Fur mitts -Pictures added

[Bigmountainrider]

Can anyone point me in the direction of someone in Calgary area that would make me some Fur Mitts, I have the furs, I'm thinking coyote outers, sheared lamb inners and buck skin work surfaces. Just looking for someone to put it all together. Any help would be great,

Thanks Zack

[Remi3006]

Maybe try a local Hutterite colony.

[bezner]

You could always try talking to one of the elders on one of the reserves

[Red Bullets]

You can get patterns for gauntlets or mitts and make your own. Pretty easy with a pattern. I'm sure youtube would have a few instructional videos too.

[GasGas]

Pretty sure the motorbike leather sewing company on Edmonton trail and 20th Ave NE would be able to do the sewing and cutting. Not sure the name of the place; google maps street view would likely sort that out for you.

[Bigmountainrider]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

You can get patterns for gauntlets or mitts and make your own. Pretty easy with a pattern. I'm sure youtube would have a few instructional videos too.

Its the sewing maching to go through 2-3 layers of leather and do a nice job thats a concern.

[Bigmountainrider]

Originally Posted by bezner

You could always try talking to one of the elders on one of the reserves

Thats a great idea, I didn't think of that. I have some connections in that community, simplest anwsers sometimes are the hardest to see.

Thanks, Z

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

Its the sewing maching to go through 2-3 layers of leather and do a nice job thats a concern.

Handstitching with a proper 5 dollar awl goes thru leather like butter. Wouldn't take more than an hour per mitt. I used to make buckskin war shirts and did lots of hand stitching. Just don't use regular thread. Use heavier waxed polyester thread for leather.

[Bigmountainrider]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Handstitching with a proper 5 dollar awl goes thru leather like butter. Wouldn't take more than an hour per mitt. I used to make buckskin war shirts and did lots of hand stitching. Just don't use regular thread. Use heavier waxed polyester thread for leather.

What are your thoughts on sythetic sinew as thread?

[calgarychef]

Synthetic sinew is the same as dental floss, its tough as heck though and I've sewn with both quite a few times. You can use gloves needles if you're having a hard time getting the needle through the leather,they leave a hole with cut edges though and the sewing job won't last as long.

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by Bigmountainrider

What are your thoughts on sythetic sinew as thread?

I have stitched with synth sinew quite a bit too. I always pull the sinew/thread through a piece of bees wax a few times too. It seems to have good strength and durability and can be doubled up for extra strength.

[Bigmountainrider]

I'll post pictures of the final product when I get done, I have all my materials and patterns, I just have to stretch my coyote hides and do a practice run with and old pair of jeans and a stapler to make sure I havent missed anything in my pattern. I hope to be done before next Friday. Wish me luck.

Z

[Red Bullets]

Good Luck.

Just try not to stitch too close to the edge of the leather or pelt. Stitch inside out and then turn to finished side.

You mention having to stretch your coyote hide. This makes me think you are going to try using the coyote skin just stretched and not tanned. I don't think that will work. The pelt untanned may be prone to tearing at the stitch. Might want to consider tanning the hide. A tanning kit can be bought for 20 bucks and a few days time. Then a pelt is way more durable.

[calgarychef]

When I made my mitts I stemmed the fur from the edges to expose the leather for neater stitching. You can also glee them together that way, it makes for easier stitching.

[Bigmountainrider]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Good Luck.

Just try not to stitch too close to the edge of the leather or pelt. Stitch inside out and then turn to finished side.

You mention having to stretch your coyote hide. This makes me think you are going to try using the coyote skin just stretched and not tanned. I don't think that will work. The pelt untanned may be prone to tearing at the stitch. Might want to consider tanning the hide. A tanning kit can be bought for 20 bucks and a few days time. Then a pelt is way more durable.

Hide is tanned, Just want to get the most out of every skin. I'm going over kill for size of mitt.

[calgarychef]

Hey, if you live in calgary and want to see how mine are put together you're welcome to drop in and take a look at them. You need to make them seriously big in order to fit properly once they are turned inside out and have liners in them.

[PCP_ECOM]

Hello have some beavers im turning into mitts,can you purchase liner's already made,and if so where is good place to buy? Are patterns easily available online?

[Bigmountainrider]

I have made the liners out of Sheared lamb, you can get lamb at the old Halford hides in Calgary. Some of the guys online are just buying fleece mittens and putting them inside. I just like the Idea that all parts are from the land. I copied a pattern I found online onto a piece of cardboard, made a denim prototype last night to see if it would all fit. Your welcome to my cardboard pattern if you like what I've done. Or I can trace a new one out for you and you can come and pick it up. I live in south Calgary if you come to town.

[Red Bullets]

Originally Posted by PCP_ECOM

Hello have some beavers im turning into mitts,can you purchase liner's already made,and if so where is good place to buy? Are patterns easily available online?

Here is a site with some info. It shows short mitts but a person can make gauntlets just by lengthening the sleeve.

http://www.nativetech.org/clothing/m...tteninstr.html

[calgarychef]

The best liners will be felted wool, either buy it or make your own. I make mine from old sweaters or wool blankets that I've felted....google felting if you want to know more about the process. Felted anything is warm as heck though and well worth doing.

[nb180]

interested in this as well i have two seal pelts id like to make some mitts with any advice or tips .i have some kids mitts that are made up nort:thinking-006h might have to do revers engineering and supersizing

[nb180]

interested in this as well i have two seal pelts id like to make some mitts with any advice or tips .i have some kids mitts that are made up north might have to do revers engineering and supersizing

[FlyTrapper]

Hey guys,
I would like to thank Bigmountianrider for making this post. I am also looking to make some Coyote mitts and I have some questions so thank you!

[deerhunter]

Try DNR leather in Cgy. Use to b part of HALFORDS before

[PCP_ECOM]

Thanks to everyone for info Peter

[Bigmountainrider]

So here are the pictures:
Whole coyote, tanned. http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1cb17f64.jpg

Coyote with the top side of the mitten pattern drawn on it. http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...ps506a6bd4.jpg
Leather work surfaces and thumb patches. http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...psa3fe09b5.jpg
Sheared lamb with pattern cut into it. http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6875be18.jpg
Sheared lamb assembled before stitching. http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...psd9c3e9a5.jpg
Hope this helps,
Z

[Bigmountainrider]

I'll try this again, so that the pictures show up in the forum?

[HunterDave]

That is friggin awesome BMR! I can't wait to see the final product. I may have to look into giving this a try later this winter when I have a bit more time. They'll be more special since you made them yourself.

[Red Bullets]

Looks good so far. Be sure to look at different stitches you can use. There are a few you tube videos on different stitches. Examples: Saddle stitch, whip stitch, back stitch, etc.
Thanks for posting pics.