years later he takes me. Lol

The first time I ever did anything like that, I found an old raggedy hat, took it apart at the seams, and cut each piece identical and so on. Today, I'd google "how to make a fur hat" It's a lot more fun to make the first few by copying something, then start to add your own modifications though.

[7thswan]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

I also would like to make a fur hat. I don't know how and want to use an old beige mink stole I have. Any ideas?

I can only give you and others a few hints. My grandmother from Russia was a furrier, we wear fur in our family for warmth. Old fur tears very easly,infact every fur ages and becomes unusable,it's the hide(skin). This process can be slowed down with proper storage(cool and proper humidity). The way a hide is tanned is also a huge factor. thin hide such as rabbit,tears very easly. Most old fur coats are useable as cutters( what they are known as in the craft industry, same as chenele(sp) beadspreads ect) Areas of the garment have different rates of wear, so a whole garments seams will be different. The bottom of a coat will be in better condition than sleeves of sholders.Look for a garment that is made of full skins. If you would buy a new coat,this is also what to look for-full hides. One would be surprised if the looked closely to many fur coats,they are a mass of tiny pieces put together with many many seams. A hat could be made easly,because it doesn't get much stress. I would suggest a fabric backing to any old fur skin,it will give strength where the stitching weakens the hide. Use waxed dental floss for hand sewing. Makeing a pattern is another story,but using something that fits you,that can be taken apart and used as a pattern is the best way.

[motdaugrnds]

Zong and Elffriend have the right idea if you're going to sew it by hand. Just get yourself an "old" hat you like and take it apart to use as a "pattern". That way, you can position each piece on the different hides to find out where they fit best and what the coloring will be on each part.....lots of fun (especially when doing it with your child).

The 3-pronged needle can be straight or curved, depending on what you need in each area. (I picked up an assortment of those needles to use for "canvass" and it came with a nice bit of strong thread that would endure.)

I would recommend a straight stitch first; then trim off the fur, fold that seam over onto itself and straight stitch again. (Another method is to create a straight stitch and "without" folding the seam over on itself and "without" trimming off the fur, use a button stitch to finish that seam off. If I did it this way, I would make the seam as small as possible.)

[MattC]

Thank you, cutting an old hat apart is a great idea.

[unregistered5595]

If you want to figure out what *type* of hat you are thinking of making, say so that you can look up patterns, look here: http://www.usafoxx.com/mens-womans-fur-hats.htm
I have one of their fedoras, very nice hats.
They will also tan your hides/furs.

[KIT.S]

You can find leather needles at most fabric stores, both for hand work and for a machine. When sewing, put the fur sides together, sew your seam, either button stitch that wraps around the cut edge or a straight seam, then turn so you can use a needle and pick the fur out of the seam on the right side. This way the seam will disappear.
You want to watch which way the fur lays - the grain of the fur - when you cut your pieces. Cut from the leather side with an xacto or single edge razor blade and don't cut all the way through the fur itself. You can hold up the piece being cut so the fur doesn't get in the way of the blade. There is instruction for nearly anything on the internet now, so you can probably find a pattern that indicates which way the fur should lay for best effect.
When I use old furs, I use contact cement to glue a fabric backing on to stabilize the skin and prolong the life. One of my kids is involved with Society for Creative Anachronism - SCA - and I've done a lot of sewing for him. Fur is fun because so few people use it any more. They're afraid of it, but it's no worse than velvet to sew.
Kit

[Tacoma]

Thanks Feather in the Breeze for an awesome site recomendation ! Found what I want !
http://www.usafoxx.com/mens-womans-fur-hats.htm

[where I want to]

I've not done fur but did lots of sheep skin, which is probably lots tougher.
I did get an industrial machine but until I did, I hand sewed with a double thread and a three sided needle on one end and an upholster needle on the other, going back through with the plain needle so as not to cut the thread with a three sided needle. I used a stitch wheel to space and trimmed the hair shorter about 1/2 inch along the seam and did a welt seam, which held better. Too much tension tears the skin. A welt is time consuming but hold so much better. And looks good.
Sound complicated but is really easier than sewing cloth IMO.

[Foxy]

Congratulations on your catch! Always happy to see trappers care enough to do a good 'put up'. Nice job!

Stitching coon skins by hand is usually not a problem. The tri-cornered needle is called a 'glovers needle' if you need to find one but I think a regular point needle for stitching canvas will work and can be found in most stores that sell sewing notions.

You might want to make a liner for your hat as well and that can be sewn on a machine. If you don't have a liner the hairs poke through the hide and can be scratchy. I use quilted material from WalMart. It is cotton fabric with a thin sheet of batting backed with nylon mesh and quilted in a diamond pattern.

Good luck! If you run into problems let me know...I've made lots of hats over the years so maybe I can help.