Avoid using scissors because they will shear through hair you’ll want to keep, creating uneven lines on your finished product. Set the pattern aside and cut the hide using a scalpel or sharp knife. Pin in place or tack down with glue dots and trace the outline with a felt-tip pen. The best finished products have all the fur running in the same direction. Lay the pattern atop the hide, paying attention to the “grain,” the direction in which the fur grows. Place the pelt fur-side-down on a cutting board. Use scrap fabric to make a model of the original product so you can test size and dimensions without wasting pelts. If you find no patterns for fur, search for one suited to fake fur or thick canvas. Cutting the Hidesĭecide what you’re going to make and find a pattern. Place mothballs or aromatherapy inside the box if insects are a problem. A cardboard box or paper bag work best, within a basement closet. Once you obtain the tanned hides, store in a cool and well-ventilated area until you are ready to use them. The best, and most expensive, rabbit hides are found at leatherworking stores. Then try online classifieds or craft fairs, because those pelts are often processed as hobbies and the sellers want outlets for their interests. Look first at homesteading communities where the rabbits are raised. If you don’t want to tan them or can’t find green rabbit hides, search for products that have already been tanned. Homesteaders thrive on trades and that hat may help her complete her chores on January mornings. Or, if she offers a high quantity, offer to make a hat in trade. Offer to tan one out of every five or ten pelts for the homesteader. Homesteaders raising rabbits for meat may offer hides for free because they don’t want to see the resource go to waste. You need green (raw, unprocessed) hides, non-iodized salt, alum, water, and a non-reactive container such as a plastic bucket with a lid. Tanning rabbit hides via a salt/alum brine is easy and costs very little. If you want to cut costs and be involved in the project from start to finish, tan the hides yourself. Though sewing rabbit hides takes more work than purchasing a hat at a department store, the effort is appreciated by those who need the insulation. It’s an exceptionally warm garment lining for people who spend long periods in intense cold, such as hunters, farmers, ranchers, and construction workers. Rabbit hides can be crafted into hats, gloves, blankets and bedspreads, toys, pillow covers, baby booties, and more. But though many homesteaders raise rabbits for meat, they don’t often save the pelts because tanning rabbit hides require more work during their already busy lives and the financial return is low unless they craft items for themselves or loved ones. Raising rabbits can be the most humane meat choice for both the animal and urban neighbors. Rabbits are also cleaner and less obnoxious than chickens. A quick study proves that the meat is leaner and has higher protein than chicken breast.
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