WyldLife Tannery and Craft

WyldLife Tannery and Craft I am a natural and traditional tanner who also loves to create things with the hides and furs I tan!

04/20/2024

I did it!

I've been working on these mittens for 4 months now! And they're finally done!

These are a gift for my amazing mother! I made her a pair several years ago, but I was very inexperienced! They were too small, had no welt, and had big gaps in the stitches your fingers would poke through! I wanted to give her a greatly improved pair!

I used the pattern from Edna Wilders' book, the secrets of Eskimo skin sewing. Which took me all the way from materials I would need, technique, and making my own pattern. It's a book I would highly recommend in any skin or fur sewing enthusiasts library! Along with the book, our boots: an inuit women's art, from which I was inspired to try fur appliqué.

I have a deep appreciation for the people of the high north, such as Canada, Alaska, Norway, etc. The beauty and skill of their skin sewing is something I envy. To create a work of art that not only keeps you warm in deathly cold temperatures but is also jaw-dropping!


04/20/2024

When should you wash your hide?

As with anything, it really depends on different factors and situations. Some say wash before you tan, others say do it after. But which one do you choose???

I personally do it before I tan, and here are three reasons why I do.

1. Some hides are really bloody, dirty, and can even have lots of nasty burrs (like this fella, I'm washing here).

a. Some hides have bloodshot, so it's good to really
clean that out to prevent smell and
bacterial growth, which contributes to slippage.

b. I like to tan indoors when the weather is less than
ideal, so I don't want to work a smelly hide indoors.

2. Some hides can be really greasy, such as badger, raccoon, skunks, and beavers.

a. With beavers especially, the fur can be really sticky
with grease and have no fluff.

b. These kinds of animals can have grease burn
which is where grease gets trapped in the skin.
this causes staining, feeling damp, lack of
of softness and lack of good penatration of your
tanning solution.

c. Using a mild detergent (my favorite is unscented*
Dawn dish soap) can help degrease the fur and
skin.

3. This is probably one of the biggest reasons I wash before I tan my hides. Removing hide glues!

a. Hide glues are a coating on the fibers, which is the
reason your hides will dry as stiff as a board when
getting wet without chemically changing the
structure of these glues, such as smoking.

b. While I don't think there is a way to completely
remove these glues, removing as much as you
can by washing out them really helps!

I don't claim to be an expert, I'm always learning too, but these are reasons why I wash my hides before I tan them. 😁

04/20/2024

Check it out!

I tan and clean these beautiful skins with all natural materials. Minus the soap, I love my Dawn dish soap 😋

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Three Forks, MT

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+14062027344

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