Beaver skin tanning and hat making workshop

Beaver Tanning and Hat Making Workshop

For the first time in Ireland

Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using very basic techniques and materials. Come learn to produce incredibly soft, strong and durable leather from raw animal skin using humankind’s earliest tanning technologies! We will utilise materials readily available in the surrounding environment as we walk through the steps of this transformation. You will learn the progression of this process from raw skin right through to sewing a beautiful, finished fur hat!

Days 1 and 2 of this workshop will focus on tanning Beaver furs using a combination of wet scrape and dry scraping techniques. We will tan beautiful North American Beaver furs with a variety of fat tanning which uses Lecithin and oil* as the dressing agent. Whilst not for the squeamish the final product is worth the work!

The class will cover rehydrating dried furs, de-fleshing, thinning out thick areas in the skin, applying the tanning solution (dressing) and softening the skins, as well as smoking them so they can be more easily washed.

In addition to enthusiastic instruction, I provide comfortable, easy to use tools and detailed handouts covering the tanning process, as well as ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to further their own knowledge of tanning!

Days 3 and 4 you will learn how to measure for and make your hat pattern. We will cover laying the pattern out in the correct orientation on the fur so that the fur lays in an aesthetically pleasing way and how to stitch the pieces together. By evening you will be well on your way to completing a warm cosy fur hat, custom made to fit you!

Please join me for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information and, provided you put in the work **, one that will see you heading home with a one-of-a-kind Beaver fur hat, tanned and sewn by your own hand into a functional work of art!

* The use of brains or egg yolks as an alternative dressing agent will be covered.

** Please be aware that a reasonable amount of fitness is required for this course. I will provide instruction on good technique and timing with the fur tanning, but you will need to be able to be on your feet and active for 6 to 8 hours per day.

Any serious injuries need to be discussed with me prior to attending the course please!

Learning Outcomes:

Preserving raw furs for future use

Thinning thick skins

Fat tanning small hair-on skins/furs.

Using smoke in the tanning process.

Chemistry behind the tanning magic so you can better problem solve during future tanning projects.

Understanding basic pattern making, how does something 2-dimensional transform to cover something 3-dimensional.

Basic stiches for used for sewing soft leather.

Discussion and examples of different threads available prior to the industrial era.